subject: The Advantages of Integrating APIs with Other Services for Extending Services [print this page] The Advantages of Integrating APIs with Other Services for Extending Services
API stands for application programming interface, and is an interface that is utilized by certain software programs in order to allow people to communicate, collaborate, and interact with users of other software programs. Basically, an application programming interface can initiate and facilitate points of interaction between distinct software programs and somewhat merge the features of all software programs involved in the process. Application programming interfaces are utilized in many different file libraries, operating systems, and applications.
A number of different software service companies now integrate APIs to allow them to use other software services and vice versa. This provides their collective clients with a wider array of products and services that are well-integrated, offering more flexibility and convenience. One of the more popular software products that many other application providers merge with their systems via API is the electronic digital signature.
Electronic digital signatures, or esignatures, are electronic means of authenticating and verifying information digitally. People can find vendors on the internet that can provide them with their very own unique esignatures that they can use for electronic document signing and other things that require their authentication. Esignatures are bound by the ESIGN act, which protects their use and penalizes any misuse or abuse. The laws that govern the use of electronic digital signatures are similar to those implemented in the use of regular signatures for document signing. Esignatures have been extremely useful to many individuals and businesses, especially when used with other software applications via APIs.
One of the most common application services that are paired up with electronic digital signature applications are cloud services. Cloud services allow businesses and clients to work together and collaborate on tasks and projects electronically, which almost completely eliminates the need to physically be in the same office in order to work. A lot of different transactions and document signing processes can also be done within a cloud project with the use of esignatures. Having an electronic method for authenticating and verifying important contracts, documents and other pertinent information within a cloud transaction can definitely make operations a lot easier for everyone involved.
Marketing software applications also make use of APIs so they can use electronic digital signatures with their systems. The use of electronic signatures for supplier-provided marketing software can help a lot in closing a lot of transactions sooner. Since every contract necessary for closing deals can be handled electronically, the amount of time and money saved from traveling and processing paper documents positively impacts the operations of any business that's centered on marketing products. Customers of such companies that use marketing software applications that integrate the use of esignatures also appreciate the convenience of handling everything on their end straight from their homes or mobile devices.
There are plenty of other advantages that businesses can experience when using various software applications that are merged by APIs. Typically, what APIs do is make a number of different applications function as one big software program, making these applications easier and more accessible for everyone to use.
