API Management Platform Main Features to Look for

API Management Platform Main Features to Look for

API Management Platform Main Features to Look for

API management platform offers you a range of tools that could help you achieve business success. They are a great way to improve the development and management of your APIs with minimal overhead. However, there are several vendors out there that offer various platforms. Hence, you need to know the main features to look for to make the right decision.

Here are some questions you need to ask before you purchase an API management platform:

  • Which platform should you go for – On-premise or Cloud?
  • How extensive is the support infrastructure?
  • What method of documentation is used?
  • How much does it cost?
  • Should you go for a unified platform or multiple platforms?

Do you have a solution in place for API management? Some of the essential areas where individual tools exist include scalability, documentation, testing, and security. Although using multiple tools require less commitment than a unified platform, they may lack integration – making it more difficult for employees to access them.

When considering purchasing an API management platform, here are the main features you need to consider:

  • User Support

User Support

On the whole, stay away from platforms with a history of poor support. User support is crucial to the success of your enterprise. That is the problem with on-premise solutions. Your developer productivity could face drastic consequences when something goes wrong since your engineering team’s hands are full. By leveraging the cloud, you can increase accessibility while achieving a seamless workflow.

  • Usability

One of the most significant advantages of using the correct API management platform is usability. You need to be aware of these areas: metrics, documentation, design, and customer support. API management platforms that provide metrics can help reduce strain. Documentation and design allow you to update easily without changing the structure of the back-end. Lastly, empowering your customer service team reduces sprint creep and frees up engineering resources.

  • Implementation

The type of implementation is perhaps the essential decision you should make before purchasing an API management platform. It determines how API manages authentication methods, automates changes in infrastructures, and deals with traffic spikes. The three methods of implementation are on-site, off-site, and hybrid.

With this information in mind, you should be able to make the right purchasing decision. Choose an API vendor that offers a product that best suits the needs of your organization. Learn more about APIs here.