It wasn’t long ago that application programming interfaces (APIs) were strictly the domain of IT departments and developers. APIs were complex and had to be carefully maintained. Things have quickly and dramatically changed. At the end of 2012, there were approximately 7,000 APIs globally, double the number that existed just the year before.

Here are three factors that have lead to this explosion of API growth:

1. Cloud and PaaS

Over the past decade, cloud computing and Platform as a Service (PaaS) have been critical when it comes to helping businesses innovate quickly. While developer-focused APIs still exist, they are largely managed and maintained by cloud services providers. This frees companies from the complexity of working directly with APIs or on-premise systems.

2. Mobile Usage

Mobile and the rise of the app economy have opened the API floodgates. This happened first for the consumer, and now for businesses. Companies have new opportunities to market their products, while employees can stay in touch with their business like never before. With more than half the world’s population expected to be app users by 2017, the mobile renaissance will only accelerate.

3. Connected Products

Connected devices designed for both consumers and businesses will fuel the next wave of API growth. The true potential of APIs invites a new era of communication, where every device in your home, your car, and even your clothing, is linked; where data and insights can be shared with businesses in real-time, from billions of devices around the world.

To read much more on how APIs are driving the connected revolution, please visit the original VentureBeat article here.

For additional information on how you can leverage APIs for mobile development, download our free ebook, Join the Mobile App Revolution: 8 Steps to Building Mobile Apps Fast in the Cloud.