Now more than ever, businesses are all driven by a maddening desire to maximize the efficiency in the workplace. Oftentimes this translates to a need for connecting people, systems, and the apps within those systems. This is where the integration platform as a service (iPaaS) comes in handy. The iPaaS provides a business user the ability to connect their database with any application regardless of whether or not the system is a cloud environment, on-premises, or a hybrid situation. This ecosystem of connected apps lets business users effectively level up their operations and enjoy the fruits of more business that come about through self-service channels. However, as with anything new that gleams with that distinct shine of unreal efficiency, it’s easy for people to grow doubtful and fall prey to misconceptions surrounding exactly what iPaaS does. Let’s take a closer look at what some of the commonly held misconceptions about iPaaS are.
Ipaas is Only for the World’s Integration Specialists.
This might be one of the most frustrating misconceptions about iPaaS. In fact, iPaaS is specifically designed to meet the needs of a wide array of developers with extensively different backgrounds and experience levels. A decent iPaaS should come ready to roll with an intuitive, visual interface that allows business users that might lack coding experience to still use it successfully.
The Ipaas Only Integrates to Cloud-to-Cloud Systems.
Well, the short answer is definitely nope. This misconception about iPaaS stems from the fact that a fair number of folks are aware that iPaaS was originally a cloud-to-cloud integration tool. So, people wrongly assume that it only works with cloud-based systems. Well, the reality is that iPaaS is able to on-premises to cloud, and then cloud back to on-premises. This versatility is what makes it such a champion in the world of digital transformation.
Ipaas and Etl are One in the Same.
It’s easy enough to understand how this misconception came about. An ETL allows for a business user to extract data from a device, transform the data into the correct format, and then go ahead and load all of that data back into another system. This is where an iPaaS comes in to take home the gold medal. You see, an iPaaS allows for a business user to connect to multiple devices, retrieve data from multiple devices, and then send that data in the right format to the right person or a different system in a variety of ways. So, basically an ETL on a more impressive, far-reaching scale.
Ipaas and Iaas are Twins.
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is there to give business users control over the actual infrastructure. Some infamous IaaS solutions include Amazon AWS and Microsoft’s Azure. The thing about iPaaS is that it’s a service that’s able to make contact with all of the cloud services like Salesforce or Concur. It then pulls data from each of those systems, converts the data, and then delivers all of that data into the same interface so as to ease the analysis process.
It’ll Take Forever to Set up Ipaas.
Oh boy, this misconception couldn’t be more unfounded. The truth of the matter is that the process of setting up an iPaaS is almost unsettlingly easy. You won’t have to worry about hiring a professional developer to get the job done. In fact, for some business operations the integration for something like MailChimp and NetSuite will literally only require filling out some forms. Talk about a beautifully streamlined process.
With that we’ve covered a quick yet crucial handful of common misconceptions surrounding the very exciting technology that is iPaaS. The problem with all of the information out there is that far too many people fall prey to complete myths that might as well have been pulled out of thin air. Hopefully this list helps guide folks back into the light.