How APIs are driving digitization in enterprises

There is an increased interest in finding simple solutions in a world that relies more and more on software. Solutions that mobilize and, above all, are digital, so that employees of any generation can operate them on desktop, tablet, or smartphone – no matter where or how.

Especially where interfaces between systems tend to bring conflict potential, simple and fast solutions are needed to keep up with digital growth. The advance of cloud computing has also led to an increased need for integration. This is where APIs (application programming interfaces) come into the picture as a competitive advantage for enterprises. According to a recent study, “only 2% of enterprises surveyed are operating without API management.” This shows the clear trend of how important it is to use APIs in a digital transformation strategy. APIs enable different systems to communicate with each other quickly and seamlessly.

There are more applications, more programs, and more software services. All this leads to an increasing number of programmable endpoints, which is accompanied by a growing need for interface management. The momentum behind ERPs, multi-clouds and APIs continues to grow. Even though many services are programmed to be compatible, the connection still needs to be created.

APIs create opportunities to optimize collaboration with partners and jointly develop new generations of applications that provide users with more services and choices.One of the unique benefits of APIs is that they bring fragmented system landscapes under one umbrella – whether SAP systems or connections to CRMs such as Salesforce or Microsoft Azure.

Low-code can scale internal app development. If we consider the many SAP customers relying on their SAP systems, IT teams can build any SAP Fiori app by creating APIs. Low-Code provides the ability to build a modern Restful API layer on top of an existing business layer. This allows companies to save the investments already made as they transition to a digitized enterprise. REST APIs are the most widely used protocol. With an SAP-centric app development platform positioned within the SAP architecture (and running directly in the SAP Netweaver stack), IT teams can create REST microservices based on ABAP and automate REST API generation of other SAP artifacts. In addition, APIs allow existing SAP investments to be reused, as all app customizations and code extensions can be made available as a service or through SAPUI5 applications.

Thanks to low-code platforms such as the Neptune DXP, it is possible for medium-sized and complex IT landscapes to integrate API services easily and quickly in the SAP system. The special feature here is the cooperation of two modules: the SAP Edition module and the Open Edition module. A system change thus becomes unnecessary for companies, as the homogenization of external services is possible and creates satisfaction that extends far beyond the IT department.

Neptune DXP – SAP Edition represents, in this case, your general connector between SAP backends and any other system within your IT landscape and infrastructure. You can imagine this figuratively like an “API factory.” On the other hand, Neptune DXP, with its second complementary Open Edition, provides a central portal/launchpad across your entire IT landscape. API-based integration of our low-code development platform seamlessly connects your systems so you can access business logic on demand and on the go. In addition, standard interfaces of the Open Edition offer the possibility to create controlled access to defined areas of your own system, e.g., suppliers or commercial partners that extend beyond company boundaries.

In other words, APIs can not only transform entire companies and industries but have now become a business field, with an ever-growing audience through low-code and no-code toolsets. IT teams that use low-code platforms for strategic API alignments can transform their team into a true “app factory,” becoming an innovation powerhouse for their business.