Open API Overview:
An open API is an Application Programming Interface which is publicly available and it provides a developer with programmatic access to a proprietary software application. It is a hook using which other programs can easily make use of any functionality of particular software and it can be accessed and used by anyone.
Instead of providing applications, developers are allowed to build their own applications based on open API's. Open API facilitates integration of new features into existing applications and assist distinct applications with sharing data, which can help to integrate and enhance the functionalities of the applications. They allow innovation to happen rapidly and without sustained investment.
Developers in various industries are encouraged to be innovative and figure out new ways to use the Open APIs which are shared freely. The developer can do research and development and make money by licensing his new program, which has advanced functionalities that would be almost impossible to create from scratch.
Benefits of Open API :
Application Programming Interfaces form the connecting bridge between modern applications which are connected with data sources or applications. The vision of a truly connected world can be realized by creating Open APIs which are portable and open and allows applications to interact with each other.
Open APIs can be consumed in building new channels and user interfaces which are built by developers. So instead of scratch level development, developers make use of the shared digital asset.
Implementation Scenarios in SAP CRM:
1) Open APIs are used across various technologies like SAP Cloud for customer and integration to SAP CRM and other applications be it cloud or on-premise. Many digital assets have been created based on open standards such as REST (Representational state transfer), Odata (Open Data Protocol), and Oauth (open standard for authorization) with secure and seamless connectivity to applications and platforms.
2) Open APIs are used to integrate SAP Sales On Demand with any other application by adding support for features that make it easier for sales people to update the application and to customize the front end of the application. Exploiting the benefits of Open APIs, software-as-a-service (SaaS) application has been integrated for a set of Business Processes.
3) One more example is the Hybris Marketing solution that uses open APIs and extends key marketing business processes with the standard integrations of hybris Commerce, SAP Cloud for Customer, SAP Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and other SAP applications.
