The cost of integration can be a significant burden for enterprise IT organizations. According to a survey conducted in 2018, the majority of the $800 billion spent on integrations was allocated to maintaining existing systems rather than investing in innovations. Imagine the potential benefits if this budget was redirected towards projects that could help advance the business instead of merely maintaining its current state.

The integration requirements demanded by today’s digital transformation initiatives are incredibly complex and are often left as an afterthought by business leaders, leaving IT to handle the execution. Unfortunately, this lack of forethought is a leading cause of failure for these initiatives. To create meaningful digital interactions, all relevant systems’ data must be accessible and interconnected. However, many of these systems were not designed to function in today’s interconnected world. Therefore, the challenge is twofold: to ensure that critical data is accessible and to adapt existing systems to meet the demands of modern integration.

To succeed, it is essential to unlock systems that were not originally designed for modern use. This may involve adapting existing systems to work with new technology or integrating them with other systems to create a more comprehensive solution. However, it is also important to think about the future and build with patterns that are reusable and can minimize the cost of maintenance and maximize agility. By doing so, businesses can create a more adaptable and scalable infrastructure that can evolve with changing needs and technology.

Traditional systems integration involves connecting systems directly to one another, with all business and transformation logic embedded within code on either side of the integration. These point-to-point integrations can be fragile and difficult to maintain or enhance. They can also create a “big ball of mud” where everything is interconnected and complex, leading to further complications as new integrations are added.

There is a different approach called API-led connectivity, which uses APIs with contract-based inputs and outputs as building blocks in a multi-tiered integration architecture. This approach allows for the growth of APIs while reducing the complexity of each new integration. It also decouples each system from the overall integration logic, enabling modifications, sunsets, or swaps without disrupting other systems or integrations. The result is greater agility for organizations, allowing them to increase the speed of their business operations.

API-led connectivity approach is not unique to an iPaaS platform.

Why do we need it?

While the API-led connectivity approach is not unique to an iPaaS platform, implementing it can be challenging without the right tools and expertise. An iPaaS platform provides the necessary tools, pre-built connectors, and APIs that enable organizations to implement an API-led connectivity approach with ease.

The API-led connectivity approach is critical for digital transformation projects because it enables organizations to create reusable building blocks for integrations. This method uses APIs that offer input and output based on contracts to separate each system from the general integration logic, allowing for the alteration, discontinuation, or replacement of systems without affecting other systems and integrations.

Build versus Buy

API-led connectivity is an architectural strategy that requires the right set of tools to be implemented effectively. Before embarking on an API-led connectivity approach, it is essential to consider the non-functional capabilities required for the platform, such as development tools, infrastructure, security, deployment, and problem determination. Choosing the right tools to address these capabilities is crucial for ensuring the success of the integration strategy. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the build versus buy decision carefully and choose a platform that offers the necessary capabilities to support API-led connectivity effectively.

Organizations that choose the “build” path for implementing an API-led integration strategy often underestimate the number of technologies and platform-level development required for success. This results in steeper learning curves, complex development and debugging scenarios, and significant IT investment in platform code. In addition, there is a need to integrate different software tools to work cohesively, which adds to the complexity.

Investing in an API-led connectivity platform can simplify the integration process by reducing the number of technologies involved and leveraging a purpose-built platform to accelerate the integration strategy throughout the systems development life cycle. iPaaS platforms provide a comprehensive integration platform that can help solve day-to-day integration challenges quickly, allowing organizations to focus on driving greater business impact. Rather than investing in a DIY approach that requires significant time and effort, choosing a purpose-built platform can save resources and enable a more agile approach to integration.

 

In contrast to the “Build” approach, the “Buy” approach involves purchasing and implementing an iPaaS solution from a vendor rather than building a custom solution in-house. This approach offers several advantages:

Faster Time-to-Value: Purchasing an iPaaS solution allows organizations to start integrating systems and data quickly without the need to develop and build a custom solution from scratch.

Reduced Complexity: iPaaS solutions are designed to be easy to use, with pre-built connectors and APIs that can be configured without extensive development work. This can help reduce the complexity and cost associated with building and maintaining custom integration solutions.