Today, every business needs to integrate with other systems to work efficiently. Businesses need access to data from different sources and combine it into a single view of their customers’ behavior. Integration Platforms as a Service (iPaaS) give businesses this power without requiring any development or integration experience on the company’s IT staff.
This article will discuss iPaaS benefits, how they can help your business, and what you should consider before moving forward with an iPaaS solution.
Benefits of Integration Platforms
Integration platforms are designed for developers by delivering simplicity in design and deployment, low-code functionality that requires no coding skills at all, faster time-to-market when compared to traditional custom software development options. These options generally include software such as COTS solutions, industry-leading security features including encryption/decryption and data protection, immediate scalability capabilities without the need for additional tools or development resources.
What should you consider before moving forward with an iPaaS solution?
Because there is no upfront cost associated with installing an integrated platform solution, you’ll only have one major cost item (iPaaS subscription) to manage.
However, there are other factors to consider before moving forward with an iPaaS solution:
Can you afford the upfront costs of installing and maintaining your own custom software? If not, then you may want to explore integrating platforms as a service.
Do you need to integrate applications across multiple devices (e.g., mobile, web)? You’ll want to determine if any existing integrations exist that will meet your needs — this is one factor in determining whether or not deployment via integration platforms makes sense for your business.
Are there specific features within each application that require customization?
If so, it’s important to consider the level of customization required. If there are a significant number of customizations that need to be made for you to take advantage of your business needs and goals, this may not make sense as an iPaaS solution.
Is integration across multiple platforms what will best suit your organization? Do they have any relevant integrations already set up between applications (e.g., Salesforce with MailChimp), or do they lack features within their platform that would allow them to meet your desired requirements?
Do you require specific connectivity protocols like SSL/TLS encryption? Make sure those protocols exist within the application before moving forward with deployment via integration platforms.