Every person experiences hundreds of API use cases every day. Our daily lives are at the epicenter of a digital transformation. As consumers in the digital world, we quickly move towards supply chains, e-commerce channels, and other services to obtain whatever it is we need to survive and thrive. The speed to meet our needs depends heavily on industries being able to obtain, provide, and/or handle real-time information that gives the ultimate competitive advantage.
So, how do these industries maximize their potential?
The answer is API.
Enhance Digital Transformation in Every Industry
Application programming interface (API) is a major enabler when it comes to industries that lead the economy of digital transformation. APIs allow real-time and two-way connectivity and communication. Additionally, the flexibility, scalability, and speed of API integration assists industries that rely on accurate, timely, and actionable data that help improve our daily lives.
With that, take a look at the following API use cases of industries that dramatically enhanced the digital transformation of our everyday lives.
Social Media
One of the most prominent uses of APIs is with one of the most used technologies around—social media. This technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, opinions, and information uses APIs from top to bottom, from log-in to log-out. Every platform—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more—has its own APIs and most allow developers to access their functionalities and integrate their features into applications.
For example, the log-in API has allowed us to easily verify ourselves on other applications without having to go through a tedious authentication process. Convenient, right?
Banking
Online shopping has made it easier to purchase everyday essentials and other consumer goods. If you have checked out a product on Amazon, you have likely paid via online bank. That is an API at work and you don’t have to leave the e-commerce site to pay. You can simply log-in to your bank within the e-commerce site, confirm payment, and let the API do all the work.
Travel and Transportation
Travel aggregator sites use third-party APIs to show you the best airline and hotel deals. You don’t only see the deals, you can actually book them without leaving the travel website. The API will confirm your booking with the airline and/or hotel of your choice.
Automotive
Do you know how much of your car runs on software? Car manufacturers use APIs to send software updates to their vehicles. Think of an electric car company adding self-parking updates.
In other API use cases, these manufacturers use APIs to access essential car information that ensures your safety on the road. It is how they find factory defaults to warn buyers before a problem can arise.
Entertainment
Do you consume content on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or Disney Plus? All these streaming platforms use APIs so you can easily discover content that will interest you. It saves you time from searching a huge library of movies and TV shows by showing you relevant content based on the past shows that you have watched. APIs are also responsible for connecting your device to the sources of content.
APIs Are Everywhere
APIs have made it possible to transform the world we live in. They are everywhere and all you need is a smartphone or a computer. APIs are present when you are scrolling on social media, paying for your new kicks, driving, or binge-watching for the weekend. Although we don’t see them, APIs are in every aspect of our lives.
What are your thoughts about APIs for accelerating the digital transformation of our everyday lives? How is your business preparing for the digital future?
