By now, most of us are familiar with the term SaaS, or Software-as-a-Service, representing a service model where you subscribe to software on a monthly or annual basis.
It bypasses the earlier method of purchasing licenses and ensuring everything is properly installed and functional on a server - a practice that was prevalent just a decade ago before the cloud computing revolution.
Now, let's delve into iPaaS, or in simple English, Integration Platform as a Service. Still puzzled?
Worry not, as this comprehensive guide will provide you with all the answers about what, how, and why of iPaaS, including its pros and cons. As savvy readers have figured out, iPaaS will play a significant role in the upcoming wave of digitalization.
So, What is iPaaS?
Integration Platforms as a Service (iPaaS) provide a central hub to integrate your applications. iPaaS works by connecting applications and services and managing the integration flows, making it easier to scale performance, expand product offerings, and maintain a well-structured overview of all your integrations.
In today's world, even small applications often have a multitude of integrations. Gone are the days when one would buy a single large monolith - a colossal software system with all functions embedded within.
The current trend leans towards microservices, or finding the best-of-breed components, which you then integrate to create a holistic experience. In layman's terms, find the component that solves your problem the best, then integrate it with other components in your stack. An iPaaS is specifically designed to handle these challenges.
With iPaaS as the foundation of your tech stack, product development can be accelerated, and functionality and data can be swiftly added or removed, reducing redundancy, downtime, and development time.
What role does iPaaS play with the Cloud?
An iPaaS platform connects various applications, systems, and technologies within the cloud or locally. It simplifies integration flows without the need for an integration within each platform, whether within an organization or between an organization and third-party software. Instead it is a middleware that connects the softwares APIs.
iPaaS also allows a company to expand its offering without needing to develop additional services. Instead, it can integrate with other software that already provides those services, offering a unified, more robust solution for customers.
For instance, let's say you sell an ERP that helps retailers manage their business efficiently.
After launching your product, you realize that the the clients also wants their customers to leave purchase with eCommerce and POS solution, and handle transactions through your software.
To cater to your customers' needs, you can either develop and add these features to your product, or use iPaaS to connect your software to existing cloud platforms. This way, you save time and money while expanding your service offering and giving your customers what they want.
As a merchant you can have all those integrations in one place.
What's your next move?
If you feel ready to start exploring iPaaS, our recommendation would be to schedule a demo of our platform as a first step.
Understanding your tool and applying it in the right scenario is fundamental. After all, you wouldn't use a screwdriver when you need to hammer a nail into the wall.
By adopting iPaaS solutions, you're stepping into the future of software development, where monoliths are obsolete, and the power lies in your hands to create a seamless experience for your customers.
With Junipeer's MACH, state-of-the-art architecture, you'll save 50-95% of your development time.
Challenge us for unparalleled speed and stability - we're ready for an uncrashable journey with you!
