Section 1: An Introduction to iPaaS

iPaaS, or integration Platform as a Service, are platforms that standardize how applications are integrated into an organization, making it easier to automate business processes and share data across applications.

By leveraging iPaaS technologies, growing organizations can automate their processes and eliminate time-consuming manual work that can be prone to error. On top of making processes more efficient, the entire organization benefits from the increase in visibility, creating a more cohesive whole.

For a more detailed explanation, check out our “What is iPaaS?” Explainer Video at https://youtu.be/UuFcTUnwGoE

Section 2: Challenges with Integration Today

The market is filled with a variety of business applications that address any conceivable challenge that an organization could face. Most of these apps are simple to use, easy to set up, and offer beautiful interfaces.

Because apps are so easy to deploy, IT teams are no longer primarily responsible for purchasing and implementing many business apps. Now, individual departments can pick the apps that best tackle their specific tasks. This trend is a direct result of the “Consumerization of the Enterprise” that has yielded an explosion in the number of SaaS apps -- and shows no sign of slowing down.

To illustrate this, the infographic below by Chief Martech compares what the marketing technology app landscape looked like in 2011 compared to 2019:

Too Much of a Good Thing

As amazing and essential as many of these apps are, is it possible to have too many of them?

These applications generate data that may be needed across multiple departments. However, contributors siloed in different departments may not see how their individual data and processes fit within the workings of the wider organization. This means that critical business processes — quote to-cash, fulfillment, expense management, procure-to-pay, and many more — may be inefficient due to the data disconnect.

Some examples of the resulting inefficiencies include manual data entry, management via spreadsheets and email, lack of visibility across the organization, and costly errors. As the volume of data grows, so do data silos. The fluid exchange of information is critical in any organization, especially growing ones. As an organization becomes more complex and the volume of data expands, it is critical to establish a robust data syncing strategy that includes automation.

A key component of this approach involves connecting disparate applications. This process is known as “integration”. Presently, most organizations use a hodgepodge of tactics to combine their many business processes in pursuit of this goal.

Contact Us for more information on iPaaS with Celigo for your Business.