Business apps help companies handle key functions, and in the process, both generate and require valuable data. But as companies grow, much of that information stays siloed, and organizations can’t take full advantage of it without manual data transfers, or engaging developers to help connect different systems. Jan Arendtsz, CEO of Celigo, discusses the solution: iPaaS.
Every company recognizes that the right data in the right place at the right time is an important business currency. Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) technologies standardizes how that data moves across the organization, simplifying information sharing and enabling process automation and innovation. Companies that add iPaaS to their solution stack early can have a significant advantage in reducing manual processes and the resulting errors, delays, lack of visibility, and additional costs. iPaaS can also put companies in a better position to scale up operations, and with next generation iPaaS, an entire new class of users can manage integrations in an organization.
The proliferation of business apps causes data silos
The proliferation of business apps creates data silos faster than most companies can integrate the data. The business app market has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years. To cite just one category of applications, the number of apps available in the marketing technology space has grown from approximately 150 in 2011 to more than 7,000 this yearOpens a new window . And remember — apps are proliferating to automate tasks in virtually every department, not just marketing.
The “Consumerization of the EnterpriseOpens a new window †trend is driving this proliferation, and since apps are saving organizations time and money, the number of apps will keep growing. Another factor to keep in mind is that the IT department no longer controls which apps business units select. Companies no longer choose a single ecosystem and select apps from that universe — now, the standard is for business units to choose their own apps, so sales solutions aren’t necessarily compatible with the apps the fulfillment team uses.
This works until business units need to share information with another business unit. They then discover that the native integration tools from the app used by one group don’t allow the free flow of data to a solution used by another team. Integration is essential, but too many companies still don’t have a comprehensive integration strategy, so they use a patchwork of tactics to connect business processes and data. That slows them down, stifling the organization’s ability to digitally transform.
Current integration solutions aren’t working
Native integration tools may seem adequate at first glance — for example, a marketing team’s automation technology is typically capable of delivering data to the sales organization’s CRM system. That’s because Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) vendors know integration is an issue and that integration tools make their products more attractive to business users. But when the users try to create a custom integration, they find out the product isn’t as simple to integrate as they thought, and that’s when they start using manual processes, buy point-to-point connectors or call in a developer to help.
Point-to-point connectors from a third party vendor can simplify some integrations, but like native integration tools, they are rarely sufficient for complex integration needs. And as the list of SaaS apps in use at the company grows, the need for connections also grows, quickly outstripping the usefulness of point-to-point connectors.
When that happens, businesses often turn to IT to create a custom solution using code and APIs. Developers can build robust integration solutions with code and APIs. But every minute they spend connecting data and processes is time they can’t spend on more strategic, revenue-generating tasks. As new apps come online or processes change, developers have to take on new projects and maintain existing solutions.
iPaaS Standardizes How Applications are Integrated
iPaaS simplifies the process of connecting applications and workflows, which eliminates the need to create a new solution or engage in maintenance whenever a business user deploys an app or adjusts a workflow. Not only does iPaaS simplify integration, it standardizes the way apps are added, allowing information to stream across the organization, whether the data is static or transactional. iPaaS solutions typically deliver crucial functions right out of the box, including:
- Guaranteed data delivery
- Error handling
- Endpoint adaptors and connectors
- Data governance
- Lifecycle management
- Developer tools
Early versions of iPaaS were designed for technical experts, but next-generation iPaaS technology is intuitive, meaning business users without special expertise can create connections. Next-generation iPaaS is also robust enough that developers can use it to meet complex data and process customization needs. Because of its flexibility, next-generation iPaaS solutions are an essential part of an integration strategy, allowing companies of all types to let the data flow where exactly where it is needed.