As a business owner, you know exactly how messy things can get when you’re jumping between multiple apps, platforms, and data sources. Sure, you might try to keep it under wraps. Of course, you don’t want to look like you’re struggling in front of the competition. But trust us, your rivals are dealing with the same headaches.
These days, businesses rely on countless tools to operate smoothly. But when those tools don’t “talk” to each other, things start to break down. You’re left with duplicate data. Your team wastes time on manual workarounds. Important insights are delayed. And everyone ends up frustrated.
At Forbytes, we see iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) as a powerful solution for companies like yours. It acts as a bridge that unites all those disconnected systems.
iPaaS helps you cut through the chaos. It can sync data between your CRM and ERP and automate your workflows. Plus, it also lets you see your operations in real time. That way, you work smarter, not harder.
Now, you’re probably wondering: “Isn’t iPaaS integration complicated? Will it work for my business?”
Don’t worry, we’ve got you. In this article, we’ll walk you through the key challenges iPaaS integration solves and share how Forbytes approaches integration to make everything flow effortlessly.
What Is IPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service)?
iPaaS is a cloud-based tool that helps you connect data sources from different apps into one place. Today, businesses use a variety of applications for different tasks, whether it’s managing customer data or finance. But to get the most out of this data, it’s necessary to ensure that they work together through effective data integration.
iPaaS makes this easy, even for non-technical users. It lets you connect data from cloud-based apps (like SaaS) and on-premise systems into a single, cloud-based solution.
Why is Integration Platform as a Service important? It solves the problem of connecting different apps and data. For example, a company might still use its old systems after an acquisition or use tools that don’t share data well. Without integration, data needs to be manually moved between these apps. This is time-consuming and can cause data management errors.
Cloud services make it easy to connect everything, so your apps work together smoothly. It simplifies data sharing, cuts down on mistakes, and saves time.
Difference between IPaaS and other integration methods
Today, companies are constantly looking for ways to supercharge their systems with better integration methods. But why is iPaaS better than other options? Let’s clarify!
Unlike other integration methods, iPaaS offers a simple, user-friendly interface that lets you manage everything from one dashboard. You can design, deploy, and control how your systems connect, all while streamlining data integration.
With Integration Platform as a Service, you can easily choose your data sources (like business apps) and decide where the data should go (like data lakes or data warehouses). Many cloud services come with prebuilt connectors for popular apps, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
iPaaS also makes it simple to create custom integrations. You can set up data transformations to ensure smooth data flow between systems, even when their formats don’t match. It simplifies the entire integration process, making it faster, more flexible, and easier to manage.
If you’re wondering where to start or how to make iPaaS integration as smooth as possible, stick with Forbytes. We’ve got you covered.
How Does iPaaS Work?
Now that you know how Integration Platform as a Service stands out from other integration methods, let’s look at how it works.
The idea behind iPaaS is simple: it takes all the messy, technical parts of connecting your apps and systems, ike customer relationship management platforms, accounting tools, and supply chain software, and tucks them neatly behind an easy-to-use interface. With iPaaS, you can also transform data between systems, ensuring that information flows smoothly even when formats differ.
That means you don’t have to deal with servers, security updates, or behind-the-scenes complexity. Your iPaaS provider takes care of everything, so you can run your business without stressing over IT issues.
With iPaaS integration, you get a no-code or low-code dashboard where you can easily connect apps, move data, and automate your workflows without needing to be a tech expert.
But if you’re curious about what’s happening behind the scenes, here’s the simple breakdown:
- Identify what you need: Pick the apps and systems you want to connect, whether it’s your customer relationship management (CRM) platform, accounting tools, enterprise resource planning systems, or inventory systems.
- Connect your tools: Use ready-made connectors that make linking apps super easy.
- Design your flows: Tell the system how you want data to move and transform between apps.
- Execute your workflows: Watch your intelligent automation and data transfers run in real time.
- Monitor everything: Use dashboards to keep an eye on what’s happening and catch any issues early.
- Improve over time: Tweak your workflows as your business grows or changes.
In short, iPaaS helps your apps work together, saves time, and lets you focus on growing your business, not managing systems.
Need help getting ready for iPaaS integration? Forbytes can support you with data transformation and migration. Contact us, and we’ll get back to you with tailored suggestions.
Types of IPaaS integrations
iPaaS can handle different kinds of integrations depending on what your business needs. Here’s a quick breakdown:
So, you see, you have a lot of options to choose from. The main thing is to understand your needs and pain points and pick the type of iPaaS integration that can truly help your business. If you’re unsure where to start, Forbytes can guide you through the process.
Benefits of Integration Platform as a Service (IPaaS)
According to a Technavio report, the Integration Platform as a Service market is expected to reach $37.35 billion, growing at an annual rate of 42.9% between 2024 and 2025. Sounds incredible, right?
The reasons behind this tremendous market growth are clear. Businesses gain many benefits from iPaaS integration that boost their efficiency. But let’s take a closer look at what it can bring to your table!
Automated workflows
With iPaaS, you can automate how your systems talk to each other. This means fewer manual tasks, faster operations, and real-time updates across your apps. No more outdated reports or missing data. Everything stays connected and accurate, with smooth data flows that give you a clear, full view of your business to make better decisions.
And the numbers back it up: according to Forbes, 79% of business and IT leaders expect to see efficiency gains of at least 25% thanks to the fusion of AI implementation and process automation. When combined with a smart integration strategy like Integration Platform as a Service, the impact becomes even greater, helping businesses not just keep up but get ahead.
Speed at scale
Building integrations the old way takes a lot of time and effort. iPaaS solution changes that by offering ready-to-use connectors and templates, along with built-in API management features. So, you can set up even complex integrations much faster.
As your business grows and your data volumes increase, iPaaS can easily scale with you without rebuilding your infrastructure. Plus, it works whether your systems are local, in a private cloud, or spread across multiple cloud providers.
Secure and simplified integration
Integration Platform as a Service makes connecting your systems much easier, even if you’re working with a legacy system. You don’t need a big IT team or expensive custom solutions. Everything is designed to be simple and efficient, a huge win for companies undergoing digital transformation.
At the same time, iPaaS solution keeps your data safe. Providers build in strong security features like encryption, data rules, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and follow important safety standards.
And the need for this is growing fast. According to TechCrunch, the average company uses 130 SaaS apps, and 66% of corporations plan to invest in iPaaS to solve their integration and automation challenges. iPaaS is the faster, smarter way to keep everything connected.
Hope these benefits have convinced you that iPaaS integration is worth trying.
If you need help getting started, contact our team. With our experience, we know exactly how to support you.
4 Challenges You Can Face When Dealing with IPaaS
While iPaaS integration can solve many problems, it’s not a panacea for everything. Before starting it, you should know what challenges you might face.
First, not every iPaaS fits every business. Each Integration Platform as a Service is built differently. Some are better for certain types of companies or projects, like breaking down data silos or handling API management. Choosing the right one can be tricky if you don’t know exactly what you need.
Second, iPaaS integration isn’t totally hands-off. While it simplifies data integration, it doesn’t mean you can set it up once and forget about it. But it doesn’t mean you can set it up once and forget about it. You’ll still need people on your team to set things up, manage updates, and tweak workflows as your business grows and changes.
Third, scaling can be limited. iPaaS can grow with your business, but not endlessly. Some platforms may need extra hands-on work when scaling up, and there could be limits on how much data or how many transactions the system can handle.
Finally, you’ll need experts. You don’t need a massive IT team, but you do need people who understand how to manage and monitor integration flows to make sure everything runs smoothly and delivers real value.
How Forbytes Approaches iPaaS Integration
At Forbytes, we have a point-in-time story about preparing the system and data for iPaaS integration to share with you. So see, how we did it.
Meet HFN: A furniture company
HFN, a Scandinavian furniture company, operated multiple systems, including Public Service, PIM, and an admin system. Over time, they realized that maintaining these systems had become costly and complex. To simplify operations, HFN decided to move toward iPaaS integration.
Shifting to third-party services
HFN replaced Public and PIM with specialized platforms like Price Edge, Syndigo, and Ecom. The admin system remained, but connecting it to the new services became a major challenge.
Our task was to build reliable connections. Initially, we focused on defining data exchange rules and setting up data migration and transformation.
However, iCore (iPaaS solution) had storage limits. It had to fetch data from multiple sources whenever needed, which complicated the process. We needed a smarter solution that would support efficient integration flows and enable process automation.
Our approach to iPaaS integration
We tackled the integration step-by-step, carefully building a reliable system for HFN. First, we analyzed all the data entities across the existing and new platforms to understand what we were working with. Then, we mapped the properties between systems to make sure every piece of information lined up correctly. This is a crucial step for effective data integration.
Next, we designed two-way data flows to ensure smooth communication between HFN’s admin system and the third-party services. To avoid conflicts, we clearly defined the “source of truth” for each data type. So, everyone would know which system was responsible for what.
We also created two separate interfaces: one for sending data out and one for receiving updates. To keep everything in sync in real time, we set up a messaging system that could instantly deliver updates where needed.
Finally, we built an API that allowed iCore to notify our systems about any changes happening on its side.
Challenges we tackled
The road to integration wasn’t smooth, but we adapted with every step. There was no final blueprint at the start. So, our plans had to evolve as we moved through the project. Some products were especially tricky, made up of components from different suppliers, which meant we couldn’t just follow a standard approach; we had to create custom solutions.
Defining clear ownership of data was another major task. With so many systems talking to each other, it was crucial to set firm rules about which system had the authority over each piece of information, especially to avoid data silos that could block visibility and consistency.
On top of that, we faced the heavy lift of migrating over 500,000 products and three years’ worth of historical data. And to add to the complexity, we had to manage order duplication across different countries, ensuring everything stayed accurate and up-to-date.
Every challenge we faced helped us build a stronger, smarter integration for HFN.
Results: a simpler and more cost-efficient system
After five months of hard work, HFN had cloud services that were simpler and smarter. They cut down their operational costs by moving away from expensive in-house solutions and embracing specialized third-party platforms. This shift not only saved money but also gave them much-needed flexibility to adapt and grow faster.
Final Thoughts on iPaaS
All in all, iPaaS solution is a powerful way to simplify complex systems and set your business up for future growth. As we saw with HFN, iPaaS helped them move from a tangled, expensive setup to a flexible, scalable system.
But it’s important to remember that iPaaS isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Success comes from careful preparation: analyzing your data, mapping your processes, and building smart connections between systems.
At Forbytes, we know what it takes to make iPaaS integration work. Whether it’s planning, data migration, or building reliable real-time communication, we’re ready to help you every step of the way.
If you’re thinking about iPaaS, let’s talk. We know how to assist you with data and system integrations.
