An API integration is a connection between different applications enabled through their application programming interfaces (APIs). These integrations allow for the automated exchange of data, improving coordination, data consistency, and operational efficiency.
API stands for application programming interface, and is a collection of rules, definitions, and protocols designed to assist in building and integrating new application software.
One way to think of an API is as a kind of menu; developers can browse through a list of available options for inclusion in their apps, along with descriptions of what function each option performs. They can then select the operations they wish to include based on functionality, without necessarily having to fully understand how these options are built or presented.
In other words, APIs allow developers to make more efficient use of their time, reducing the necessary amount of coding work and promoting consistency across all applications interacting with the same systems and platforms. API integration allows two or more APIs to easily share data and functionality with each other seamlessly and securely, and without direct human involvement.
API protocols are essentially design specifications for APIs that define the rules and conventions for building and interacting with APIs, outlining how requests and responses should be formatted, what methods can be used, and how data should be structured. Understanding API protocols is essential for successful API integration, as they serve as the agreed-upon 'language' that both the API provider and consumer use to communicate. API protocol use specific programming architecture to facilitate effective app-to-app communication, and may be classified as follows:
SOAP is a protocol for exchanging structured information in the implementation of web services. It relies on XML for its message format and usually employs HTTP or SMTP for the message negotiation and transmission. This protocol is known for strong typing, compliance with database principles, and the ability to perform complex operations. SOAP APIs have rigid requirements, and their requests generally demand significant bandwidth. Additionally, this protocol allows APIs to communicate over major internet protocols—TCP and SMTP as well as HTTP—making it a flexible option. Unfortunately, building and maintaining SOAP code can be prohibitively complex.
Although it is considered a protocol, REST is actually more of an architectural style. It uses standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE to perform operations. This approach offers agility and flexibility and is traditionally used for web services. It is easier to implement, understand, and use compared to SOAP. Representational state transfer APIs are stateless—each client-to-server request must contain all the necessary information for understanding and processing the request.
The gRPC protocol is a high-performance, open-source and universal remote procedure call (RPC) framework initially developed by Google. Unlike REST, which uses HTTP and JSON, gRPC uses HTTP/2 for transport and Protocol Buffers as the interface description language. It is designed to support highly distributed and scalable systems, offering features like load balancing, caching, and more. gRPC allows for streaming requests and responses, enabling more complex use cases like long-lived connections, real-time updates, and more.
OData is a standardized protocol used for creating and consuming data APIs. It builds upon RESTful API principles, where every piece of information is considered a resource that can be manipulated using standard HTTP methods. OData emphasizes stateless communication, client-server architecture, and scalability. OData is not bound by specific URL conventions, and it does not enforce a rigid URL structure, allowing developers more leeway in designing endpoints. Moreover, OData empowers the client to specify query options, sorting, or filtering directly in the URL query string, providing a highly customizable experience.
GraphQL is a query language for APIs. Unlike REST, where users have to hit multiple endpoints to retrieve related sets of data, GraphQL captures all relevant data in a single query, making it highly flexible and efficient. This flexibility allows clients to specify exactly what data they need, making it easier to evolve APIs over time. The system type provided by GraphQL forms the contract between the client and the server, ensuring data consistency.
API integration brings with it several business capabilities. These include the following:
API integration makes it possible for applications to trade information directly and automatically, making it an essential component in automating business processes and other actions.
Rather than forcing developers to start from scratch every time a new application needs to be developed and merged with existing networks, API integration empowers organizations with the ability to quickly connect disparate systems and software. This ability allows them to scale easily to meet their changing needs.
API integration creates a standardized, universal method for data exchange between applications. As such, it also gives businesses a clear, end-to-end view of all traffic within relevant systems and processes. Organizations can track data, monitor it for anomalies, and analyze important datasets to uncover valuable insights.
Relying on humans to transfer data between unconnected systems can be a dangerous prospect; human error can easily disrupt vital datasets, rendering them useless. API integration removes the human element, ensuring that even large amounts of complex data may be transferred without fear of inaccuracy.
API integrations often come with built-in security measures such as token-based authentication, OAuth, or API keys. These measures ensure that only authorized applications and users can access the data, maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of business information. A secure API is especially crucial when sensitive or regulated data is being exchanged between systems.
By connecting disparate systems, API integration allows for a more unified and streamlined user experience. Data and functionalities from different sources can be combined and presented in a single interface, hiding technical complexity and reducing the need for users to jump between different applications or platforms. This centralized access and single source of truth can improve user satisfaction and productivity.
API integration enables different software applications, regardless of their underlying architecture or originating platforms, to work together seamlessly. This interoperability is crucial for businesses that use a combination of cloud-based, on-premises, and third-party solutions. Interoperability ensures that data and processes flow smoothly across all systems, maximizing the ROI of existing software investments.
Developing an API integration may require an initial investment, but it can significantly reduce long-term operational costs. Automated data exchange between systems eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces the risk of human error. This efficiency can also reduce the time and resources needed to onboard new applications or implement changes, further cutting down on costs
Depending on the needs and capabilities of the organization in question, there are several options to consider when working towards API integration:
Businesses that wish to achieve API integration may choose to work with connector applications. Provided by third-party software vendors, connector applications are mass produced, and include built-in APIs for integration between specific software platforms. While often a quick and easy solution, connector applications tend to lack the same level of control and versatility available in customer applications. Instead, use out-of-the-box capabilities where possible, as these capabilities not only create trust with customers but also keep integrations up to date.
For more direct control over API capabilities, and to ensure that the API functions optimally with existing systems, some businesses may choose to develop their own hand-written connections, either designed in-house or from a contracted software expert. This is often a more time-consuming and resource heavy approach, but allows the organization to meet the unique and varying needs of their customers.
Usually built by SaaS companies, these offerings allow one SaaS system to connect to another on an enterprise level. These solutions represent a best-of-both-worlds approach, allowing for more customization than connector applications, while also demanding less of an investment in terms of time and resources on the part of the organization.
- Any-to-any iPaaS
Any-to-any integration platform as a service (iPaaS) is a class of external/standalone/purpose-built integration platforms designed to be able to connect multiple different enterprise systems together in complex integrations, data transformation, CRUD operations, API management, ETL, EDI, and more. - SaaS-specific IPaaS
Included as part of a third-party vendor’s software as a service (SaaS) offering, SaaS-specific IPaaS solve for use cases connecting the vendor’s product to other enterprise systems. These feature an underlying integration platform combined with connectors and packaged integrations embedded in the vendor’s applications. SaaS-specific iPaaS provide more advanced out-of-the-box functionality for this specific use-case category when compared to more general-purpose iPaaS options. - Third-party integration ISVs and GS packaged integrations
The final classification of integration platforms, third-party integration ISVs and GS packaged integrations are generally designed natively on the target SaaS platform using vendor APIs. These kinds of integration platforms provide significant built-in capabilities for common use cases.
An API integration platform (also called a data integration platform) provides a centralized resource for all elements relevant to API management, including API development, integration testing, and large-scale API integration management. Simply put, it functions as a single location where data may be received, validated, prepared, and sent between applications.
With these capabilities, businesses enjoy several clear advantages:
For APIs to be effective, they need to be fully functional and tailored to an organization’s unique needs. Unfortunately, building a custom API from scratch demands considerable time, resources, and expertise. On the other hand, using a third-party API may allow for a faster turnaround, but often comes with a trade off in terms of functionality. API integration platforms include tools to help third-party users build completely customized APIs fast, without sacrificing quality. With API integration, businesses can create new services that combine multiple systems (apps/platforms) into a seamless end-to-end experience that abstracts away all the underlying complexity for the end user.
API integration makes it possible to connect multiple systems into single, seamless, end-to-end workflows. By incorporating advanced technologies, essential business processes may be automated, allowing for improved accuracy and efficiency across an organization.
API integration allows for increased reach and opportunities for app development and SaaS platforms by empowering third-party developers to build powerful, effective applications and other solutions. As more and more third parties join the market, the increased competition and range of options directly benefits users.
Across teams and departments, it may be extremely difficult to find a single app solution capable of performing all necessary tasks. To complete their jobs to the satisfaction of their companies and customers, in-house employees often must bring together a range of different tools and software solutions for addressing specific datasets. Unfortunately, transferring information across these systems has traditionally relied on copying and pasting or ‘swivel chairing’ between multiple systems. The right API integration platform can connect these apps and tools directly, for improved accuracy and significantly reduced risk of human-introduced error.
Just because technology changes, it does not necessarily mean that existing outdated technology systems automatically upgrade themselves. Older legacy systems, and the data they contain, may become difficult to access and integrate with more-current systems. API integration platforms allow organizations to build APIs specifically for internal uses, making it possible to extract and employ data from older servers.
With production of APIs and API integrations at a large scale, managing their use and reliability can become a challenge. A platform built in the cloud, for the cloud, can help teams manage their connections easily and visually, tracking and measuring processes for improved performance across the board.
Technological advancement tends to build on itself, resulting in rapid growth that only accelerates over time. And in this emergent age of internet of things (IoT) capabilities, wearable devices, AI, and more, the future of technology seems poised to experience many foundation-rocking changes in the years to come. This macro trend is also being driven by a global community of developers, increasing the pace of change in application development. The right API integration platform is one that will grow and adapt to these changes, while still providing reliable connectivity to applications and systems that may no longer be cutting edge. In essence, API platforms help bridge the gap, not only between applications, but also between the present and the future.
As technology evolves, API integrations are likewise adapting, providing more advanced functionalities to align with emerging needs. As we look toward the future, two major trends are shaping the landscape of API integrations, making them more intelligent, adaptive, and dynamic:
Artificial intelligence continues to mature. As it does, its applications in API integrations are becoming more prevalent. AI-generated integrations use machine learning algorithms to automatically establish connections between different software applications. These algorithms analyze data patterns and workflows to identify the most efficient ways to integrate different systems. This efficiency minimizes the need for manual configuration while allowing businesses to take advantage of new software and technologies more rapidly.
Traditional API integrations are typically static; they require human intervention for updates or modifications. AI-adaptive integrations, on the other hand, use AI algorithms to constantly monitor the data flow and system performance. They adapt in real-time to changes in data formats, connection errors, or varying levels of system demand. This adaptability stands to not only reduce the need for manual oversight but will also increase the resilience and efficiency of the interconnected applications.
API integration helps organizations align their applications for a more coordinated, streamlined, automated, scalable, and visible approach. Unfortunately, not every API integration platform provides the same power or reliability. For businesses that want to ensure an effective approach to API integration, ServiceNow AI Platform APIs and integration tools provide the best-in-class solutions they need. ServiceNow API integration tools integrate important resources from both inside and outside of the organization, including, IaaS, SaaS, ERP, on‑premises applications, legacy systems, data sources, and databases. This breadth makes it possible to address business problems more quickly, while also supporting extensive integration, applying automated workflows, and continually making service improvements.
Built on the award-winning ServiceNow AI Platform, ServiceNow IntegrationHub allows users to build reusable integrations with third-party systems and connect with them from anywhere. Integrate with a range of communication apps, DevOps and CI/CD tools, automated workflows, and systems of record. Apply low-code development tools to build APIs at scale.
And that’s only the beginning. Key features include:
- Faster time to value
IntegrationHub comes with out-of-the-box spokes designed to quickly connect with critical business systems, reducing the time it takes to realize value from your integration efforts. - Custom spokes for tailored solutions
For unique business needs, IntegrationHub allows the creation of powerful custom integrations via custom spokes. - Accelerated automation with Flow Templates
Speed up your automation development by utilizing starter flows equipped with built-in integrations. - Remote tables for flexible data handling
View and manipulate external data temporarily without the need to import it, thanks to Remote Tables. - AI-powered password reset
Enhance the productivity of your support team in a secure manner with AI-driven password reset features. - Centralized control via Connections dashboard
Add new connections, modify existing ones, and inspect current connection details all from a single, centralized dashboard. - Code-free workflow activation with REST API Trigger
Initiate flows through inbound API calls or webhooks without writing a single line of code, using the REST API Trigger.
With IntegrationHub, organizations enjoy increased platform simplicity, experience faster time to value, and benefit from a lower TCO. Ready to see how the right approach to API integration can boost your business? Demo ServiceNow today!