From Strategy to Execution: What it Really Takes to Mature Your API Program

Your business isn’t slowing down, and neither can your API strategy.

For teams navigating digital transformation and laying the groundwork for AI-readiness, APIs sit at the core. Yet for many organizations, the challenge isn’t why APIs matter – it’s how to deliver them consistently, securely, and at scale. Bridging the gap between strategy and execution is what sets forward-looking teams apart.

That’s why we teamed up with guest speaker David Mooter, Principal Analyst at Forrester, for a deep-dive webinar on API maturity. Alongside Frank Kilcommins, SmartBear’s Principal API Technical Evangelist, we unpacked common roadblocks, shared proven models, and offered practical guidance to help teams shift from API ambition to execution that delivers measurable business value.

Here’s a recap of the main takeaways, and how you can start applying them with your team today.

Why API Strategy Alone Isn’t Enough

“APIs are the longest-living pieces of technology we create. The implementation can come and go – but the contract should remain consistent.” — Frank Kilcommins

The issue isn’t a lack of strategy, it’s fragmentation. Many programs get stuck because they’re siloed in IT, overly dependent on manual governance, or disconnected from business priorities. If you’re still firefighting point-to-point integrations, you’re not alone.

Start with the End in Mind

Start with the business outcomes you want and work backwards to your operating model and technology investments.” — David Mooter, Forrester

Don’t lead with tooling. Lead with intent.

David introduced Forrester’s API Enablement Model, anchored by three pillars: business leadership, operating model, and tech stack. Whether you’re expanding to new customer channels, onboarding partners, or preparing for AI-driven consumption, your business goals should shape every API decision.

🎥 Watch the 2-minute clip on the 3 Pillars of API Enablement

Build and Evolve Your Tech Stack

David outlined a 7-part framework for a comprehensive API platform. The most common gaps? Support for non-REST APIs, developer-friendly portals, and better visibility.

“Think of your tech stack in three layers: user management, SDLC workflows, and cross-cutting concerns like governance and security.” — David Mooter

🎥 Discover more about the 7 areas of a comprehensive API platform

How API Hub Maps to the 7 Areas of a Comprehensive Platform

SmartBear API Hub helps teams meet Forrester’s vision of a “comprehensive API platform” by covering six of the seven core capability areas. From developer portals to testing and lifecycle governance, API Hub offers a gateway-agnostic, AI-enabled approach designed to support both scale and consistency.

Federate Your Operating Model

“You cannot scale if you’re bottlenecking everything through a central review team. Federated delivery is essential.” — Frank Kilcommins

Starting with a centralized Center of Excellence is fine. But to scale, you need to decentralize execution while centralizing standards and enablement.

We explored how companies like Roche use platform engineering, integration champions, and communities of practice to deliver APIs at scale, without sacrificing governance or velocity.

Make APIs a Business Asset

“IT-led API strategy sees APIs as glue. Business-led strategy sees them as products.” — David Mooter

The shift from IT-driven to business-aligned API leadership is essential. When APIs are treated as long-lived products – not short-term projects – they become enablers of reuse, speed, and adaptability.

As I put it during the session:

“The real ROI comes when your APIs become building blocks the business can experiment with.”

Measure What Matters and Keep Iterating

You can’t improve what you don’t track. Beyond uptime or latency, teams should be measuring developer onboarding, consumption, and change resilience.

“What you measure at early maturity will differ from what matters in later stages. Your KPIs should evolve just like your platform does.” — Frank Kilcommins

At SmartBear, we help teams assess their maturity with periodic scorecards and actionable insights across the API lifecycle.

🎥 See how

Ready to Put Strategy into Action?

The API economy is surging, but so is complexity. With over 73% of API traffic now driven by AI agents, the stakes are higher than ever. It’s no longer enough to define a strategy. You need a plan to execute it. Intentionally and at scale.

👉 Watch the full webinar on demand
👉 Ready to assess your maturity or evolve your operating model? Let’s talk.

Let’s stop reacting and start building for what’s next.