iPaaS: What It Is, How It Works, and Why Consider the Investment

With a market demand for increasingly specialized technologies, the great challenge is to ensure that new software, applications and resources work in an integrated manner, delivering complete information in real time. That's why we need to talk about iPaaS .

In today's world, every company has a diverse set of applications and systems. Connecting them all is often a requirement for the smooth running of the business, but it can become a considerable challenge for IT. Other challenges involve:

• Need to connect old systems;
• Having different business units look at the data differently;
• Need to have quick integrations, without delays;
• Difficulty choosing the best form or tool for integration.

According to a study on application infrastructure and middleware software, conducted by Gartner *, “in the aftermath of the COVID-19 epidemic, technology offerings such as iPaaS, aPaaS and RPA, which allow companies to continue operating more efficiently, serving quickly to tactical and corporate priorities, will have increased and widely sought after requirements by 2022 ”.

* Source: Forecast Analysis: Application Infrastructure and Middleware Software, Worldwide | Published 1 February 2021, By Analysts Fabrizio Biscotti, Bindi Bhullar  

Therefore, the focus of organizations is on the search for a way to create a simple and fast connection experience between systems, which can be done through an iPaaS .

Integration Platform as a Service or systems integration platform as a service is a cloud solution that integrates the set of platforms, working as a service, and which has a very low cost compared to the previous market trend, of purchasing licenses of software.

Keep reading to find out how an iPaaS works and its benefits for a successful business .

Read too:

7 software development trends for 2022

Why integrating systems optimizes the time of operations in your company?

What is iPaaS?

Most companies already implement more than one system, making it necessary for its full operation to centralize information between POS and other complementary software for sales, marketing, finance, among others. 

iPaaS emerges as a solution that improves communication between different areas, integrating software for a better exchange of information inside and outside the organization .

We can then define iPaaS as a platform that connects what are normally disconnected systems to provide a unified solution. It paves the way for multi-system communication by enabling data integration and sharing .

Thus, iPaaS enables organizations to extract more from their existing systems as they deepen the connection between different data sources. 

How does an iPaaS work?

A business can rely on iPaaS to provide the underlying infrastructure for creating connections and deploying software applications , both within the cloud and on-premises.

Because of this, it fulfills different functions:

• iPaaS allows companies to expand their offerings without creating more services or developing unique systems to do so;
• By integrating with the software that already provides this service, it offers the business a unified and more robust solution;
• With iPaaS, you can set parameters for the types of connections allowed on the platform. These parameters can take the form of an application programming interface (API) ;
• Once installed, iPaaS creates a central ecosystem for viewing, managing and modifying all data, infrastructure and operations.

Once these parameters are in place, iPaaS can develop a core ecosystem where data, infrastructure and operations can be viewed, modified and managed. This allows companies to modify products, share information and deliver robust solutions to market quickly.  

How did iPaaS come about?

As digitization has increased, so has the number of peer-to-peer connections within an organization. This has made the IT architecture in many companies more difficult to find and eliminate flaws, especially when the employees who performed the original integration work leave the company.

This slightly chaotic scenario was what started the iPaaS creation movement , which can be divided into two parts:

• The 2000s saw an increase in broadband connection, smartphone use, increased internet security and browsers, widespread use of APIs and a range of other technologies that transformed the industry as we know it today;
• The 2010s were responsible for the boom in popularity of cloud solutions. Several companies invested in this market, initially with SaaS solutions (software as a service, which we will understand in detail later). This was the basis for the creation of other applications in the cloud.

From 2010 then, enterprise iPaaS providers begin to emerge, trying to meet a wide variety of integration scenarios through their solutions.

Now, with the evolution of technologies, these providers focus on many different business user profiles, from managers to IT professionals, beginners or experienced.

Why invest in an iPaaS for your business?

As more and more companies embrace cloud computing , the next step in the Digital Transformation journey is to manage different applications and business processes effectively.

In this sense, investing in an iPaaS appears as a way to simplify processes and ensure the integration of your business data, connecting all systems in an agile and simplified way , in addition to representing a cost reduction with the IT development team .

With this, the analyzes and insights from this set of information add to the strategic decision making of managers.

Below are some of the advantages of investing in iPaaS:

In the Gartner study, previously quoted, “by 2024, as economies recover, more than half of large companies will undertake new projects involving cloud-based solutions, low-code or no-code initiatives, iPaaS and RPA”.

In addition to demonstrating that they are preparing for the future, putting Digital Transformation and Innovation into practice , companies that are investing in iPaaS are also aiming to:

cost reduction

Since iPaaS is consumed as a service, it allows the company more flexibility to offset the heavy costs of traditional integration , saving IT development time and money.

As it is a unique solution, it also has lower implementation costs and, mainly, maintenance, when compared to any other alternative on the market.

Maximum connectivity

As we've seen, an iPaaS allows a business to integrate a wide variety of cloud and on-premises applications to facilitate hybrid data flows, synchronizing that data with a focus on improving operational workflows and gaining better information visibility.

Enterprises have embraced iPaaS because it gives them the flexibility to integrate all systems, whether cloud or on-premises , and synchronize that data to create a fully connected network.

Guto Rosa, Product Manager for Integra.Sky , Sky.One's iPaaS solution, also highlights that the use of the Low Code approach for its construction allows the necessary and tailored integrations to be carried out in a few clicks and low complexity for each business. 

“We all know that nowadays offering solutions for application development is not enough, because in this technology-driven scenario, agility has become a keyword in the market. The no-code/low-code platforms bring exactly this agility and simplicity to develop an application” , highlights the expert.

control and security

One of the biggest concerns – if not the biggest of companies – regarding cloud computing is security. 

An iPaaS solution contributes to reducing the risk of data breaches because the vendor is in charge of constantly managing the system and infrastructure, delivering verification and authentication procedures for the various data streams of all connected systems.

In addition, more modern solutions often ensure GDPR compliance and features such as state-of-the-art encryption. 

What are the differences between iPaaS, SaaS, IaaS and PaaS?

It is common to hear about iPaaS and doubts arise about the difference between this type of technology and other similar acronyms, which are also on the rise, such as SaaS, IaaS and PaaS . After all, what's the difference between them?

In practice, all these acronyms represent cloud computing services , which is why they have this similarity to each other. But to run different business processes, today, there are many as-a-service offerings available.

Now, when your company has finally made the final decision to opt for cloud services for the implementation and enforcement of its infrastructure, it is essential that you understand the fundamental difference between these categories.

We have already seen here all the details about iPaaS, so let's talk now about SaaS, IaaS and PaaS :

SaaS (Software as a Service)

SaaS (Software as a Service) is one of the most common cloud deployment models that are employed by various companies. It is the type that refers to software and applications used over the internet, which are managed by third parties.

In this case, the user will not have to worry about downloading, updating or hosting any software distribution models , although some require plug-ins. This is mainly because these systems will work and are accessed through a web browser, eliminating the need to install anything on the user's system.

The big highlight is that SaaS providers charge a monthly subscription fee to use the service, thus making different companies acquire the software at an economical price, with an expense well below when compared to the purchase of software, which happened years ago. back.

Now with the SaaS model, it is extremely simple for companies to deploy these business applications and modernize the use of the cloud.

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

Platform as a Service cloud services, also known as PaaS (Platform as a Service), provide a framework for developers where they can build and use to create custom applications .

All servers, storage, and networking can be managed by the company or a third-party provider, while developers retain management of the applications.

The delivery model of PaaS is similar to SaaS, except that instead of delivering software over the internet, PaaS provides a platform for creating software. This platform is delivered over the web, giving developers the freedom to focus on building the software without worrying about operating systems, updates, storage or infrastructure.

These applications built with PaaS, sometimes referred to as middleware, are scalable and highly available as they take on certain characteristics of the cloud :

• Are scalable;
• They have access availability 24 hours a day, regardless of where they are staying;
• Developers can customize without the headache of maintaining software on a physical server;
• It significantly reduces the amount of coding required to go from scratch to a ready-made solution.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

Now talking about infrastructure services as a service in the cloud, known as IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), we can say that they are composed of automated and highly scalable computing resources.

IaaS is completely self-service for accessing and monitoring computers, connecting networks, storage and other services . It allows companies to purchase on-demand, as-needed resources to perform these functions, rather than having to purchase hardware to do so.

Everything is done through virtualization technology: Cloud servers are typically provided to the organization through a dashboard or API, giving IaaS customers complete control over the entire infrastructure. IaaS provides the same technologies and capabilities as a traditional data center, without the need to physically maintain or manage all of it.

IaaS customers can still access their servers and storage directly, but everything is outsourced through a “virtual data center” in the cloud.

In this case, there are important differences compared to the other solutions we've seen here:

• Unlike SaaS or PaaS, IaaS customers are responsible for managing aspects such as applications, runtime, operating systems and data;
• IaaS providers manage the servers, hard drives, networking, virtualization and storage;
• Some providers even offer more services beyond the virtualization layer, such as databases.

What is the best option to use?

You may decide to start with any one of these cloud computing service models, or you may find that you need them all: it depends entirely on the size and complexity of your business.

Consider all aspects of your organization first, then choose the type of solution that best fits your business .

SaaS can be the most beneficial option in many situations, including:

• Software that is not needed very often, such as an ERP for example;
• Apps that need both web and mobile access at the same time;
• Users are not responsible for hardware or software upgrades.

PaaS, on the other hand, can streamline workflows when multiple developers are working on the same project. If other vendors are included, PaaS can provide great speed and flexibility for the entire process. In the end, it provides a number of benefits if you need to create custom applications.

In the case of IaaS, how to use it will depend on the size and type of company:

• Larger companies may prefer to retain full control over their applications and infrastructure, but only want to buy what they actually consume;
• Startups and small businesses may prefer IaaS to avoid spending time and money on buying hardware and building software.

And where is iPaaS in this story? This is the central layer that ties everything together like glue . An integration platform creates connections between different applications and systems. With this single solution, the cloud becomes the center of operations with all solutions working together.

Why is iPaaS the future of integrations?

This series of cloud automation solutions are improving productivity in the workplace, particularly with the implementation of the use of an iPaaS.

Connections between systems have been a central need since the use of software became standard in workplaces around the world. In that regard, we're right in the middle of an age of adaptation: the need for reliable integrations has skyrocketed as more apps are used , now more than ever.

In this case, iPaaS has already proven to be the future of integrations, mainly because the alternatives to it, which until recently were used by companies, are proving to be difficult to deal with and costly, such as:

• Hire a team of IT professionals to work on the integrations;
• Assign integration tasks to an existing team, already with other assignments;
• Outsource the work to an external company;
• Hire solutions with long learning curves, poor support, and little customization.

Do you realize that with the arrival of cloud services, these alternatives quickly fell short of what companies can achieve with an iPaaS? Having this clear vision and comparing working models favors the adoption of integration platforms as a service that are flexible, cost-effective and high-performance .

With that, we can say that it is not just the future but it is already the present of this market that so badly needs to solve its integration problems.

3 trends to understand the importance of iPaaS

Today, companies are empowering users, whether technical or non-technical, with the ability to connect applications with just a few clicks. Unsurprisingly, this has spawned an explosion in demand for iPaaS.

But this is just one of the trends seen in the market today that shows the importance of having this type of solution. Check out the top 3:

1. IT teams reduce workload with iPaaS

Excessive workload is one of the biggest problems when we look at IT teams. And this is where iPaaS comes into play for everyone's benefit, by freeing IT staff from integration activities that take up too much of their attention and limit their time for other actions.

iPaaS leaves the team free for more fundamental and less repetitive tasks, with lower levels of day-to-day burnout.

2. The company as a whole gains in productivity

Productivity with cloud services remains one of the hottest topics out there. In a world where the solution to integration problems was still not so clear, iPaaS emerges as a more viable path to short-term productivity gains.

3. iPaaS adoption adapts to legacy system change efforts

One of the challenges companies face today has a lot to do with legacy technologies, systems and processes .

Shutdown, burnout and obsolescence are current issues in the modern workplace, and iPaaS helps fix a number of scenarios with its ability to connect all types of applications and systems.

Find out how the Integra.Sky solution can help you take a step in this direction

Now that you know that, using an iPaaS platform, you can automate your business processes by integrating software and systems, how about getting to know a solution that delivers all the benefits you saw here and much more?

We are talking about Integra.Sky , an iPaaS developed by Sky.One to connect cloud (SaaS), infrastructure (On Premise) or legacy systems using the most modern and secure architecture on the market.

With the platform, you can automate all your business processes by integrating software and systems .

We have developed a platform that uses APIs to ensure simple and secure integration with these characteristics:

These features provide several benefits when using Integra.Sky

• Secure and fast integrations;
• Affordable price for small and medium-sized companies;
• No need for advanced programming knowledge;
• Don't depend on your software house for integrations and functionality.

In addition, it meets 3 fundamental pillars for its operation:

• Complies with the requirements of the LGPD;
• Allows auditing of all requests;
• Facilitates maintenance.

Using modern architectures, we have developed a platform that uses APIs to ensure simple and secure integration.

How about getting to know this complete solution up close for your company, which needs to integrate systems without requiring internal development? 

You can make any integration in an agile and simplified way! So learn more about this solution here !