Products are policy in motion

API products define which APIs consumers can use, under what quota, and with what approval model. Over time, product catalogs often grow through exceptions, temporary bundles, regional variants, and partner-specific shortcuts. Migration should not automatically bless that complexity.

Rationalization lens

Group products by business capability, consumer segment, exposure level, and operational tier. Remove duplicates, clarify approval models, and align quotas with current business expectations. Maintain backward compatibility where needed, but do not confuse compatibility with permanent clutter.

Migration result

  • Smaller product catalog with clearer intent.
  • Explicit mapping from old product to new product.
  • Approval status preserved during app migration.
  • Governance model that product owners can understand.

Good product design makes API consumption easier to govern and easier to explain.