API collaboration is collaboration between applications using
API
(Application Programming Interface). Since you can implement existing services from other companies, you can develop new services while significantly reducing development costs and time.
The use of APIs has rapidly spread over the past few years, and they have become indispensable for expanding businesses.
In this article, we have provided a detailed explanation of API collaboration, its advantages and disadvantages, and implementation steps. By reading this article, you will understand the criteria and points to note when choosing an API to introduce.
What is API?
API is a programming window used by applications and software to exchange information with each other. Just as a USB memory connects an external device to a computer, APIs connect applications and software to each other.
The usage and rules for the API are published on the web, and anyone can use it for free. The purpose of APIs is to expand functionality and create more convenient services by connecting applications.
What is API collaboration?
API collaboration is collaboration between applications using API. Through APIs, it becomes possible to link application services and data. By using API integration, you can use the services of other applications that have already been developed, saving you the trouble of developing application functions from scratch.
The taxi arrangement application is one of the applications that uses API collaboration.
Taxi dispatch applications often provide customer location information and allow card payments within the application.
Until now, we had to develop our own GPS in order to know the location information of our customers. However, the benefits of API collaboration allow us to use software that has already been developed, making it easier to develop services.
API linkage mechanism
The basic mechanism of API collaboration is that an API user sends a request to an API provider, and the API provider responds. Rules regarding requests and responses, what kind of responses are returned to requests, the scope of service usage, etc. are all determined by the API provider.
If the API is used in violation of its rules, it is likely to be used illegally and result in hacking.
It’s easy to understand if you imagine the process of ordering food at a restaurant. For example, the customer is the API user, and the restaurant is the API provider.
Even if you order a dish that is not on the menu, the food will not arrive, so you cannot use it in a way that does not follow the rules.
Benefits of API integration
By linking APIs, you can easily build a variety of services. This is because systems that have already been developed can be used, eliminating the need to develop all services from scratch. Below, we will explain more specific benefits of API integration.
Can reduce development costs
If you try to develop an application entirely in-house from scratch, it will take a huge amount of time and money to complete it. The more sophisticated an application’s processing capabilities, the more time and money it takes to develop.
By using APIs, it is possible to significantly reduce development time and costs. This is because many APIs are provided for free. Even if it is a paid API, the cost will be kept low compared to the cost of developing and building it in-house. By using APIs, you can significantly reduce the time and cost of in-house development.
Can expand functionality
Up until now, it was considered difficult to develop high-performance applications due to lack of resources, but by using APIs, it is easy to add functionality, which speeds up development.
Additionally, when services are linked via API, the range of services that can be provided expands as the linked service can be used. By linking with APIs, you can easily expand functionality while reducing development costs.
Improves security
If you are developing all systems and apps in-house, you will need people who are familiar with information security. However, it is easy to imagine that there is a shortage of human resources knowledgeable about information security, such as in venture companies.
By using an existing API with a high level of security, there is no need to develop the security part in-house.
Many people may have had the experience of being able to log in from their SNS account when registering as a member on a new site. It is convenient for users to be able to log in from their existing SNS accounts, and the security provided by large companies is more reliable, which leads to higher usage rates.
Disadvantages of API collaboration
Although it may seem that API collaboration has only advantages, it is important to remember that there are also disadvantages. This is because even if it becomes possible to provide a variety of services through API collaboration, those services still depend on the companies providing the API. Below, we will introduce two disadvantages of API collaboration.
There is a risk of server problems
If there is a
server
problem at the API link destination, the link may fail and problems may occur, such as the inability to provide your own services. If there is a problem within your company, you can immediately deal with it, but if there is a problem at an API partner, you have no choice but to leave it to the partner. When linking with APIs, it is necessary to anticipate various problems and consider countermeasures.
May depend on API
When linking with APIs, relying too much on the functionality of the provider can cause various problems.
You should consider whether to collaborate with APIs while keeping the above three points in mind. There is also a possibility that API provision will be suddenly terminated. If you continue to rely on API integration and your in-house ability to develop functions decreases, you will not be able to respond to unexpected events. Think of API integration as a supplementary function and do not make it the core of your service.
Procedures and flow for API collaboration
By using API integration, you can develop new applications with less time and cost.
Below, we will explain the steps and flow for API collaboration. The implementation procedure varies slightly depending on the API provider, so please check each API provider’s website for specific registration methods.
Decide what to implement with the API
Decide on the functionality to be implemented using the API. There are two criteria for selecting an API:
In order to use APIs efficiently, knowledge of APIs is essential. If you implement advanced functionality as described above, it will be possible to provide higher quality services, but there will be disadvantages if you rely too much on API collaboration.
Let’s take a look at other companies’ API integration implementation examples. By looking at how it is used, you can understand what kind of API your company needs.
Select API
Once you have decided on the features you want to implement, suggest APIs that can provide those features.
When choosing from among the many API candidates, choose based on the API provider’s track record and the implementation of other companies’ API integration.
If an API has a poor track record, the risk of introducing it is high, as there is a possibility that the service will be discontinued or that other companies may have avoided collaborating with it due to the difficulty of collaboration.
On the other hand, APIs from companies with a strong track record have many examples of API integration with other companies, which can serve as a reference when implementing them at your own company.
Register data with API provider
Register as a user with the API provider. The data to be registered includes the name of the app, a summary of its functions, and the URL of the top page.
If you use overseas services, you must register your data in English. API usage requires a review, and it often takes several days to complete the review. Please check what you need to know before registering.
Get the API key and secret key
Once user registration is complete, an API key and secret key will be issued by the API provider. An API key is authentication information independently issued by an API provider. The API key and secret key replace the ID and password when logging into the services provided by the API provider. By logging into the API using an API key, API providers can identify and authorize users. Security can be increased by preventing unauthorized access.
Actual API collaboration
Add information such as API keys and secret keys to software that uses the API.
Once you’ve added your information, it’s time to send a simple request. If you receive a response, the operation has been confirmed. Please follow the API provider’s specifications when using each function of the API.
Points to note when linking with API
There are many benefits to API collaboration, such as being able to use functions developed by other companies and using data held by the API provider. However, there are some points that you need to be careful about when linking with APIs.
If API provision ends, there is a possibility that API linkage will no longer be possible, and problems on the API provider’s side may cause problems with your own system.
These problems will become more damaging if you rely too much on the API link destination. It is possible to implement advanced functions that were previously abandoned due to the excessive cost of developing them in-house through API collaboration. However, it is necessary to devise countermeasures in advance so that even if a problem occurs on the API provider side, you can deal with it within your company.
API collaboration is very attractive, but please use it only as a supplement and be careful not to let the technology you collaborate with become the core of your service. In addition, you need to carefully select the API linkage destination so that it can be used over a long period of time.
summary
In this article, we explained about API integration and explained the advantages and disadvantages of API integration. By linking with API, you can utilize other companies’ functions and data to grow your own services.
However, if you rely too much on API partners, there are various risks such as not being able to respond in-house when a problem occurs. When using API integration, consider in advance how to deal with risks that may occur.
Please use the information in this article as a reference to collaborate with APIs and help your company grow.