A decade ago, most IT management conversations about Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) concerned their implementation. But, as it so often does, the market has shifted — and with it, so has the conversation. Today, most agree that APIs must be prioritised. But what does that mean, exactly? Traditionally, businesses have favoured a code-first approach. They focus on building the software first, then create the API after they have a working platform. The software is the foundation; connection and integration come second. With an API-focused approach, APIs are treated simultaneously as foundations and building blocks. Every development decision considers its impact on integration and API consumption. It’s worth noting that this is not a new concept, but merely one that works especially well in the current digital climate — and one that market leaders have used to great effect. “APIs are at the heart of the most successful digital companies, powering everything from Amazon’s cloud business to Google Ads to Facebook likes,” reads a Harvard Business Review piece co-authored by Tiffany Xingyu Wang and Matt McLarty. “The idea of an ‘API economy,’ in which APIs create new value for companies, is over a decade old, and many established enterprises correctly view APIs as a key to unlocking their digital transformation.” Consequently, through an API-focused approach, your business stands to benefit in a multitude of ways.