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The API-ization of everything

blog.garrytan.com

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Re: The API-ization of everything

#11

Post by zbruhnke »

jmduke wrote: post #3
zzen wrote: post #2

For consumers, "there's an app for that". For businesses, "there's an API for that".

I'd follow that with: For tech businesses, "there's an API for that". For 90% of the other businesses, "what's an API?" There's a vast amount of value to be captured by adding pleasant and easily used interfaces over otherwise boring APIs.

and I'd counter that point with there are a ton of businesses being built on top of API's to deliver the types of products those "Other 90%" won't build themselves.

Innovation drives more innovation, the future is business being built on top of the framework these API's are laying

Re: The API-ization of everything

#12

Post by GraffitiTim »

I agree with the premise. However, what happens to Lob when paper and mail get replaced by digital transactions? Netflix was able to pivot from sending physical DVDs to streaming digital movies. Will Lob be able to pivot from printing and mailing physical checks to sending digital money, or will they be cut out of the market?

In general, it seems risky to build an API around something that's going to disappear.

Re: The API-ization of everything

#13

Post by will_work4tears »

zzen wrote: post #2

For consumers, "there's an app for that". For businesses, "there's an API for that".

For government, "Sorry, you're not authorized to access dot com resources, so we'll spend 2 million and several years developing a poor replacement."

I'm not bitter about Army Regulations regarding *.mil TLDs at all.

Re: The API-ization of everything

#14

Post by hcarvalhoalves »

GraffitiTim wrote: post #12

I agree with the premise. However, what happens to Lob when paper and mail get replaced by digital transactions? Netflix was able to pivot from sending physical DVDs to streaming digital movies. Will Lob be able to pivot from printing and mailing physical checks to sending digital money, or will they be cut out of the market? In general, it seems risky to build an API around something that's going to disappear.

> In general, it seems risky to build an API around something that's going to disappear.

Why? They can clearly profit while there's a need for the service they offer.

Re: The API-ization of everything

#15

Post by GraffitiTim »

hcarvalhoalves wrote: post #14
GraffitiTim wrote: post #12

I agree with the premise. However, what happens to Lob when paper and mail get replaced by digital transactions? Netflix was able to pivot from sending physical DVDs to streaming digital movies. Will Lob be able to pivot from printing and mailing physical checks to sending digital money, or will they be cut out of the market? In general, it seems risky to build an API around something that's going to disappear.

> In general, it seems risky to build an API around something that's going to disappear. Why? They can clearly profit while there's a need for the service they offer.

I meant in the context of trying to build a long-term business. Netflix would be dead in a few more years if they hadn't started doing digital streaming.

Re: The API-ization of everything

#16

Post by jgalt212 »

If given a choice between building a platform or API with equal likelihood of success--go with the platform every time. APIs sit in the background and are rarely the star. Brands have value, and it's very hard to build a brand if you are just the glue.

Re: The API-ization of everything

#17

Post by lxmorj »

bmelton wrote: post #6

The final sentence in the article really struck a chord with me... > Where there is paper to push, a call to answer, or a purchase to approve, there is an API coming to replace it. I've made a pretty decent living in life by following the old mantra that anywhere you see an Excel spreadsheet being used in a business process, there's an opportunity to exploit. That idiom has now moved even further, at this point, and…

Your FB and Twitter logins are both busted!

Re: The API-ization of everything

#19

Post by bmelton »

lxmorj wrote: post #17
bmelton wrote: post #6

The final sentence in the article really struck a chord with me... > Where there is paper to push, a call to answer, or a purchase to approve, there is an API coming to replace it. I've made a pretty decent living in life by following the old mantra that anywhere you see an Excel spreadsheet being used in a business process, there's an opportunity to exploit. That idiom has now moved even further, at this point, and…

Your FB and Twitter logins are both busted!

That's... not unlikely. Like I said (or should have said) -- I haven't done any testing in the least, nor am I even at what I'd call an alpha version.

That said, I'm seeing people log in successfully. What sort of errors are you getting?

Mind shooting me an email on it? I'll make it up to you, somehow.

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