iPaaS and Hybrid Integration Platform (HIP) are two very closely related terms in the automation and integration industry. Both these platforms enable the management, development and testing of applications and data easier for organizations and are essential in reducing the collective cost of these processes. Both these solutions make the integration easier and more effective for organizations as well. iPaaS and HIP are the methods with which marketers and customer analysts attain integration transformation and IT transformation insights and try to improve the approach to all integration. In the rapidly modernizing world, the need for integration is rising and consequently, the need for an iPaaS or HIP is also rising so as to make data available and manageable from anywhere, anytime. With all this in common, however, there are factors that differentiate iPaaS from HIP and how these two technologies cater to organizations. Following is an analysis of iPaaS and HIP, and how an iPaaS, with the help of HIP can enable seamless Hybrid Integration Scenarios to automate and streamline data and applications.
Hybrid Integration Platform and iPaaS
The need for integration is rapidly rising with the rise in the multi-application and multi-data business structure of an organization – businesses are employing various LoB applications to meet their requirements and only a seamless integration solution can streamline all their data securely. Both Hybrid Integration Platform and iPaaS facilitate the integration of varied endpoints and benefit the business. While a HIP can offer a wide range of integration with cloud and OP agent systems, iPaaS can undertake more critical business data and processes for consolidation and integration. An iPaaS that hosts the power of hybrid integration can streamline a business from its very roots. It is important to note that although there are many iPaaS solutions in the market, not all of them are enabled with hybrid integration. But first, let’s get to the definitions!
Hybrid Integration Platform
Hybrid Integration Platform (HIP) by definition is a combination of on-premises integration, on-cloud integration and API Management capabilities which enables bimodal integration between applications, B2B platforms, cloud services, API events, mobile apps, etc. It is an integration that is offered as a self-service solution and is designed to overcome various runtime execution challenges that arise due to the data transformations that include cloud, IoT and API integration. HIP spans multiple integration personas and multiple integration endpoints which are deployed across cloud or on-premises systems where the governance capabilities apply to both kinds of data.
Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS)
To define an iPaaS, let’s quote Gartner here:
“An enterprise integration platform as a service (eiPaaS) is a suite of cloud services that address a variety of scenarios, including application and data integration, as well as some combination of process, ecosystems, mobile, AI-enabled systems, and IoT integration, as well as API management and digital integration hub capabilities.”
In other words, an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) is a solution that acts as an automation platform that integrates various applications, data, technologies and processes for an organization. It is a unified platform through which various data points and software systems are seamlessly integrated across a range of environments to facilitate growth for enterprises. One aspect that makes an iPaaS a smart contender for business process automation is the capability to offer pre-packaged integration templates that enable a smooth and efficient transfer of business-critical data. An iPaaS has the ability to read, process, consolidate and transform a wide range of data formats and is ideal for large batches of data integration processes. With an iPaaS, errors and sync failures can be easily monitored, and it provides the most secure and reliable service as a platform.
An iPaaS focusses on automating the entire application and data stack of business processes and is keen on providing integration that can be used across multiple systems, technologies and environments. Most of the data handled by an iPaaS are business-critical and the platform employs defined go-to-market approaches to maximize efficiency. It monitors, cleans and manages processes with high accuracy and efficiency. Integration platforms that are enabled with hybrid integration often offer a strategic integration plan for organizations – in addition to the above, these iPaaS solutions facilitate the rapid integration modernization that businesses seek today.
To execute such strategic roles, iPaaS solutions offer various advanced integration capabilities along with hybrid and multi-cloud deployment models. These deployment models enable an organization to deploy the runtime execution of the integration processes in the provider’s cloud, third-party cloud infra, private clouds, on-premises agents, or a combination of any of the above. In simpler words, an iPaaS is built to seamlessly integrate any data within the hybrid deployment models i.e., within any public cloud, private cloud, or on-premises agent. To achieve this streamlined process, a hybrid iPaaS uses elements such as data mapping, business integration rules, pre-built connectors, etc., and allows a smooth transfer of data. Also, these iPaaS solutions are built with custom development kits that can help organizations modernize their application ecosystem and manage business processes more efficiently.
If you have multiple systems employed in your business and want to seamlessly integrate all the data and processes between them, connect them under one single platform with our hybrid iPaaS APPSeCONNECT. Automate business processes and improve your productivity and efficiency with us!
How a Hybrid-enabled iPaaS is the Answer!
Applications are the key to any digital transformation. As any business matures, it clearly understands that no application is capable enough to cater to everything. As we employ experts in various domains and various departments on an enterprise, similarly we also apply the same rule to the software we adopt. Digital transformation of an enterprise literally boils down to the adoption of these high-end software solutions and effectively utilizing their functions to ease out the daily activities of each and every individual working in an enterprise.
Application Categories
- ERP
- CRM
- Marketing Automation
- Marketplace
- POS
- Ecommerce
- Shipping
- PMS
- Office suites
- Ticketing
- And many more…
There is a never-ending list of categories that can be handled by an iPaaS. Now with varied applications, there come varied business processes. The business processes are completely different in these applications or services – the data structure is different, the interfaces are different, the way of storing data is different, the architecture is different, etc. However, to communicate between these disparate applications, a strong solution is needed which is superior in terms of handling all of the data complexities and is aware of the defined set of business rules and actions. An iPaaS fits exactly in this spot! Many applications and legacy systems are still on-premises whereas ecommerce, logistics, etc. have moved to the cloud. A hybrid integration platform caters exactly to this.
How APPSeCONNECT can help as a Hybrid iPaaS?
APPSeCONNECT is a modern and intelligent Business Process Automation and Integration platform that enables enterprises to integrate their various business processes with the line of business applications seamlessly. With the help of Hybrid and API integration, the platform caters to any business need and gives a flexible user interface to perform all the actions from any deployment scenario. As an offering, APPSeCONNECT provides two kinds of deployment models:
- Full Cloud Deployment
- Hybrid Integration Deployment Model
Why Hybrid Hosting?
APPSeCONNECT combines the best cloud and on-premises integration solutions to keep the business data 100% secure. It comprises of two components:
The Cloud Portal–
A business user can log in to it anytime, from anywhere and can configure all the related business logic here. Note, that the cloud platform stores the settings only. Data synchronization does not take place here.
The Agent App–
Once the connector is configured, this agent app is downloaded from the cloud portal itself and installed on the user’s server, where the actual data synchronization takes place between the line of business applications such as ERP and Ecommerce/CRM applications.
Hence, from the above image, you can see all the configurations are done in the cloud, while the actual transactions are happening through the APPSeCONNECT on-premises agent. This ensures the highest security and fast and reliable connectivity, as all the systems are your own local network only. APPSeCONNECT iPaaS does not keep any of the business-critical information and tries to provide you an additional peace of mind while giving you access to the entire business logic and rules that are defined in the cloud portal.
Hence, with APPSeCONNECT iPaaS, a business has the flexibility to choose any hosting and deployment models as per the need. No matter the applications are on-premises, on the private cloud or on the public cloud, this platform will seamlessly transfer data through the hybrid integration model op the cloud-hosted agent to prioritize and consolidate data. With this hybrid integration-enabled iPaaS, businesses can now connect infinite data endpoints and design an application ecosystem that is completely integrated and seamlessly aligned.
If you have multiple systems employed in your business and want to seamlessly integrate all the data and processes between them, connect them under one single platform with our hybrid iPaaS APPSeCONNECT. Automate business processes and improve your productivity and efficiency with us!
