Why API Management Must Consider the Entire API Journey

Bill Doerrfeld, Editor in Chief of Nordic APIs, emphasizes the importance of including third-party API consumption in the comprehensive API management strategy, as this aspect is often overlooked despite its significance in modern development practices. He argues that as developers increasingly rely on external APIs to build applications, understanding and managing the entire API journey, from creation to consumption, can lead to benefits such as cost savings, better inventory management, and enhanced performance monitoring. The article highlights the growing need for optimization techniques to manage third-party APIs, which can help organizations control ballooning cloud expenses and improve service discovery. It also points out the risks associated with undocumented APIs and the need for more robust security measures. Additionally, the piece underscores the necessity for improved developer experiences in maintaining API integrations and the potential advantages of API consumption management in informing identity and access management concerns. As the API economy evolves, Doerrfeld suggests that greater attention to third-party API management could streamline software development and recommends that technology leaders monitor this emerging field.