APIs as future technology in the travel industry Digitalisation does not stop at tourism either. Increasingly complex requirements for flexibility and effectiveness in interaction with the customer require new technologies with which the offers can be brought as close as possible to the target person. Making potential customers aware of special travel arrangements that are suitable for them requires advanced applications that can only be implemented with APIs. Tourism leads require special measures Offers from the travel industry often reach their target group in an unusual contact situation. There is a core segment that is looking for the most advantageous offer with concrete travel plans and objectives. The vast majority of future travel customers, however, have not yet consciously realized their desire to consume. People who carry their holiday plans around with them as a subliminal background noise in the back of their mind can become high-quality leads if they are picked up in the right way. This can happen in many different ways, but when the first interest is aroused and the lead is about to qualify, procedures and processes must be put in place that will not resist the project as much as possible and that will additionally support and promote it through suitable, intelligent processes. This is one of the strengths of APIs in the tourism industry. Recipe for success linkage Through the use of APIs, a cooperative interaction between hotels, airlines and customers trimmed to effectiveness becomes a reality. However, this is only the core area of API functionality. The customer particularly evaluates the product benefit of a tourist offer by the additional service offers on site, which the tour operator makes accessible to him in an uncomplicated way - from the rental car to the concert to the excursion. Here, too, APIs can provide the customer with effortless access routes. Productive benefit for booking systems For the organizer, the use of APIs means a noticeable increase in efficiency. The technology allows the optimal organization of contingents, which leads to better results on the booking platforms. APIs allow to embed booking masks in any other web offer, if desired with the complete functionality of the travel portal. This opens up completely new ways in advertising and sales promotion. Additional value can be generated through additional services delivered via APIs. For example, the displayed travel offer can be enriched with tourist information, the current calendar of events or visitor information on cultural facilities and sights. Eye to eye with the customer A particular strength of APIs in tourism is their direct contact with customers. The technology makes it possible to break down even complex information structures into the compact form factor of mobile end devices and thus provide the customer with the entire functionality and real-time communication directly in his hand. For the provider, this means that contingents can be checked at the moment they arise. For the customer, this means that offers appear on his display the second they are made available for use. For both sides, this means that current offers can be booked without delay, linked to suitable offers from third-party providers and presented to the customer as a comprehensive, convenient travel package. Conclusion APIs offer the travel industry new perspectives for generating qualified leads and accelerating and intensifying concrete business processes. In particular, the combination of proprietary offerings with third-party value-added and optimized traffic between providers are a clear signal for the increased use of APIs.

APIs - technology for more economic benefit The almost immeasurable variety of business processes and operational procedures has over time led to a destructive breakdown of methods and processes. The consequence is the increasing isolation of processes that should be designed cooperatively for effective, synergy-based process control. Modern economic strategies are increasingly aimed at restoring the lost unit step by step. One of the most effective methods on this path is the consistent use of APIs. Increase efficiency on different levels In software development, the use of APIs has resulted in significant growth rates in the areas of flexibility and efficiency. More about this can be found in Flexibility and efficiency through APIs. Basically, the processes in the development of software are simplified by using APIs to automate particularly complicated and time-consuming tasks. But also on a very general level - not only in software development - APIs lead to noticeable savings in resources through the automation of work processes, with time savings playing the dominant role in this respect. APIs optimize business processes The flexibility that comes from using APIs has a direct impact on all types of business processes. The resulting optimization of processes does not only lead to a more efficient way of working. The tangible increase in productivity and the associated cost savings can also be directly attributed to the use of APIs. A beneficial effect of using APIs that is often not immediately recognized is the increase in reach. The flexible functionality of the API architecture allows cooperative processes to be designed that are optimally coordinated with each other. This allows information content to be communicated faster and spread more widely. Synergy as a strategic goal Particularly in the flow control of delivery processes, considerable friction losses often occur in terms of efficiency and speed as a result of the constant switching between different applications that is required to cope with the tasks involved. The use of APIs unites all processes in a common application. This not only simplifies handling, but also gives the customer the opportunity to track all phases of the delivery process in a transparent manner. In addition, the synergetic potential opened up by the consistent use of APIs allows completely new, innovative applications that enable the company to open up new worlds of experience for the customer. The variety of possibilities that manifest themselves in this field are only just being explored. React quickly to changes The market is subject to constant change, driven by varying customer expectations. What is current today can be completely outdated tomorrow. Successful strategies respond to changing demand scenarios without delay. In order to meet the high demands of a constantly changing market, flexible and adaptable technologies are required. APIs ideally meet these criteria. The innovative use of APIs extends the scope of action for companies, their partners and interest groups as well as for external developers. Similarly, APIs open up new revenue streams through their innovative approach and allow the expansion of existing business models. Increased visibility with APIs The already mentioned potential of APIs in expanding and developing reach has a direct impact on the visibility of the brand. APIs are ideal for building brand culture through their efficiency-enhancing and synergistic properties. Conclusion APIs provide significant economic benefits. Especially the open innovation and efficiency, which are made possible by external development and collaboration, create massive gains in resources and synergies.

Powerful APIs are characterized by a wide range of functions. In addition to the functions, the technical data is the most important factor for acceptance by API consumers. Business objects define the technical data structures which can be exchanged between the respective API function and the consumer. API resources (function of an API) distinguish between business objects for the request and for the response. All business objects used in an API are described and managed in the API Definition. The business objects can be reused within an API. As an example, we will take an Order API, with which new orders can be created and the order status can be retrieved. If an order is created via the API, the data structure of the order type must be transferred to the API. The data fields and data types are defined in the data structure. The data type specifies the type of the data field, for example, numbers, character strings, or lists. An OrderType consists of the following information: Order number Customer number Order date Order items Order status The common API specifications support almost all data types. The following simple data types are the most commonly used: string number (decimal number) integer boolean (truth values true, false) array (list of values) date The data types are now defined for the data fields mentioned above in our example. An order number can consist of characters and numbers, so we define string. The customer number consists only of numbers and is therefore number. The order date is declared as date-only according to the international date and time format ISO 8601. The order items are an array, since several items can be contained in an order, which are defined as independent business objects. In addition, further facets of a data field can be declared. The more comprehensively an API is defined, the more stable and resilient an API is. The minimum and maximum length of a data field of type string can be defined by facets. For example, the field may contain a minimum of 2 characters and a maximum of 20 characters. If the data field Price of type number is described, the minimum value and maximum value as well as the decimal places can be defined. As an example, the price must be at least 0.00 and at most 5,000 of a currency unit. Two decimal places are allowed. The example values NEW, SHIPPED, DELIVERED and CANCELED can be specified for the order status data field, making it much easier for the user to understand the data field and its use. For each data field a technical example value can be given, this creates a substantial increase in value for the user, since the understanding and usability of the API is practically clarified. By a strong characteristic of the business objects the API achieves a high transparency. This makes it easy for interested parties and developers to understand and use the interfaces and the underlying business processes.

APIs are breaking new ground for online commerce, a change that is having a particular impact on consumers and traders. Online shops are highly innovative and respond flexibly to customer requirements. E-commerce functionalities can be considerably expanded through intelligent interfaces. What was difficult to program a few years ago is now done by the electronic interface with a few embedded lines of code. What is an API specifically? API stands for "Application Programming Interface". It connects different applications and controls data exchange. The best known is probably the Google API, which makes it possible to embed interactive maps in websites. Such an interface maps all processes required for electronic commerce and controls them across platforms, e.g.: Retrieve product data Shopping cart functions Payment functions Delivery processing Pre- and after-sales measures A trigger for the development of APIs for the e-commerce market is the rapid increase in the number of possible channels and devices available to consumers. In the end, all systems communicate via these interfaces and speak a "unified language". What opportunities are offered by the use of e-commerce APIs? APIs are connections between systems and applications, and the direct channels to customers and markets. Touchpoints are created on the basis of secure data exchange, the marketplaces of the companies are combined as one system. Completely new business opportunities are emerging. APIs provide flexibility and innovation. New end devices can be integrated without problems, new sales channels can be created. Changes in the market environment are responded to quickly and correctly. From virtual reality glasses to Smartwatch and Wearable to cars: any device can connect to the e-commerce application via API. This allows shopping experiences to be created. Independent of the end device, through the intelligent combination of functionalities across all channels. What options are available to digital commerce through APIs? The development is currently rapid, new providers with innovative APIs are coming onto the market almost daily. The core strategy behind this is that the e-commerce provider can see in advance what services and products the potential customer wants. He can now provide the relevant content and trigger the buying process anywhere on the websites and social channels. This can vary from location to location and enables spontaneous product adaptations. Distributed trade channels: customers buy from anywhere. Whether on the mobile device, via social channels or in stationary branches. The purchase offer can be personalized as required with open APIs. Multi-site management: country-specific pages only require an administrative environment. The architecture accesses identical processes and catalogs defined in the backend and makes them available adapted to the needs of the user in the frontend. The maintenance effort for multilingual websites and e-commerce applications is minimized. Predictive Recommendations: Increase sales with product recommendations. The personalization of the shopping experience increases the chance of additional sales. Relevant products matching the search are offered on the various channels (mail, web, social media). Order management: In addition to the physical channel, there is now the digital channel, which offers a complete overview. Customer profiles, orders, inventory data, products, special offers, ordering, purchasing and payment behavior are available at a glance and are available for order processing. Summary and conclusion E-Commerce knows a lot of new triggers: social media, voice, smart home, smart car, to name just a few. They combine these triggers and ensure that the purchase can be triggered immediately at any time from all end devices. Existing systems can be connected and expanded using APIs. In times when markets are changing rapidly, often no stone is left unturned, APIs allow retailers to keep their doors open, react coherently and quickly.

What is a Swagger API? Swagger is one of the most well-known open-source frameworks for describing, documenting, and developing RESTful APIs. It provides a standardized method for API specification, making it easier for professionals to create and manage interfaces. With Swagger, API endpoints can be visually represented, tested, and well-structured documentation can be generated. This significantly improves collaboration between professionals, testers, and other stakeholders. Originally, Swagger was developed as a standalone framework before evolving into the OpenAPI Specification (OAS). Today, OpenAPI serves as the standard for precisely defining and documenting APIs. Swagger remains an essential tool for the efficient development and documentation of modern APIs. Why is Swagger Used? Swagger offers numerous benefits for professionals and organizations. One of its greatest advantages is the automatic generation of interactive API documentation. This allows professionals to efficiently utilize API interfaces without manually writing documentation. Instead of laboriously testing API calls, they can be tested directly in the browser using Swagger UI—without requiring additional tools. This saves time and optimizes development. A typical use case is documenting microservices architectures, where many small, independent services need to be efficiently described and tested. Another advantage is the improved collaboration within teams. Since a clearly defined API specification is available, backend and frontend development teams can work in parallel. Support for multiple programming languages and the ability to generate code helps professionals quickly create client SDKs and server stubs. This automation reduces errors and accelerates the overall development process. What is Swagger Particularly Well-Suited For? Swagger is widely used for the efficient development, documentation, and testing of REST APIs. By providing a unified API specification, communication between teams is simplified, as all stakeholders have a common foundation for API development. Additionally, it helps identify errors early, as APIs can be validated and tested even in the planning phase. Swagger is particularly advantageous for microservices architectures, where many small, independent services interact. In such scenarios, clear and understandable API documentation is essential. Organizations that follow an API-First approach also benefit greatly from Swagger. Instead of documenting APIs after implementation, the API specification is defined right from the start. This ensures that all stakeholders have a consistent understanding of the API before development begins. Additionally, integrating third-party services is significantly simplified due to clear documentation. What Does the Contract/API-First Approach Mean? An important approach in modern API development is the Contract/API-First principle. Here, the API specification is created first before implementation begins. This offers numerous benefits, particularly for large, distributed teams. A clearly defined API serves as a contractual basis for all stakeholders. This not only simplifies planning and coordination but also enables parallel development of frontend and backend components. Using Swagger as an API-First tool significantly facilitates code generation. Professionals can automatically generate client and server code, accelerating implementation and minimizing errors. An API-First approach also ensures that APIs are well thought out, consistent, and comprehensible, thereby improving overall software quality. What Are the Differences Between Swagger 2.0 and OpenAPI 3.0? With the evolution of Swagger, OpenAPI 3.0 was introduced, bringing several significant improvements over Swagger 2.0. One of the biggest changes concerns the structure of API documentation. OpenAPI 3.0 allows for a more flexible definition of endpoints and data models. It also supports OneOf, AnyOf, and AllOf, making it easier to implement complex schema definitions. Another major difference is the improved support for HTTP methods and content types. While Swagger 2.0 only supported a single producing or consuming type per operation, OpenAPI 3.0 allows for the detailed specification of multiple media types within an API definition. Additionally, the handling of parameters and request types has been optimized, especially regarding support for JSON Schema. An additional feature of OpenAPI 3.0 is the enhanced support for server-side configurations. The new version allows for the definition of multiple server URLs, enabling APIs to be used flexibly across different environments. This makes it easier for professionals to switch between development, testing, and production environments. Is Swagger Still Used Today? Swagger remains one of the most widely used API documentation tools. Although the term "Swagger" is increasingly being replaced by "OpenAPI," many original Swagger tools are still in use. The community continues to grow, and numerous organizations rely on Swagger to optimize their API development. Thanks to broad support and continuous development, Swagger remains an indispensable tool for professionals and organizations looking to develop and document modern APIs. Conclusion Swagger provides a powerful solution for API development and documentation. With its extensive features, ease of use, and broad support, it remains a key tool for professionals and organizations. Particularly within an API-First approach, Swagger proves to be highly valuable, enabling efficient planning, specification, and implementation of APIs. Anyone looking to create a well-documented and easily testable REST API will find Swagger to be an essential tool.

Today’s work processes increasingly suffer from painful frictional losses resulting from the immense number of business processes, solution models and objectives. Over the course of time, proprietary methods have developed for various tasks, each of which, in turn, meets its own specific requirements. What is missing, however, is the synergetic potential to create a large entity through the cooperation and combination of the originally individual processes, which increases flexibility and efficiency. This can be achieved through the consistent use of APIs. Coordinated processes as an efficiency tool The use of APIs to increase efficiency and flexibility is not primarily aimed to increase revenue directly. This aspect is already indirectly achieved with consistent application. Above all, it is important in this area to minimise resistance forces and avoidable resource consumption in order to achieve greater economic efficiency in this way. More information on aspects of economic efficiency when using APIs can be found in the article Economic benefits of APIs. In the area of software development, the use of APIs allows the creation of a universal tool tailored to individual needs that provides related business processes and services side by side. A large part of the efficiency losses observed in the company is due to the constant switching between the required applications - a configuration that prevents any flexible response to current or time-critical events right from the start. APIs create a common basis Here APIs can help in two ways. On the one hand, they unite all applications required for the task under a common user environment. On the other hand, the internal structure of APIs allows flexible adaptation to current conditions. The benefits of this strategy are spectacular: APIs not only allow previously separate applications to be efficiently combined into a single functional unit, but they also enable rapid and problem-free expansion with additional functionalities. Regardless of how many individual applications cooperate with each other - access to them is always simple and highly effective. APIs as a tool for flexible data management A coordinated application environment consisting of several jointly operating applications requires the uncomplicated and fast administration of all necessary data as well as flexible access to it. APIs make data sharing effortless, allowing universal access that is essential for collaborative or time-critical processes. The demand for simple tools to change or extend application functionality, which is associated with flexible data management, is also fully met by APIs. They open up effortless and user-friendly ways for efficient and flexible data exchange with customers and business partners, combined with seamless access to all necessary backend processes. APIs as a bridge between developers and users The special data structure of APIs allows particularly intensive and fast communication channels between software developers and end users or marketing professionals involved in business processes. This enables optimized strategies to respond very quickly to changing market conditions or other external influences. Conclusion In all phases of the operational value chain, APIs can achieve often dramatic efficiency gains and noticeable process flexibility. This ranges from conceptual design to administration and usage. APIs support the development of new products and processes as well as the optimization of existing resources. When networking with cooperating systems, accessing data in real time and eliminating loss of time, the use of APIs is a must.