In our latest episode of the ibm@cronos series, we collaborate with Jeroen Willems, Managing Partner of Integration Designers, to explore an indispensable realm in today’s business landscape – integration.
Integration Designers and IBM are working closely together to offer solutions that aren’t exclusively for large and complex organizations, but also for businesses of all sizes. Let’s delve into the three layers of the Integration Designers’ approach and address the growing need for businesses to better connect various data sources and platforms in today’s data-driven world.
Layer One: An introduction to integration
In the initial layer of integration, the focus is on small businesses and their unique challenges. In many instances, these businesses perceive IBM solutions as inaccessible due to their reputation for being seemingly designed for Fortune 500 companies. However, IBM has made significant strides to break these misconceptions and make their solutions more appealing to businesses of all sizes.
The first tier is therefore designed with simplicity and affordability in mind. IBM has transformed its offerings to include competitively priced integration options to ensure smaller businesses don’t feel overwhelmed by cost. Furthermore, recognizing the need for ease-of-use, IBM has also introduced no-to-low code alternatives, negating the necessity for extensive coding knowledge from businesses who are just starting with integration.
One such option is the IBM App Connect, which offers iPaas (integration platforms as a service) solutions in both hybrid and on-premises models. This platform simplifies application integration by eliminating the need for complex coding – an essential feature for small businesses. In addition to ease of use, the tool supports more than 200 connectors and pre-designed integration templates, taking the burden of setup complexities off the small businesses’ shoulders. IBM App Connect even incorporates AI capabilities, elevating integration efficiency.
With a platform like IBM App Connect on their side, small businesses can smoothly connect their various software systems and databases. For example, integrations like connecting Eventbrite to Slack or syncing Salesforce to SAP become seamless processes, efficiently synchronizing multiple systems with databases. This user-friendly environment empowers small businesses to start their integration journey, paving the clear path for the next tier, which ushers in more involved integration scenarios as the business grows.
Layer Two: Stepping up the integration game
With progress always comes complexity. In transitioning from the first to the second tier, we see businesses dealing with a more complicated application landscape that’s a direct reflection of their growth. This expansion leads to more integration streams and inevitably increases the complexity of these integrations.
“There is no clear dividing line between integration maturity level one and level two,” Jeroen Willems reinforces. He emphasizes that a growing application landscape introduces a corresponding surge in integration streams and intricacies.
This second tier heralds a point in a business’s journey where IBM App Connect Enterprise truly shines. Targeted to manage the growing demands of evolving organizations, it allows businesses to begin implementing custom-coded integrations within IBM’s readily adaptable platform. While the no-code platform is ideal for business users looking for quick implementation of integration, the IBM App Connect Enterprise Toolkit provides a more comprehensive solution for integration specialists.
So, how do developers work alongside business teams to design more complex integrations? The IBM App Connect platform provides connector templates and graphical tools, giving developers a technological base to build upon. This drastically reduces the amount of time and energy that must be spent on coding from scratch. The toolkit also provides the option for the incorporation of custom ESQL or Java code for additional flexibility and deeper customizability. This way, developers can focus more on the unique, custom aspects of integration which require more technical expertise and cannot be achieved by using prebuilt components alone.
The emphasis in tier two is on enhancing collaboration between developers and business teams, democratizing the process of integration. With a more coordinated approach and the use of sophisticated tools provided by IBM, businesses can navigate this stage efficiently, and move towards even more complex integration scenarios.
The complexity deepens in the third tier, where the focus turns to managing and exposing APIs for internal use, partners, or even the broader public.
In this environment, businesses are often dealing with multiple applications and numerous integration flows. Regular iPaas tools can’t match these challenges. Applications may run in different locations—on-premises, in the cloud, multiple clouds, or even as SaaS. IBM’s App Connect continues to play a crucial role here, alongside other offerings from Cloud Pak for Integration (CP4I), including end-to-end API lifecycle management, enterprise messaging, high-speed transfers, and more.
Jeroen further highlights the importance of governance at this stage. “Companies at maturity level three focus more and more on governance,” he explains, emphasizing the necessity to shift the way we organize teams. It’s beneficial to move from a central integration team to creating an integration competence center and incorporating integration experts into various teams. This allows for more efficient communication, execution of tasks, and the capacity for citizen integration where possible.
Conclusion
With the combined tools and expertise from IBM and Integration Designers, businesses can confidently navigate integration challenges at any scale. Each tier corresponds to different stages of growth and complexities. Stay tuned with us on the ibm@cronos series to continue receiving valuable insights and guidance.
