It seems like it’s every other day that there’s a new technology or acronym which you need to learn, if you want to stay up-to-date with the latest technological trends and how they impact your business’ operations. One example of this is iPaaS, which can seem a bit complicated, but has actually become an integral component of many businesses of late. Especially if you’re running a large company with multiple departments, understanding how iPaaS works and how it can be used may be crucial to finding success and scaling your company. Here are five common questions business owners ask about iPaaS, as well as the answers to them.
1. What does iPaaS stand for?
The first question many people have about iPaaS is what does it stand for. iPaaS stands for integration platform-as-a-service and is a way to unify a variety of applications and data systems. Especially if you run a variety of business processes or use different cloud applications and software applications, an iPaaS solution can offer you vital application integration to streamline your workflow. To put it simply, iPaaS solutions allow you to get everyone on the same page technologically, and in real time, regardless of the systems and platforms they use.
2. What are some of the most common business uses of iPaaS?
Companies can utilize iPaaS for a broad array of tasks and functions, all of which are becoming increasingly important in the 21st century. That being said, the most common applications of iPaaS software involves data integrity. Whether you’re using the B2B integration of an iPaaS solution to exchange data from two separate applications, duplicate data in multiple systems, or migrate old data to the cloud, then you’ll find that an iPaaS workflow is straightforward and seamless. If you use smart devices or IoT (internet of things) utilities, you can even use an iPaaS workflow to capture and integrate external data.
3. Why is using iPaaS beneficial for businesses?
Seamless integration is the biggest benefit of using an iPaaS service. This is because of the automation of connections between premise applications, new applications, and data sources. This automation allows you to cut back on the time it takes to set up a new system, and thus spend more time running your business and using those integrated applications. As such, businesses can find value from an iPaaS system if they’re looking to grow the number of applications they use, or switch between different applications rapidly. Beyond offering speed, iPaaS also lets you future-proof your business and work towards becoming a more digital-first operation.
4. How can enterprises benefit from iPaaS?
Enterprises can benefit substantially from iPaaS solutions since they offer unparalleled scalability. As your company grows, so does the number of integrations it’s going to need as well. In fact, as you expand your business, it becomes even more critical to have an iPaaS solution that integrates your various business processes and cloud applications, or you’re going to struggle to function effectively. This makes both the development and maintenance of these connections far more straightforward for all team members.
5. How expensive is iPaaS?
Pricing for iPaaS varies, based on which business you’re trusting with your platform and how large your business is. That being said, most iPaaS is operated similarly to other software-as-a-service applications (or SaaS applications), which means that you’ll likely wind up paying a monthly rate on a subscription basis. This pricing is generally based on your overall usage for the month, so you’re likely to spend more money on an annual basis if you have a larger company or the need for more integration capabilities. At the same time, you may be able to take advantage of different pricing tiers in order to save on your service. It’s best to consult with the supplier that you’re looking at to get a better idea about pricing.
