Mindtree conceptualised and built a scalable, cost effective OpenAPI solution for a major European airline group. We further advanced the client’s OpenAPI initiative by integrating the booking functionality for richer travel experiences, which in turn, strengthened their direct distribution strategy.
Business Outcomes
- 10% savings in license cost
- Growth in sales through increased brand visibility, with ability to target new markets by the addition of a completely new revenue channel
- Improved booking experience for the airline customers
- Positioned the client as a tech savvy innovative organization in their industry
The Client
Our client is a major European aviation group comprising several member airlines and aviation services
The Challenge
The client wanted to build a solution for partners, travel agents & public to make data available more widely, in effect create a new revenue channel for themselves. The product's core feature would be to expose the airline’s data to travel agents, public & partners, who can register (self-service API registration) to integrate either mobile apps, web or any media of usage.
The client decided to create an Open Application Programming Interface (API) which exposes their data and functions to developers in the outside world, via the internet. This OpenAPI would also be available to their own service providers and departments as well, to develop internal services.
The customer was looking for a technology partner who could conceptualize and build a highly scalable new OpenAPI architecture, in a cost-effective manner. The solution should allow public, partners & travel agents to consume services for their requirements.
Mindtree’s Approach:
The initial goals that were set out for the OpenAPI initiative were to provide controlled access, connect easily to consume APIs, provide external reachability and leverage internet standards.
Mindtree transitioned from an existing vendor & completely reviewed the existing OpenAPI solution proposed by them, which was not scalable & involved high licensing cost. Mindtree proposed a revamped solution, aligned with the client’s long-term strategy of a preferred technology stack & cost effectiveness. The high-level solution architecture is depicted here. Mindtree engineered the solution development in three phases:
Highlights of Solution:
- Just 12 hours after onboarding of the new OpenAPI, the first booking from an individual was registered
- High availability system (99.95%) without performance degradation
- Self Service API registration & documentation to integrate with client APIs
- Integration with multiple security models
- Migration proposed to decommission the expensive software components as well as reduce operational costs
- Contract first approach (swagger & mock services) for all new API development, which led to quicker turnaround for new API development & hosting
- Standard RESTful APIs using HTTPs/HTTP over JSON & XML, with Swagger Integrated/ enabled for every API
- Adopting the DevOps approach for solution delivery
- Hosting on cloud platform supporting containers
