The Multigateway Maze: Essential API Governance for Innovation

We live in an era where technology advances faster than companies' ability to adapt. Massive digitization, the expansion of cloud services, and the constant quest to offer more personalized experiences have inevitably fragmented the technological landscape. Today, companies not only use different solutions and providers to meet specific needs, they also operate with multiple API gateways, which have become the new battleground for efficiency and innovation.

“By 2028, more than 75% of organizations will use two or more API gateways, compared to 25% in 2025,” according to Gartner. This growth is no coincidence: It reflects a reality where geographic expansion and the diversity of technological ecosystems drive the coexistence of multiple architectures. However, far from representing an immediate advantage, this evolution can become a real maze if it is not managed with a solid governance strategy.

A few years ago, having an API gateway was synonymous with modernization. Today, their presence has become the norm. Many cloud, ERP, and CRM providers offer them for free or at reduced prices, which has facilitated their adoption but also diluted their differential value. The competitive advantage no longer lies in having gateways, but in how they are managed, organized, and governed.

In an ideal environment, a company would operate under a single API gateway, with standardized processes, clear documentation, and consistent security policies. But the reality is far from that. In multigateway environments without governance, organizations face duplication of effort, inconsistencies in security standards, lack of visibility, duplicate APIs, and slow time-to-market.

In my opinion, to regain control, companies must implement a multigateway governance strategy that combines visibility, standardization, and flexibility. It is not about imposing rigid rules, but rather creating a central layer of observability and consistency that allows teams to innovate autonomously, but within a framework of security and compliance.

Good governance must offer:

• Centralization of APIs distributed across different gateways, providing a holistic view of the ecosystem.
• Compliance with quality, security, and performance standards.
• Continuous evolution, with metrics and dashboards that enable quick decisions and constant improvements.
• Native integrations with the main gateways on the market, avoiding technological bottlenecks and reducing manual efforts.
• An agnostic model, capable of adapting to multiple providers without compromising the company's technological freedom.

In Mexico, where digital ecosystems are growing rapidly in sectors such as banking, insurance, retail, and telecommunications, this ability to orchestrate diverse architectures is increasingly critical. Open finance and open data initiatives demand transparency, interoperability, and regulatory compliance; efficient API governance is the cornerstone of that transformation.

The Power of AI in API Governance

Artificial intelligence is redefining how companies manage their API ecosystems. Today, AI can detect redundancies, assess technical maturity, recommend best practices, and automate repetitive tasks. In other words, it turns governance into a dynamic and predictive process, capable of anticipating problems before they impact the business.

AI-powered multigateway governance not only ensures order but also drives continuous evolution. It allows teams to devote their time to what really matters: innovating, creating, and responding agilely to market demands.

Developers: The Protagonists of the Experience

Any governance strategy must have developers at its core. They are the ones who build, test, and bring to life the integrations that transform businesses. Combining governance with a robust, centralized developer portal is a decisive step: it facilitates onboarding, documentation, self-service, and security, promoting a frictionless experience.

The portal thus becomes a showcase for a company's APIs, where partners and internal teams can efficiently explore, test, and consume services. This approach not only accelerates development cycles, but also strengthens the community around APIs and expands their monetization potential.