Software APIs Play a Key Role in Digitizing Operations
Article from MHI Solutions Magazine
For little kids, playing “telephone” is a fun game, because as one child whispers the message to the next child in line, it often changes substantially, so it’s anyone’s guess what the last child will hear. In supply‑chain operations, however, there’s no room for garbled communications or a lack of transparency, which is why software APIs play such an essential role in digitizing operations.
An API, or application programming interface, is a set of rules and protocols that enable one software application to share information and collaborate with another. The API specifies how and in what format data will be shared between applications, promoting the seamless exchange of information in real time.
Dan Barrera, head of warehouse automation for MHI member Bosch Rexroth, said APIs “are the connectors” between different information technology systems and the operational technology on the floor of warehouses and manufacturing plants…
