The Use of Hypermedia/HATEOAS of a RESTful Application Programming Interface (API) from the financial Services Environment: A Feasibility Study

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2019 in the subject Business economics - Review of Business Studies, grade: 1.3, University of Paderborn (Chair of Business Informatics, especially Digital Markets), language: English, abstract: This study examines whether the advantages offered by Hypermedia As The Engine Of Application State (HATEOAS) can also be exploited when using Application Programming Interfaces (API) documentation standards such as OpenAPI. The aim is to guide the user through the use of an API, thereby improving the Developer Experience (DX) and thus increasing the competitiveness of an API. In an increasingly networked world, there are fewer and fewer organizations that act as monoliths. Instead, more and more see an opportunity in working with others to create new business opportunities, become more innovative and compete in the marketplace. IBM's C-suite study on Digital Reinvention showed that many companies rely on external collaboration to maintain competitiveness. Six out of ten organizations are already collaborating with customers or competitors. The goal of the collaborating parties is to develop new products and services and gain access to new segments, customers and skills. One set of tools that can be used to implement such collaborations are so-called Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). They provide an interface for organizations to exchange data and applications in a standardized manner. Driven by factors such as progress in the field of Internet of Things (IoT) and digital reinvention of older industries, an own API economy has developed. In recent years, this economy has been characterized in particular by its rapid and steadily increasing growth. In order to become part of this economy and remain competitive, more and more companies are deciding to make their internal systems accessible for collaboration with third parties via APIs. However, the challenge here is to assert oneself against established and dominant APIs. Accordingly,