Apigee®, developer of the leading platform for digital acceleration, today announced the finalists in the 2014 Digital Accelerator Awards, a global awards program recognizing innovative individuals and organizations accelerating and transforming businesses with APIs and data.
"Digital Accelerator Award nominations came in from all over the world and from organizations across industries," said Chet Kapoor, Apigee's chief executive officer. "It shows that digital transformation is happening everywhere, as businesses leverage data and technologies like APIs to streamline IT and fundamentally enhance the value they bring to customers. We congratulate all the Digital Accelerator finalists for their vision and innovation, and for serving as models for digital business in today's fast-paced, connected, mobile world."
The 2014 Digital Accelerator Awards include a range of categories, from individuals taking digital innovation to new levels to businesses that are completely transforming with data and digital technologies. The category winners and the winner of the overall "Top Digital Accelerator" award will be revealed at the "I love APIs" conference, Sept. 8-10 in San Francisco. Following are the finalists in each category.
Top Digital Visionary
This category recognizes a business leader who's had positive change on his or her organization by leading enterprise innovation and transforming digital assets into new value for customers, partners and/or employees using APIs and data. The finalists are:
- John de Keijzer: Head of Enterprise Architecture & Technical Strategy NIT, Swisscom
- Ratnakar Lavu: Executive Vice President, Digital Technology, Kohl's Department Stores
- Madhu Nutakki: Vice President, Digital Presence Technologies, Kaiser Permanente
- Dan Raju: Co-founder and CEO, Tradier
- Allen Rodgers: Director, Developer Network and API Program; and Kendrick McLish, Head of Product Marketing and Strategy, Global Higher Education, Pearson (Joint finalists)
Top API Innovator
This category recognizes an API evangelist who has driven the implementation of his/her company's API program by building an effective team and executing the company's digital strategy. The finalists are:
- Mike Debnar: Vice President, Portfolio Management, 7-Eleven
- Heather Mickman: Senior Group Manager, Target Technology Services
- Nathan Pawlicki: Director, Integration Services & Design Reviews, Coca-Cola
- Joe Rago: Senior Mobile Product Manager, Walgreens
Top Digital Pioneer
The digital economy is often viewed as the habitat of young, digital native companies. This category recognizes individuals who are pioneering successful digital programs at some of the oldest companies in the world -- businesses that have had the vision and agility to thrive for 100+ years. These people are spearheading technology initiatives that will ensure their organizations continue to lead in the digital economy. The finalists are:
- Alan Boehme: Chief Enterprise Architect, Global Head of Emerging Technologies/Innovation, Coca-Cola
- Jeroen Tas: CEO Informatics, Solutions & Services, Philips
- Jerry Wolfe: CIO, Connected Commerce Executive, McCormick
Best API Program
This category recognizes an organization with an outstanding API program that exemplifies innovation in strategy, design, developer experience and support. The organization with the winning API program will have a well-defined plan and business model, a simple, flexible design, and it will have created business value. The finalists are:
Best Data Analytics for Digital Business
This category recognizes an organization that has driven the use of data analytics in their digital programs to provide new visibility and insight into their digital ecosystems, customers and/or business. The finalists are:
Top API for the Internet of Things
The award recognizes an organization demonstrating ground-breaking innovation in creating a new experience or reinventing an existing experience by digitally enabling "things" such as wearables and other everyday devices. A successful IoT entry will use APIs to enable "things" to use data in new ways to enhance the way people live, work and play. The finalists are:
Best Developer Experience
This category recognizes an organization with an outstanding developer program. The winning program will excel at enabling developer success, providing the right incentives to attract developers and encourage adoption; offering support and tools; and inviting interaction and feedback. The finalists are:
Digital Business Excellence in Retail, Finance, Telecom, Healthcare
Winners in this category will be organizations in one of four industry verticals that demonstrate successful digital transformation. The winners' stories will show how a well-implemented digital strategy powered by data and delivered by APIs can turbo-boost business agility, speed time-to-market and enhance customer interactions. The finalists are:
The Digital Accelerator Award winners will be announced and recognized at the Apigee "I love APIs" conference, Sept. 8-10, 2014 in San Francisco.