The Power of API-led Integration

This new world calls for a level of connectivity that was previously not possible or required. It’s no longer a matter of simply implementing a single technology or application. Rather, digital transformation can only be achieved when multiple technologies come together and combine data from disparate sources – securely and at scale.

That’s where the power of API-led integration comes in. A modern, hybrid integration platform such as MuleSoft powers digital transformation by bringing together SaaS and enterprise applications and connecting data from legacy and on-premises technology in the cloud. A significant advancement from the early days of integration, API-led integration is the key to delivering on digital, allowing organizations to easily build and rapidly scale application networks with frameworks and advanced data management and flexible data integration.

Capgemini has worked with companies of all types, across all industries, to take advantage of MuleSoft’s integration platform to harness the power of APIs and cloud and reach their digital potential. Read on to learn more about the power of API-led integration and how we have helped our clients use it to deliver on digital transformation initiatives.

The advantage of an API-led approach

Traditional integration methods, which covered fewer endpoints and had slower delivery expectations, are no longer sufficient given the demands and speed of today’s business. With a proliferation of endpoints, the complexity of providing disparate stakeholders relevant views of the same underlying data source has increased significantly. MuleSoft’s API-led approach to integration defines methods for connecting and exposing assets and promotes decentralized access to data and capabilities, ensuring the visibility and agility needed in a digital landscape.

The full power of an API-led approach to integration came to life during a project with a global beverage company. The company’s disjointed data was negatively impacting sales, with IT unable to keep up with the business demand to roll out new digital initiatives – mobile, dispensers, and IoT within coolers and the fleet. We worked with the organization to help them adopt API-led connectivity with MuleSoft to eliminate bottlenecks. As a result, the company has been able to reduce time to delivery from 12 weeks to three.

Framework-driven methodologies for better, faster business value

The value of integration has significantly increased due to the adoption of frameworks. Frameworks, which refer to architecture that is reused across a number of applications, end points, and data sources, increase speed to market and drive better business outcomes. When addressing the former we often communicate to our clients the benefits of less time spent building integrations and APIs, improving project quality, and deploying and maintaining platforms. When addressing the latter, we work with our clients to think beyond a traditional technology approach to understand the value of integration to the broader business coming in the form of increased productivity and an outcome-oriented structure leveraging KPIs to manage overall business value.

A recent project with a global life sciences provider demonstrated the value of frameworks. The organization had chosen Capgemini to provide platform expertise, integration architecture, development and training. With a framework-led approach, we were able to enable the client to attain self-sufficiency in an expedited time frame following a divestiture from its parent company. With an existing landscape of 600 applications/sites currently communicating through point to point integration, a robust framework-driven architecture was vital to the client’s success.

Simplified data-driven decision making

In the digital era, companies are generating more data than ever and are struggling to achieve a truly connected enterprise. Integration solves the challenge of connecting data, but oftentimes having multiple integration tools can create its own set of data-related challenges related to complexity and inefficiency.

This became evident in our work with a leading quick serve restaurant brand. Capgemini worked with the company to help them gain real-time insight into beer inventory and optimize sales to rapidly respond to local trends and consumer preferences by leveraging MuleSoft’s AnyPoint platform. As we worked with the customer to install IoT-enabled flow meters on their tap lines to capture data on beer served and loss, we deployed a core integration framework to provide deeper monitoring of system transactions and data errors across the enterprise. The company is now able to make better buying decisions and deliver a better dining experience.

If you’d like to hear more about the power of integration or if you’re interested in exploring open MuleSoft opportunities at Capgemini, don’t hesitate to reach out. Even better, join me at Dreamforce 2019, where Capgemini will be on site to talk about how to leverage MuleSoft to take Salesforce to the next level. We’ll also be diving into the details of the project with the global life sciences company mentioned above in a session in the MuleSoft Integration Grove Theater. I hope to see you there.

Akshay Kumar

As MuleSoft Practice Leader, I work with clients across North America and help them with digital transformation strategies and roadmaps using an API-first and a Cloud-first approach. This includes defining API-led integration strategy and roadmaps, formulating Center for Enablement(C4E) providing API-led Cloud development and managed services support.