How APIs drive self-sufficiency in digital transformation

When speaking to IT solution and service providers and vendors alike, one thing is clear: they want the ability to work with a distributor that enables the data connectivity and self-sufficiency that comes with automation. As a member of this group yourself, it’s likely your organization feels similar. 

We can all agree automation is often a must during digital transformation. But before delving further into application programming interface (API) technology, let's set the stage.

Day to day, we all navigate traffic when going to and from work, stream content on Spotify and Netflix, communicate with others on social media, monitor our home security while away — living everyday integrated with the technology that surrounds us. The same thing goes on in the channel.

Digital engagement and expectations are rising

Companies feel pressure to improve efficiency, increase profitability and transform their value proposition to thrive in today’s hyper-connected world. Having a viable digital strategy can make the difference between transforming your business and watching the competition capitalize on previously inconceivable opportunities.

Defining APIs

Enter APIs, which play such a foundational role in realizing that strategy. That’s because APIs connect business processes, services, content and data to IT providers, their customers, vendors and distributors in an easy and secure way.

APIs allow us to share important data and expose business functionality between devices, applications and people quickly and efficiently. They work behind the scenes, powering our lives and modern-day business. APIs automate much of the integration between systems and software programs. Rather than having a developer write code, for example, APIs can be used to perform certain functions, dictating how two machines talk to one another.

Further, APIs have become more important as organizations shift their attention from what they need to provide to consumers to how to deliver more value faster and at scale.

In addition to this accelerated time to value, businesses constantly strive for improved agility and the ability to leverage new channels and extend their brand. APIs enable those in the digital value chain to unlock the usefulness of back-end systems and deliver the right experience at the right time.

APIs dominate web traffic

APIs are the backbone of digital business ecosystems and their integration enables seamless connectivity which allows IT solution and service providers and vendors like you to automate processes. Akami Technologies reports API calls represent 83% of web traffic. It’s no wonder since APIs integrate programs and databases with industry applications and help companies meet modern market demands.

API integrations help you develop innovative business models and are an integral part of the journey toward digital transformation. They can help extend your brand presence, improve services and optimize revenue streams. 

The benefits of ArrowLink

Arrow’s automation service offering, ArrowLink, is built with IT providers’ and vendors’ ecosystem needs in mind. ArrowLink has APIs for pricing, inventory, quotes, purchase orders, order status and invoice.

ArrowLink provides efficiency and saves time on everyday processes. For instance, before APIs were available through ArrowLink, quote creation for vendors and IT solution and service providers involved an Arrow sales representative creating a quote in the supplier web portal and sending it through a PDF, which took an average 10 minutes. Through ArrowLink, that time to process a quote has been shaved down to a matter of seconds.

Similarly, the PO to invoice process has become much quicker through ArrowLink: the average time of consuming a vendor invoice has been reduced from 10 minutes to about 30 seconds.

In sum, ArrowLink opens the door to innovate, improve the ability to adapt quickly to market changes and enable you to provide a faster turnaround with automated processes — all powered by API technology.

Want to learn more about current ArrowLink offerings or about efficient and seamless interactions between systems? Reach out to us to find out how APIs, through ArrowLink, can help improve and grow your business.

This article was originally published in November 2021 and has been updated for relevance.