The rapid advancement of technology and the growth in business environment complexity have driven the evolution of integration solutions. We are generating data at a rapid rate and it’s becoming siloed in systems across the business.

Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) solutions have long served as the backbone for connecting those disparate tools, platforms, and applications. However, the advent of Digital Platform Conductors (DPCs) and their subsequent evolution to harness the power of AI, marks a significant leap forward in functionality. I’m going to explore this evolution here, highlighting the enhanced capabilities and business benefits that are being made possible today.

Why iPaaS isn’t Enough

Focus: From Integration to Comprehensive Digital Orchestration

iPaaS: Integration Focus

iPaaS solutions primarily focus on integrating disparate tools, platforms, and applications across heterogeneous IT environments to support business processes. They offer pre-built connectors to standard tools, as well as software development kits (SDKs), APIs, and scripts to facilitate connectivity and data exchange. However, their functionality is limited to integration, and they lack broader capabilities such as intelligent analytics and orchestration.

Beyond Integration: The Digital Platform Conductor (DPC)

A DPC goes beyond simple integration. While it does enable the integration of disparate apps, tools, and platforms, it also incorporates intelligent analytics, orchestration, and automation of digital platforms and processes. By adopting this comprehensive and flexible approach it drives business outcomes by providing a holistic view of the digital ecosystem and enabling streamlined operations across diverse environments.

System Integration: Enhanced Connectivity and Customization

iPaaS: Pre-Built Connectors and APIs

iPaaS solutions use the previously mentioned pre-built connectors, SDKs, APIs, and scripts to connect and integrate tool capabilities and facilitate data exchange. This allows teams to connect their systems, facilitate data sharing and map data dependencies. But, because

they are focused on IT transformation, extensive development expertise is often required to maintain these connections and create new custom connectors as the environment evolves and new systems are introduced.

DPC: Low-Code Customization

A DPC enhances system integration through pre-built connectors and low-code APIs. This simplifies the process of creating custom connectors to non-standard and home-grown tools and systems. Organizations can take advantage of the capabilities of a DPC to facilitate data exchange and use system data to populate comprehensive dependency maps without the extensive development expertise required by iPaaS solutions. This low-code customization approach moves system integration capabilities beyond the realm of developers and empowers business users to create and manage integrations to solve issues their way, reducing the reliance on IT or third-party experts.

Data Intelligence: From Basic Monitoring to Intelligent Analytics

iPaaS: Basic Monitoring and Analytics

iPaaS solutions provide basic monitoring and analytics capabilities focused on the integration process. They offer insights into integration-related metrics, data flows, and system performance. Functionality can be extended by integrating with third-party applications, but analytics capabilities are limited, primarily focusing on that integration layer.

DPC: Advanced Intelligent Analytics

A DPC offers in-built intelligent analytics as well as customizable dashboards and reports. It enables more intuitive searching and allows non-developers to define and implement data levels so they can be alerted to anomalies as system data changes. These features provide 360-degree visibility of integrated data and actionable insights into digital processes. And, because a DPC simplifies the integration process, it can more easily connect to new and compelling third-party solutions, as needs evolve, allowing teams to absorb their capabilities in the mix.

Orchestration & Automation: Simplifying Complex Ecosystems

iPaaS: Integration-Related Orchestration

IPaaS solutions primarily focus on integration-related orchestration. They connect systems, automate data flows, and manage APIs, ensuring seamless communication between disparate tools. While this may be effective for simple integration, they often lack

the broader orchestration and automation capabilities required for managing complex digital ecosystems.

DPC: Comprehensive Orchestration

A DPC simplifies the management of complex digital ecosystems through user-friendly functionality. It makes it easier to build complex automated workflows that leverage broader tool functionality and drive business outcomes. The comprehensive orchestration capabilities of a DPC go beyond integration, allowing businesses to automate end-to-end processes and streamline operations across diverse environments.

Customization: From Extensive Development to User-Friendly Tools

iPaaS: Development-Driven Customization

While iPaaS solutions offer extensive customization through development tools, APIs, SDKs, and scripts, this requires in-depth development expertise and ongoing maintenance. As businesses evolve technology and toolsets, they often must rely on IT or third-party experts to create and manage custom integrations and workflows.

DPC: Simplified Customization

Because a DPC delivers a low-code API approach to integration, as the business evolves, new connectors can be custom created to new systems to consume their capabilities. User-friendly workflow and T-comms templates further empower business users to create and manage integrations and workflows without the need for in-depth development expertise. This approach democratizes customization, enabling teams across the organization to adapt the platform to their specific needs.

Management: Reducing the Burden on IT

iPaaS: IT-Managed Solutions

Because iPaaS solutions typically require in-depth development expertise they are primarily managed by IT or third-party experts. This reliance on specialized skills can create bottlenecks and delays to innovation and can increase management cost and complexity.

DPC: Business-Managed Solutions

Through a simplified management interface, low-code API’s, and templates, a DPC reduces the need for in-depth development expertise. Programs can be managed by teams across the business, decentralizing control and increasing agility, allowing them to quickly adapt the platform to changing requirements, enhancing responsiveness and reducing their dependency on IT.

Future Evolution: Adapting to Business Complexity

iPaaS: Continuous Maintenance and Upgrades

iPaaS solutions require constant maintenance and upgrades of connectors to keep pace with changing environments. As business complexity grows, more time and money are needed to create new tool connections and consume their data and capabilities. This ongoing maintenance can become a significant burden.

DPC: Seamless Adaptation

A DPC maintains simplicity even as business complexity grows. The platform rapidly integrates new tool data and capabilities, including AI platforms, allowing them to be consumed by innovative services. Workflows can be easily transferred and reused across programs, enabling businesses to build out solutions as their needs dictate. This seamless adaptation ensures that businesses can scale and evolve without the constant burden of maintaining and upgrading integrations.

The Future of Digital Integration and Orchestration

The evolution from iPaaS to DPCs represents a significant advancement in digital integration and orchestration. While iPaaS solutions have served as effective integration tools, their limitations in customization, management, and analytics highlight the need for more comprehensive solutions. A DPC addresses these limitations through enhanced connectivity, intelligent analytics, user-friendly orchestration, and simplified management. This evolution empowers businesses to streamline their digital ecosystems, drive business outcomes, and adapt to increasing complexity with ease.

DPC: Constantly evolving capabilities

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the need for advanced integration and orchestration solutions is growing. ReadyWorks stands at the forefront of this evolution, providing businesses with the capabilities they need from a DPC to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. By embracing this advanced platform, organizations can unlock new levels of efficiency, agility, and innovation, positioning themselves for success in the digital age.

So, what does this advanced platform look like? At ReadyWorks we are investing to solve the challenge of AI integration. We’re doing that so our customers can be first to benefit from dramatic cost savings and gain market advantage through super-charged product and service delivery. The reason we can do this is that we continue to follow our tried and tested approach of seamless system integration and flexibility, making it easier for our customers to leverage advanced data intelligence to inform better business decision-making.