The tech giant Google has acquired the rising API startup Apigee in a $625 million deal. Both companies reached an agreement this past Thursday, September 8. Diane Greene, Senior Vice President of Google’s corporate branch, published a post with the announcement back on Thursday at the Google Cloud Platform Blog.
Most recently, the Alphabet subsidiary bought the cloud software company Bebop back in late 2015, the cloud video startup Anvato, and the enterprise-focused platform Orbitrera on August for $100 million.
The search giant Google has slowly but consistently been gaining presence in the corporate services industry with the articulation of various tools. The California-based company wants to compete with the likes of Amazon and Microsoft.
What is an API?
Diane Greene sharply pointed out in its post the importance of APIs for businesses nowadays and potentially in the future. APIs (application programming interfaces) are the core of interaction between different software pieces, to put it simply.
The development of APIs on a macro scale for companies allows them and their customers to interact with various platforms, applications, and services necessary for their optimum functioning.
Google has been expanding its cloud service catalog
The former Bebop CEO was named Senior Vice President of Google’s cloud businesses to face the challenges ahead as it prepared for taking on the corporate services market.
In an interview with Recode following the Apigee purchase, Greene stated she was excited about the integration of her division finally fitting into place at Google and the significance of their work with the tech giant.
“The addition of Apigee’s API solutions to Google cloud will accelerate our customers’ move to supporting their businesses with high-quality digital interactions. Apigee will make it much easier for the requisite APIs to be implemented and published with excellence,” said Greene.
Apigee’s customer base lists big names in various industries, including Walgreens, AT&T, Live Nation, First Data, Burberry, and Bechtel. The API management startup is responsible for developing the supporting structure for some of Walgreen’s core services like prescription refills and photo printing.
Google intends to put Apigee in the front line of digital interaction solutions for businesses in the future. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft continue to be the lead providers in the cloud enterprise services industry.
Source: Google Cloud Platform Blog