API Consumer Experience

Ensure your API is discoverable, understandable, and usable — before and after launch.

Outcomes

• Identify and prioritize your API consumers

Related metrolines

• Platform Architecture Line

Why it matters

Great APIs don’t just work — they feel intuitive. Whether your consumer is an internal developer, external partner, or AI agent, their experience determines adoption.

Without a clear experience plan:

• Great APIs go unused
• Teams waste time guessing how to use your API
• Feedback loops are broken or missing.

This station helps you see your API through the eyes of its consumers.

Entry criteria

• Individual API opportunities are identified and documented.
• The API meets a clear business need and is reusable for multiple API consumers.
• The goal of the API is to hide backend data models and discrepancies.
• The value proposition validates with key stakeholders.
• API consumer segments (internal and external) are identified.
• High-level roadmaps for API development are established.

Exit criteria

• The API meets a clear business need and is reusable for multiple API consumers.
• The goal of the API is to hide backend data models and discrepancies.
• The value proposition validates with key stakeholders.
• API consumer segments (internal and external) are identified.
• High-level roadmaps for API development are established.

How it works

1. Map your API consumers and their needs for onboarding using an onboarding journey template or the Customer Journey Canvas.
   Customer Journey Canvas Map customer journeys to identify needs and pain points, enhancing API design and user experience.
2. Define the API consumer journey from discovery to troubleshooting, identifying key touchpoints and pain points.
   API Onboarding Best Practices Best practices to streamline API consumer onboarding journeys with step-by-step registration, discovery, and first-call guidance.

Apply in your work

Provide guidelines, tools, and feedback mechanisms for understanding, analyzing, and improving internal and external developer and partner experience.