There are a number of companies that boast about being API-first, but what does that really mean?
For a developer, that means easier integration with other systems and applications via a REST API or CMIS, and that the architecture is highly pluggable with a number of extension points to expand functionality. API-first also means that all features should be accessible via the API and not just a few.
But why are REST APIs important to my business?
Organizations that integrate rather than migrate:
- are more productive
- have the ability to reduce time to market for new applications
- can effectively leverage their existing infrastructure
Applications built with an API-first platform can easily integrate with other systems and applications and eliminate silos of information caused by legacy or departmental solutions.
Here’s an example of what happens with siloed systems:
A global advertising agency needs to license a series of images and videos from a movie studio. The studio sends a contract to legal that outlines the conditions of use, and sends the images and videos to marketing. If the marketing and legal teams use different applications that do not communicate with one another, then marketing may struggle to understand how, when and where these images and videos can be used, and legal may not know if marketing is within compliance of the contract. This situation increases the risk of a lawsuit, decreases employee productivity, and may negatively impact revenue growth and customer satisfaction.
Many stand-alone DAM tools and legacy Enterprise Content Management systems are incapable of effectively integrating existing systems and processes while managing the complexities that are inherent with enterprise business.
Learn more | Modernizing Information Systems: Product vs. Platform?
Good news: the Nuxeo Platform was built API-first
The API-first architecture of Nuxeo’s Content Platform enables existing systems and data sources to be incorporated as is, in place, and into new workflows. By maximizing the use of existing systems and processes, customers experience a multiplier effect and become more efficient while increasing revenue and competing more effectively in the market.
Not only does an API-first content services architecture enable easier integrations, it also enables organizations to use the latest and greatest technologies as they become available. Developers can easily swap out different components of the Nuxeo Platform to better suit their organization’s requirements. Rather than building hundreds, if not thousands, of connectors for every possible system, tools, and applications, we empower our customers and developer community to leverage our REST API and connect to the systems that matter, using a configuration that makes sense for their business.
To learn more about our API, check out this technical overview of the Nuxeo REST API and explains what sets it apart from other HTTP APIs.
You can also read more in our technical documentation about REST API or register for this class on Hyland University.