API management with Boomi

A modern company can’t do without an elaborate network of sophisticated applications and IT systems. Smart applications, content management systems (CMS) and customer relationship management systems (CRM) automate and streamline company processes, allowing you to gain a competitive edge, improve customer satisfaction and create new business opportunities. Using the right technology also allows you to spend a larger share of your available resources on your core business.

However, successfully harmonising all the applications and systems that run within a complex IT landscape, so that you can successfully summon an application or system at exactly the right time, is a daunting task. The solution: integration and Boomi API management.

API management and increasing IT complexity

Many (often small) organisations have a fairly simple IT environment in which different sources are directly connected via two communication endpoints or nodes (point-to-point). When an organisation grows and becomes more complex, the number of systems and applications inevitably increases. In addition, these separate solutions must also be able to closely cooperate with each other on a more frequent basis.

Therefore, more and more business logic is needed to allow the various IT sources to communicate with each other in an efficient and high-quality manner. APIs make this possible. An API is an application interface that can be invoked by an application using REST, SOAP or OData. Functionally, an API enables disparate applications or programs to communicate with one another. API management involves the creation of an extra layer that covers one or more applications.

API management has several goals. Let’s take a look at the most important ones.

• API management unlocks existing applications via REST, SOAP or OData.
• Subsequently, it secures these applications in one central environment.
• API management allows you to squeeze incoming traffic to prevent applications from becoming overstretched.
• API Management makes integration solutions scalable through the concept of asynchronous processing.
• Managing APIs makes them transparent via a developer portal.

API management is often used to unlock legacy applications. SAP is a prime example. At Appronto, we have built an API management solution for a listed customer (AEX). Various external parties use this internet-based solution that processes invoices and payments in an on-premises SAP-R/3 environment. The solution has been made available on a large scale using a Boomi Molecule in combination with an advanced F5 load balancer. The solution makes it possible to process 500,000 API calls per day.

What Boomi does

Integrating the extensive plethora of applications, systems and security solutions with their current IT environment is one of the greatest challenges that modern businesses face. Since the cloud is becoming increasingly crucial in leveraging advanced technologies, many companies need and want a flexible platform that delivers in-depth connectivity between the different parts of their IT ecosystem.

Boomi is a platform that meets these needs. Boomi’s AtomSphere environment delivers a fully cloud-based iPaaS solution with capabilities such as on-premises and cloud integration, API management, EDI, master data management (MDM) and workflow. Using these components permits you to develop uniform and low-code user interface solutions within Boomi.

The added value of Boomi API management

Due to the strong increase in the number of applications and the fact that these applications must also be continually accessible via the internet, API management has become an indispensable component of the new generation of integration platforms. Building APIs in Boomi allows organisations to make parts of their internal applications available to third-party users in a safe and structured way. The Dell Boomi API uses internal standards like REST, SOAP or OData. An external party can then invoke an API with the correct credentials (password, username, API key) to offer or request specific data.

Boomi API management allows you to make APIs available to third parties, like suppliers, business partners and sister or subsidiary companies. Subsequently, these APIs invoke the various sources and/or applications through a smart and effective integration process.

API management is all about creating unity and cohesion. Therefore, Boomi makes it easy to manage APIs from one central environment. In this case, management means that you have the ability to switch APIs on and off as you choose. Proper API management allows you to do this in an orderly manner and per environment. In addition, API management makes it possible to set up and manage high-quality standards for external authentication. You can also publish a swagger for third-party usage. A swagger is a simple framework of all API operations that shows you how to properly invoke an API.

Using Boomi the right way has numerous benefits for your company.

• Say farewell to a highly fragmented IT ecosystem in which applications, programs and data files are isolated islands. Instead, welcome an IT landscape where seamless integration is the norm.
• Boomi API management boosts the quality and speed of interactions between the individual components of your IT network. Business and IT functions are able to cooperate in a better and more organic fashion. Moreover, you also create new and better forms of cooperation with your customers and partner organisations.
• Boomi is a low-code platform. Low code speeds up and streamlines the development process. It also allows you to reduce application development costs.
• API management makes it easier to quickly modernise your IT landscape. So bring on the tech and data-driven future!

How Appronto handles API management

Before we start developing APIs at Appronto, we carefully map the specific needs and desires of the customer. Does this research lead to a business case in which API management can be of added value? Then, we’ll identify the operations that can be set up and built. The design and development phase will be followed by a test phase in which you can use a swagger to carefully test your APIs and operations. If everything works well and is to your satisfaction, we will move on to the rollout (often called the go-live) phase.

Appronto: your reliable API partner!

Do you want to make serious business of dedicated API management? And do you want to find out what Boomi can do for your company? Then Appronto is the right partner for you! We have already helped various companies with the successful implementation of API management.

As a fully certified Boomi partner, we can get you up to speed with all the ins and outs of the platform. We can provide you with all the detailed information you need with regard to design, implementation and management, but also organise training sessions that will turn you into a Boomi expert in no time. Interested? Feel free to contact us for more information.