iPaaS stands for Integration Platform as a Service. In simplified terms, it means that the platform for integrations between systems is offered as a service in the cloud, i.e. the so-called cloud service.
While previously integration platforms required installations on servers from the companies or other organizations that use them, in the iPaaS model the company does not have to worry about background servers or installing or updating the integration platform itself.
Compared to traditional server-based integration platforms, the potential benefits are obvious:
- there is no need to install and update the integration platform.
- new features of the service are always available. A lot of investments are used to develop iPaaS services, and each user gets those benefits at their disposal all the time through the service.
- there is no need for own servers which cause need of maintenance and costs.
- several iPaaS services have ready-made connectors for the most common systems to be integrated, so you can quickly get started with the integrations.
- it is easier to find integration experts because the threshold for learning the system is lower.
- it does not require a large one-time investment to start with, you can get started with small expenses.
In addition to these benefits, many expectations are placed on iPaaS services, some of which they may already partly fulfill better than traditional integration platforms, or at least will strive to do so in the future. Such are e.g.
- automatic documentation of the integration implementation or another way of sharing information about the implementation.
- monitoring the functionality of integrations and automatic alerts of errors or deviations.
- easy to maintain a high level of information security.
- the service’s usability, access management and grouping, and intuitiveness at such a high level that most of the organizations’ representatives can use the service directly.
Currently, successful iPaaS services include e.g. Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services, Boomi AtomSphere, MuleSoft Anypoint Platform, Workato iPaaS, Microsoft Azure Logic Apps, Oracle Integration Cloud Service and Software AG webMethods.io Integration.
Trying out the cloud integration platform is easy. All you have to do is create credentials on the website of the iPaaS service provider you are interested in and choose a Connector that supports the system you are using. Configure the connector to connect to the system you want (e.g. a CRM cloud service is good for experimentation) and then connect the other end of the Connector to, for example, the business intelligence application you are using, e.g. Microsoft Power BI. You are ready! You now have your first integration via iPaaS up and running.
When you want to think more seriously about using iPaaS, you should start with the requirements, as in any software project. What are your organization’s expectations and needs for iPaaS?
The requirements should also be prioritized. Against the prioritized list of requirements, you can analyze how well different iPaaS services meet your expectations and which could work best in your organization.
Since trying out iPaaS is basically easy, it’s worth doing practical experiments with the services you rate as the best. In this case, you are not only relying on marketing materials and information provided by salespeople.
We can also help choose a suitable cloud integration platform, taking into account, e.g., your company’s technology strategy, technologies and software in use, and the data protection requirements. We also help with implementation.
Check out our integration expertise or book a sparring session directly from my calendar.
