Public API Platforms

Many companies are building public API platforms that can be rearranged or connected with other API platforms endlessly to create new applications. The Google Maps Platform is a great example of allowing partners to leverage Google’s powerful public APIs to generate new revenue streams.

Public API platforms can also address another problem facing many companies: the inefficient and costly practice of scraping valuable data from public websites. Externalizing data through public APIs provides a more accurate, efficient, and cost-effective way for third parties to access data — and companies gain greater control over the data. Choice Hotels works directly with website-scraping partners to shift toward using our external APIs.

Real-time Proprietary APIs

Realtime proprietary APIs are a great way to expose data to external partners as companies strive to provide in-the-moment, contextual functionality to customers anywhere and on any device. Using APIs to expose real-time data to a digital ecosystem is a low-cost way to invite partners to participate in the co-creation of customer value.

APIs within Choice Hotels’ cloud-based choice ADVANTAGE property management system, for example, allow external partners to receive data throughout a guest’s stay, from check-in to check-out. This lets external partners provide real-time value to the guest, such as activating a mobile key or connecting an Amazon account to an in-room Alexa device.

Public API Pitfalls

The ultimate benefits of developing public-facing APIs can only be realized through proper management, oversight, and reporting. It’s vital to know who is accessing the APIs, the frequency with which they are accessed, and their adherence to policy and procedures. A proven API management platform therefore is essential to manage the on boarding of new partners, securing endpoints and data through encryption and role-based access to services, and throttling API calls to protect internal applications from bad actors.

APIs Alone Are Not Enough

APIs are not a panacea for accelerating business-value delivery. As others have observed, organizations also require a microservice-based architecture to fully realize the benefits of APIs. This is because system architectures modeled around microservices allow developers to weave together disparate APIs to deliver innovative solutions that drive business value at a pace not otherwise possible.

Unlocking the Value

All business leaders should re-envision their companies as rapidly adaptable digital platforms that can unlock additional business value by maximizing the capabilities of their current business services and data to meet new customer requirements, identify new partnership opportunities, and compete cost-effectively in a constantly changing world. APIs and microservices are an essential component of that vision.