In a customer centric, digitally dominant business landscape, maintaining relationships, improving service and business efficiency is not only valuable but essential. To achieve this, businesses rely on a multitude of systems like ERP, ecommerce, accounting, and even warehousing software to name a few. With multiple systems comes an enormous amount of data and the challenge of managing the flow of this through all these systems.
An ideal approach to meet this challenge is often adopting an iPaaS solution.
iPaaS (integration platform as a service) is a range of cloud services that allow organisations to create automated data streams between their business systems to improve operational efficiency.
Whilst an iPaaS solution is the perfect tool to enable system integration there are many providers out there. And not all offer the same functionality. Here we have come up with 5 key factors to consider when selecting an iPaaS solution for your business.
Hybrid Integration
Whilst cloud-based applications are becoming frequently used in business, many organisations still rely on certain on-premises systems. When this is the case, it is essential that the iPaaS solution offers integration between both on-premises and cloud-based systems. Allowing all business systems to communicate in real time.
System Complexity
When selecting the right solution for your business you want to determine the how simple it is to operate. Ask yourself, does the application allow anyone in the business to create integrations without any technical or coding knowledge? And if not, do we have the knowledge internally to use it?
A strong iPaaS solution should offer simple tooling and pre-made mappings. This enables integrations to be created efficiently and without the need for developers or IT experts.
Service Offering
Does the iPaaS provider offer ongoing support and training? It’s incredibly important to assess the type of support your potential iPaaS solution is accompanied with. Like anyone, those using the product will want opportunities to learn and grow. The correct provider should offer initial training to upskill those using the application along with ongoing support. Therefore helping your business get the most out of the solution.
Flexibility
It’s likely that as your business grows the number of applications used and data accumulated will increase. So, will your iPaaS solution grow with your business?
You must review the flexibility of your iPaaS solution by asking the following questions:
- Is there a limit to how much data I can transfer/Automate?
- Is there a limit to how many systems I can integrate to?
Make sure to find a solution that can offer both unlimited integrations and data transactions. Saving you the hassle of finding a new solution as soon as more applications are added to the mix. Many providers offer these at an upcharge. So it is important you are comfortable with the pricing structure before selecting your solution.
Catalogue
Whilst you may have identified if the provider offers the integrations you are looking for, it’s important to consider their full catalogue. Do they support many business applications? Do they release new integrations and product updates regularly? If not, then this may be an indication that your chosen solution may not provide the necessary functionality your business requires further down the line.
iPaaS solutions are often the most efficient way for organisations to integrate their business platforms. However as they have risen in popularity the number of providers is increasing. To achieve the best results with an iPaaS solution is to select one you have complete confidence in and one in which your team can confidently deploy. With the right iPaaS solution at your disposal your business can immediately begin to reduce costs and free up resources.
Comments are closed.