According to Gartner, by 2025, over 65% of global companies will use APIs as the primary integration mechanism for critical business applications. An API-first approach allows organizations to quickly adapt their IT landscape and integrate new services without a fundamental overhaul of existing systems.
Benefits and challenges of API integration
Using APIs to connect ERP, CRM, and other enterprise systems provides several key benefits:
- Faster development through the use of ready-made interfaces;
- Flexibility and scalability when replacing or adding components;
- Reduced IT infrastructure maintenance costs.
At the same time, managing a large number of interfaces requires implementing security tools (such as OAuth 2.0), using an API Gateway for routing, and continuous performance monitoring.
Experience of Ukrainian developers
Market players actively apply the API-first approach in their projects. In particular, companies within the Intecracy Group consortium use this method to accelerate product time-to-market. Data Management IG provides enterprise landscape integration and data management, while Softline integrates the Megapolis.DocNet document management system with customers' ERP and CRM systems.
For its part, IQusion uses APIs to digitalize government agencies, enabling the rapid deployment of new e-services. A significant portion of these solutions is built on the open-source low-code platform UnityBase by InBase, which simplifies interaction with banking systems and state registries due to its architecture.
Industry implications
The widespread adoption of API-first integration accelerates digital transformation, enabling businesses to quickly scale and connect ERP and CRM systems without rebuilding their entire IT infrastructure. However, this shift also increases the complexity of IT environments, making robust security, routing, and performance monitoring critical for maintaining operational stability.
What to do
To successfully transition to an API-first architecture, organizations should:
- Deploy an API Gateway to manage routing and traffic across multiple interfaces;
- Implement robust security protocols, such as OAuth 2.0, to protect data exchanges;
- Utilize low-code platforms like UnityBase to simplify integration with external registries and banking systems;
- Establish continuous performance monitoring to ensure system reliability.
Prepared by a Software Ukraine member. Original publication.