Integration – ´intǝ.grei∫ǝn

API’s provide information for other applications in your business model. While older technologies fall by the wayside, new software solutions integrate with messaging, storage, accounting, payroll and ERP applications.

The oldest API might be email. The Microsoft Windows Outlook program uses protocols like pop3, imap and smtp to manage an email file on your computer. Your computer contains some information, and servers out on the internet contain other information. When you receive emails, your Outlook program receives information from a server on the internet, and when you send an email, your computer uses Outlook to transfer the message you created back out to your email server. Your email server contacts the email destination server and sends the email to your recipients.

You need to have an account with that email server. You have to have the password. You might even use encryption. This is the kind of API we’re talking about.