The primary reason for having an API strategy and consistently investing in your APIs, regardless of the application they support, is to increase velocity. The more standardized your APIs are, and the better your teams are trained to quickly produce, iterate, and deliver new features, the more speed and efficiency your organization will gain.
APIs function as automation tools, much like a digital factory floor, helping you harness your digital resources—whether from internal databases, systems, or third-party suppliers. They are essential for powering your applications. A well-defined API strategy allows you to either accelerate or slow down, depending on how finely tuned your approach, platform, and life cycle are.