The past decade (or two) has seen the API-first strategy become the dominant method for application developers to simplify application and data integration across their enterprise, including to external partners and customers. This proliferation of APIs and the rise of microservices in development practices, through, has created the risk of proliferating a chaotic, unmanaged API landscape.
Several cloud-based vendors have recognized that simply providing a range of APIs to integrate with other systems can be too complex for some of their customers to get quick value from their platforms (Guttridge et. al., 2021). To counter this risk, these vendors (e.g. Boomi, MuleSoft, etc.) have created cloud-based data integration platforms that offer turn-key, OOTB integrations with common platforms in addition to data management capabilities that are easier to use and manage.
Benefits to an enterprise who use a cloud-based data integration platform include:
- Faster Time to Value
Developers using a data integration platform have the foundational API management components pre-built and ready to use. Therefore they can spend more time “composing” and less time creating one-time, point-to-point integrations. - Pre-Built Integrations
Popular cloud-based data integration platforms come with pre-built connectors already in place for some of the most common enterprise-grade applications. Customers of these platforms can quickly integrate their ERP, CRM, e-commerce, etc. platforms through these pre-built connectors. - Clicks, Not Code
These data integration platforms don’t require the support of teams of programmers to enable the use of these services. Instead, administrators are usually able to handle governance and workflows through more business-friendly admin portals and don’t need to rely on code for day-to-day management.
Moving to a cloud-based data integration platform is not the be all, end all solution, however. Architects should be aware that the tactical, short-term benefits derived from SaaS-embedded capabilities come with technical and governance risks of their own (Singh et. al., 2021).
Reference:
Guttridge, K., O’Neill, M. (June 9, 2021). How to Successfully Implement API-First Integration. Gartner. https://www.gartner.com/document/4002385?ref=solrAll&refval=291741853
Singh A., Thoo E. (February 23, 2021). Ensure Your Integration Strategy Supports Modern Integration Trends. Gartner. https://www.gartner.com/document/3997284?ref=solrAll&refval=291741853
Really informative Michael. I’m thinking that these integration platforms may become a key motivator for moving to a PaaS cloud environment. As companies build their API strategies, the cost of purchasing the technology, building APIs, and hiring API experts, may make migrating to an integration platform the more attractive and cost effective move.