Asia-Pacific Emerges as World’s Most AI-Ready Software Market
▼ Summary
– Postman’s 2025 State of the API Report reveals that 89% of global developers use AI tools, but most organizations lack the API maturity to operationalize them safely.
– APAC developers are 1.5 times more likely than global peers to use APIs as a foundation for AI innovation, with 35% designing APIs for AI agents compared to 22% elsewhere.
– APAC developers prioritize API security more, being 40% more likely to call security reviews very important and nearly twice as likely to run them daily compared to other regions.
– APAC teams ship APIs faster, being 26% more likely to say APIs help speed delivery and twice as likely to ship 50+ APIs annually than the rest of the world.
– APAC organizations lead in API-first adoption and governance, being 1.6 times more likely to be fully API-first and 1.4 times more likely to use governance tools internally.
The Asia-Pacific region is rapidly establishing itself as the global leader in AI-ready software development, according to the latest industry research. A comprehensive survey of over 5,700 developers and engineering leaders reveals that APAC is closing the AI-readiness gap, with its developers showing significantly greater maturity in building the API infrastructure necessary to operationalize artificial intelligence safely and at scale. This positions the region with a distinct early advantage in the race to deploy intelligent systems.
The data indicates that AI is fundamentally reshaping how APIs are designed in APAC. A full third of developers in the region view APIs as critical to their AI strategy, a notably higher proportion than the 22% seen elsewhere. Furthermore, 31% of APAC developers report that APIs are essential for powering AI agent workflows, making them 1.5 times more likely than their global counterparts to use APIs as a foundational element for AI innovation. This strategic approach underscores the understanding that scalable and reliable APIs form the essential connective tissue for functional and secure AI agents.
Security is another area where APAC sets a global benchmark. The research shows that 44% of developers in the region consider API security reviews very important, a stark contrast to the 32% global average. This makes APAC developers 40% more likely to prioritize security in their development process. They are also nearly twice as likely to integrate security reviews into their daily workflow, demonstrating a proactive and ingrained security-first culture.
Speed and performance are also treated as non-negotiable priorities. APAC development teams are 26% more likely to credit APIs with helping them ship software faster. The region is twice as likely to deploy more than 50 APIs annually compared to the rest of the world. Performance is a particular focus, with 69% of APAC developers rating API speed and performance as very important, compared to 54% globally. This intense focus on optimization is expected to yield significant business benefits, including greater operational efficiency, enhanced customer service, and ultimately, increased revenue.
Governance and trust tools are proving crucial for sustainable growth in the fast-moving APAC market. Organizations in the region are 1.6 times more likely to be fully API-first and 1.4 times more likely to employ internal governance tools. This stronger emphasis on governance is likely driven by the region’s rapid growth and complex regulatory environment, especially in key financial hubs like Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. Integrating robust governance from the outset helps companies build a solid foundation for expansion across multiple markets and industries.
In summary, developers and organizations across the Asia-Pacific are not just building software faster; they are building it smarter. With a superior focus on governance, collaboration, security, and automation, APAC is raising the bar for API development worldwide. Given that these factors are the bedrock of technological innovation, the accelerated pace in Asia-Pacific suggests it will be the primary breeding ground for the next wave of AI-driven business models, solidifying its status as the region to watch in the global technology landscape.
(Source: ITWire Australia)
