Why External DX Matters for Your Product's Success
Length:
5 min
Published:
May 13, 2021
As we wrote in an earlier article, Developer Experience is a basic prerequisite for the success of digital products. Let's now look closely at external DX and the role it plays in how quickly third-party developers adopt your product. You will also see why it deserves your attention.
What does external DX cover?
When you think about external DX, focus on:
- The developer portal: how clear and easy it is to use.
- API documentation and other docs: their quality and comprehensibility.
- Your tools: whether they are clear, meaningful, easy to use, and save time.
- The speed at which a developer can integrate your product into another product.
What does external DX mean for your product?
You want others to use your product. But if the developer portal is confusing, the documentation is poor, and integration is hard, developers switch to a competitor who offers friendlier DX. This holds not only for developer portals, but for almost any product with an API or an ambition to succeed in today's digital world.
Key questions to ask yourself
When you build a product for developers, remember that they are a demanding group of users. Ask yourself:
Discovery and value proposition
- Is it clear how developers benefit from it? Do not hesitate to give examples.
- How fast can they try it or see it in action? Developers want to know what the product does before they download or integrate anything.
Getting started
- How fast and easy is adoption and integration? Aim for as few steps as possible.
- How quickly can a developer generate an API key in your portal?
- How easy is it to get through the initial Getting Started guide?
- Do they have to register just to try it?
Documentation and configuration
- Are the options, such as configuration, clear enough?
- Do you have solid documentation and a readme, with the possibilities explained (technical writing)?
- Does the documentation include examples so it is easier to understand?
- Do you communicate changes in your API and docs properly, for example through versioning?
Integration capabilities
- Do you offer an API so third parties can integrate your product and support your business?
- Do you provide libraries (SDKs) for your API to make it easier to use?
Why speed of integration matters
Do you run a digital product, such as a bank with PSD2 or any API service? Then integration speed matters to you a great deal.
Before a developer decides which product to use, they run a quick survey of what fits, then try a few options. Only after that do they go to their manager with a recommendation. Their priority is a product that is quick and easy to use. That is why integration speed is key both for you and for a higher conversion rate among your clients.
The role of IT support
IT support matters too. If you provide an API or a similar service, fast support is crucial for the client when something breaks.
Take the next step
Want to find out how well your developer portal is doing, or get a few pointers on improving your external DX? Get in touch and we will figure out together how we can help.
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