While cloud computing has enabled the rise of SaaS offerings, CIOs are now evolving in a hybrid environment where IT mixes external solutions – SaaS – and internally deployed solutions or even developed solutions. In addition, there is a need to adapt to the demands of the business. It is, therefore, necessary to be able to deploy new services or replace them quickly. Data integration is required from various on-site and SaaS/Cloud applications. In this context, gaining agility in the integration of solutions is essential. That’s what iPaaS cloud integration platforms are all about.
EAI, ETL, distributed ESB… Unlike monolithic middleware architectures, iPaaS allows you to capitalize on the advantages of the cloud and microservices to bring agility and simplicity to data integration in diversified environments.
iPaaS : definition
An iPaaS (Integrated Platform as a Service) is a cloud hub connecting an organization’s applications, environments, and data. iPaaS integrates and harmonizes various services to enable a seamless experience for the end user while being more straightforward, transparent, secure, and scalable for IT teams.
iPaaS faces a unique challenge in every enterprise: making all the parts of an existing heterogeneous environment work together. It’s all about smoothing the flow and orchestrating the different parts of an organized system.
The primary mission of an iPaaS is to make the data flow between the applications in real-time and to offer the best possible quality of service to the company’s digital tools. To this end, the implementation of an iPaaS platform enables the management of multiple data flows:
- Integrate all applications used within the organization, as well as by the organization’s partners;
- Format and structure data from different sources to make it usable by a broader range of stakeholders;
- Send and receive data to partners and customers;
- Gather information about leads and sales team communications to automate the filling of the CRM.
The core idea is to serve as a hub within the organization’s digital tools. Whether cloud-based or on-site, hosted or unhosted, third-party or developed in-house, iPaaS connects them all and makes them work synergistically.
iPaaS: how does it work?
The iPaas is, as its name suggests, an integration platform. Its role is to integrate all the elements necessary for the development and activity of the organization.
To do this, it sets up a series of processes that enable communication between the various elements. The platform maps these processes and communications, thus forming an interface. The whole system knows how to communicate with all the parts of the system that need it, structuring the data in a way that makes sense to each.
An iPaaS platform will also integrate format conversion, routing, management, and monitoring. It’s a toolbox that links together and makes all the company’s digital solutions work, internally, but not only.
The idea is to offer a hub of functionalities, which will make the work of the various teams, the processing of data of all kinds, and the connection between various applications more fluid.
iPaaS, Paas, SaaS: what are the differences?
PaaS: a toolkit that focuses on development work
As a platform, it will bring together all the applications and protocols needed to develop and maintain a system. But PaaS will not make them communicate with each other because it does not allow for their integration. Integration is the added value of an iPaaS, which makes it possible to create one complete and harmonized system by integrating all existing systems.
SaaS: an application hosted and made available via the Internet by its developer
Instead of installing the software on its computer equipment, the company benefits from a series of logins allowing its users to access the service online. An iPaas platform can make several SaaS work together, allowing the company to transfer its data automatically and instantly.
IaaS: the provision of network infrastructure in the cloud
Instead of warehousing servers, an organization will rent storage space and benefit from pre-installed maintenance and network security programs.
iPaaS combines all the benefits of PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS. Its role is to make everything work together like an orchestra conductor while guaranteeing up-to-date maintainability and security.
Benefits of iPaaS
A well-established iPaaS solution allows the company to increase its efficiency significantly. The main benefits of iPaaS are:
- Scalable and efficient: changes in web applications, data volume, or number of users are easily managed;
- Easy, seamless integration, allowing your teams, partners, and customers to operate without disruption. An iPaaS platform can handle both internal solutions and partner tools;
- More efficient and more straightforward systems design within the organization;
- Complete accessibility via the Internet thanks to cloud computing, whether it’s data or web applications, everything is available and up to date in real-time;
- Simplified maintenance thanks to the outsourcing of infrastructure management and observability issues;
- Increased security, thanks to standardized management of flows and connections between parts of the system;
- Increased compatibility between all kinds of applications, protocols, and databases;
- Fast and easy implementation, without having to program or install servers or software in-house;
Low-code solution dedicated to data integration and workflow automation, Marjory is an iPaaS platform designed to accelerate all your digital projects. Marjory facilitates the modeling of business processes to transform them into executable technical processes.
Specialized in complex data integration and process orchestration, our team helps you implement efficient and scalable automation, in with complete security. Want to learn more? Contact us now!
