Our recent CIO survey with Oxford Economics contained a few takeaways that stood out to me: most companies are using API-first strategies, and those most committed to this concept report faster innovation and greater value from business partnerships. Even so, the survey indicates that a healthy minority of enterprises still think of APIs in integration-first terms. This...
APIs have substantially helped the retail industry through disruption. Today, retail customers have more digital-first, convenient ways of shopping than ever before. And APIs are one of the critical pieces of technology that have made this possible by giving retailers the ability to transform their systems and processes in an efficient and quick way. APIs have...
Many of today’s most successful and technologically-adept companies view and manage their application programming interfaces, or APIs, as products — not merely as middleware that forges a connection but as software products that let developers leverage data and functionality for new purposes, digital experiences, and business opportunities. These APIs should be easy to consume...
In my experience as a digital consultant for Google Cloud’s Apigee team, I’ve found that when a technology gets classified as “middleware,” it’s often encumbered with a scarlet letter of sorts. Business leaders find it unexciting — so much so that they often resign it to the purview of technology professionals and don’t spare a second thinking about it. Those technology professionals, meanwhile...
What are API Products? Product teams often serve as the nexus between all organizational units within a company, but often lose sight of developing API Products to ensure that cross-functional alignment drives success. At their most empowered, product owners are like miniature CEOs for each offering within a company. In my time as a digital consultant, I’ve seen one particular technology too...
In the annals of history, we’ve seen how the various industrial revolutions have catalyzed monumental shifts in how society operates. From the steam engine to electricity, from the birth of the internet to biotechnology, each industrial leap has transformed industries and significantly impacted our day-to-day lives. Now, we stand on the cusp of the 4th Industrial Revolution and its herald. APIs...
Chris Hood is a strategist, consultant, and public speaker, currently serving as the CMO at PolyAPI. With a background that includes leading API strategy at Apigee and Google, Chris has been immersed in the API world since 2009, helping some of the largest global companies shape their API designs, products, and monetization strategies. As a thought leader in the field, he has defined productization principles and digital ecosystems that are now standard across industries. This site reflects his insights, predictions, and musings on the future of APIs, as he works on his upcoming book, Application People Interfaces, a CEO's guide to understanding the value of APIs and the impact of AI on their future.