Persistence of the Human API
If manual data entry is so inefficient, why does almost every company still do it?
Because humans are the ultimate patch.
This is the Human API.
Software is rigid. If a column name changes in a database, a code-based integration breaks instantly. But a human? A human sees the change, thinks "Oh, they moved the 'Email' column to column D," and keeps typing.
In the world of software, an API (Application Programming Interface) is what allows two programs to talk to each other. When you pay for a coffee with your phone, an API connects the terminal to the bank. It takes milliseconds, costs a fraction of a cent, and never makes a typo.
In many businesses, however, that connection is a human being. And it is costing you a fortune.
We rely on Human APIs because they are:
- Fast to set up: You don't need a developer or a budget approval. You just say, "Hey Dave, can you copy these over?"
- Infinitely flexible: Humans can handle messy data, weird exceptions, and "just this once" requests.
- Invisible: The cost is buried in salaries, not software licenses.
The problem is that the temporary fix becomes a permanent workflow. That one-off task Dave did five years ago is now 20% of his job description.
The Hidden Cost of Copy-Paste
The danger isn't just the wasted salary (though that is significant). The real cost is deeper.
- The Error Rate: Humans get tired. We get bored. After the 50th row, we transpose a digit or paste the phone number into the email field. Bad data enters your system, and automation breaks down downstream.
- The "Bus Factor": If Dave wins the lottery (or gets hit by a bus), your integration strategy walks out the door. Nobody else knows how he "massages" the data before pasting it.
- The Morale Killer: Nobody went to university to press Ctrl+V. Using bright, creative people as data mules is the fastest way to burn them out.
How to Resign as a Human API (The Low-Friction Way)
You don't need a six-month Enterprise Transformation project to fix this. You just need to lower the friction of automation.
Here is the guide to firing yourself as an API:
The Native Check
Before you buy anything, look at the tools you already have. You'd be shocked how many platforms now have native integrations that are just turned off.
- Using HubSpot and Xero? There's a free sync for that.
- Using Shopify and Mailchimp? It's one click in the settings. Often, the Human API exists simply because nobody has checked the Settings menu since 2019.
The Glue Tools (Zapier & Make)
If a native connection doesn't exist, don't hire a developer yet. Look at "Low Code" automation tools like Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat). These tools act as a universal adapter. They let you say: "When a new row appears in Google Sheets, create a contact in Salesforce."
- Cost: ~$30/month.
- Setup Time: An afternoon.
- ROI: Infinite, once you factor in the time saved.
The Exception Rule
The biggest blocker to automation is the fear of exceptions. "But sometimes the data is weird!" Automate the 80% that is standard. If a record looks weird, have the automation "fail" it into a separate list for human review. Let the robot handle the boring stuff. Let the human handle the weird stuff.
Elevate the Human
The goal of this exercise isn't to replace people with robots. It's to let people be people.
Your team should be analyzing the data, talking to customers, and solving complex problems. They shouldn't be the glue holding your software stack together.
Audit your week. If you find yourself hitting Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V more than ten times in a row, stop.
You are too smart to be an API.