Discover Application Networks
After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:
- Define an application network and its components.
- Identify key benefits of application networks, including agility, scalability, and reuse.
- Describe how application networks address modern IT challenges, such as integration gaps.
Understanding APIs—The Building Blocks of Application Networks
APIs (application programming interfaces) are the foundation of modern digital connectivity. An API is a structured way for software applications to communicate, defining what data can be accessed, how it should be requested, and how it will be returned. APIs act as contracts between systems, allowing them to exchange information in a secure and controlled way.
For example, when you check the weather on your phone, an API request is sent to a weather service, and it retrieves up-to-date forecast data. This same principle applies to business applications—APIs let organizations access and share data efficiently, regardless of the systems involved.
APIs can take different forms:
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REST APIs use lightweight, web-friendly protocols and are widely used for cloud applications.
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SOAP APIs follow a stricter format often found in enterprise integrations.
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Database APIs provide structured access to data stored in back-end systems.
Modern APIs share three key qualities:
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Discoverable and accessible: APIs are designed to be easily found and used by developers.
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Productized and reusable: Once built, APIs can be used across multiple projects.
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Managed for security and performance: APIs enforce access policies and scale with business needs.
With APIs in place, organizations can build scalable, reusable application networks that reduce IT complexity and improve agility.
The Power of Connection
Organizations now need to be more connected than ever. Managing customer relationships to streamlining internal operations, relies on friction-free data sharing. But many companies rely on IT architectures built over years (sometimes decades) that are riddled with silos. These disconnected systems make it difficult to share data effectively, let alone keep up with new technologies or business demands.
Before Application Network
This is where application networks come in. They provide a flexible, scalable way to connect systems using reusable building blocks called APIs. And when paired with a modern integration strategy like API-led connectivity, application networks become the basis for a robust system that allows organizations to thrive and innovate.
After Application Network
What Is an Application Network?
An application network is a framework that connects applications, data, and devices in a reusable, scalable, and governed way. This network creates a flexible system where components can interact securely and efficiently—without needing to rebuild integrations from scratch each time.
At the heart of every application network are APIs, which make it easy for systems to talk to each other. For example, when you track a package in a delivery app, that app likely uses an API to request up-to-date tracking data from a shipping provider. That API is one of many that could be reused in other apps or experiences.
Instead of IT departments building single-use integrations for every system, application networks use APIs as standardized, reusable building blocks. These APIs unlock data and services while ensuring security and control.
Key Benefits of Application Networks
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Reusability: APIs are designed once and can be used across multiple projects and teams.
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Scalability: New systems or applications can be integrated seamlessly into the network.
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Governance: IT retains oversight while empowering teams to innovate faster through self-service.
What Challenges Can an Application Network Solve?
Modern IT organizations face a lot of pressure to keep up with the pace of change. Mobile apps, cloud services, and big data analytics demand seamless integration, but traditional IT models struggle to keep up. Application networks offer a way of working that helps IT deliver innovation reliably and at speed. Here are the primary challenges that application networks address.
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Data silos: Systems and departments often operate independently, creating barriers to collaboration and efficient data sharing. These silos lead to manual processes, inconsistencies, and operational delays.
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High costs: Custom-built integrations for each new system are expensive and time-consuming. They require ongoing maintenance, limiting IT’s ability to focus on strategic initiatives.
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Inflexibility: Adapting to new business demands or technologies is slow and cumbersome. Traditional IT operating models can’t scale to meet the growing demands for innovation and responsiveness.
Example: Simplifying Complex Systems at Mule United Airport
Mule United Airport (MUA) is a regional hub hosting three airlines, each using different technologies to manage flight data.
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Zephyrus Air provides data through a RESTful API.
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Cloudy Aviation relies on SOAP web services.
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Ursa Major Airlines stores flight data in a MySQL database.
Note: Don’t worry if these API types are new to you, you’ll explore them in more detail later.
Previously, these systems operated in silos, creating numerous operational challenges.
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Inefficient data sharing: Each airline’s system operated independently, making it difficult to retrieve and consolidate information.
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Delayed updates: Without real-time data sharing, passengers and staff often dealt with outdated or incomplete flight information.
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Data errors: Variations in data formats between systems frequently caused inconsistencies and processing issues.
To solve these issues, MUA implemented an application network:
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API creation and standardization: APIs were created for each airline, enabling seamless data sharing regardless of underlying technology.
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Real-time data access: The APIs provided a standardized interface, allowing MUA systems to retrieve real-time updates on flights.
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Increased efficiency: IT teams reused APIs for various integrations, saving time and resources.
Now, when a passenger opens the airport app to check their flight status (1), the app uses APIs to retrieve the specific information they need (2). Depending on their airline, the app contacts their system to provide relevant updates, like flight status, gate number, or baggage claim information. The API retrieves the necessary data and sends it back to the app (3), which displays the information in a clear and user-friendly format (4).
Previously, MUA relied on rigid, point-to-point integrations or periodic batch updates to exchange information between systems. These methods lacked the flexibility and speed needed to provide passengers with real-time updates, often resulting in outdated or incomplete information. With APIs, these limitations were eliminated, enabling real-time access to critical data and improving operational efficiency.
This API-led approach enhances the passenger experience and helps airport staff by reducing dependency on outdated processes and tools. IT teams also benefit from reusable APIs, which simplify the integration of new airlines or applications into the network.
Application networks empower organizations to work more efficiently. Whether you’re managing complex systems or want to innovate faster, APIs and application networks offer a solid foundation for scalable and secure digital transformation.
The Power of Multiplication
Application networks unlock value with every new API. Each API becomes a reusable asset, extending its benefits across multiple projects and applications, creating a powerful network effect. As more APIs are added, the possibilities for innovation and efficiency grow dramatically.
- An API for flight schedules can enable passenger notifications, optimize real-time gate assignments, and improve airport coordination.
- Customer data APIs can integrate seamlessly with mobile apps, drive personalized loyalty programs, and support targeted marketing campaigns.
The more APIs you build, the more powerful the network becomes.
Application networks revolutionize the way organizations connect systems and share data. By combining reusable APIs with a structured approach like API-led connectivity, businesses can scale, innovate, and respond to market changes faster than ever.
Ready to dive deeper? In the next unit, you explore the principles of API-led connectivity and how they transform integration into a strategic advantage.