As companies embark on their digital transformation journeys, the demand for comprehensive integration and automation solutions is increasing. To save resources and minimize manual labor, organizations are turning to software that simplifies the process of integrating programs and automating tasks across departments. Integration Platform as a Service, or iPaaS, provides a streamlined solution for this purpose. With iPaaS, departments can easily integrate their systems and automate their operations.

Organizations are amid digital transformations and searching for software that can help with the integration and automation of systems, platforms, and services across various departments. This process often involves updating processes and legacy systems, as well as incorporating new technology into various areas of focus, such as sales, HR, finance, marketing, and facilities. The goal of this transformation is to modernize operations and improve efficiency.

Aside from the task of modernizing, there is also the issue of resources and costs to consider. Organizations must ask themselves questions such as how many employees are needed to manage new technologies if they have the necessary technical expertise, and what the cost of every integration or automation of workflow will be. They must also determine if the integration & automation tool they choose will be too complicated for non-IT personnel to use and if it will create more of a debt to IT or something that the tech team can manage.

iPaaS offers a cost-effective solution for managing a company’s digital transformation. The total ownership cost is reduced with iPaaS because it is a solution for codeless automation and integration. Additionally, because it doesn’t require coding skills, anyone, not just IT, can create integrations and automate tasks. This makes it possible for extended use of iPaaS beyond IT to departments such as HR, marketing, facilities, and others that aim to integrate technology and reduce manual work through automation.

Do Businesses Need iPaaS?

According to IDG and TeamDynamix, 89% of surveyed companies reported difficulties with backlogs of data integration, even with the assistance of a third party. Additionally, 74% claimed that they lack the necessary resources to manage the workload of integration.

Integration debt accumulates as the number of databases, applications, and systems increases in an enterprise system, but the rapid adoption of new technology is making it increasingly challenging for IT leaders to keep up.

Adding to these challenges, many organizations continue to use APIs, point-to-point integrations, ETL utilities, and PowerShell scripts, for data movement and automation. This significantly strains the IT team as each method demands extensive technical expertise. As a result, business units are seeking alternative solutions that offer quicker connectivity without relying heavily on technicalities.

How Can iPaaS Address Resource Drain & Overwhelming Backlogs?

iPaaS has been designed to tackle the increasing issues caused by debt of integration by providing fast and simple ways to integrate new systems into the existing organizational infrastructure. This eliminates the need for IT teams to engage in coding, development, scripting, and manual integrations, allowing them to meet the rising demand.

iPaaS is optimized for rapid deployment and eliminates the creation of fresh integration debt. It offers a pre-built connector library, making it easy to connect new systems, and allows for automation to be created through a drag-and-drop interface that requires no coding. Small teams could easily integrate new applications without the need for developers or lengthy development cycles.

iPaaS integrates with a range of standard systems, such as ERP and CRM, and can connect with core platforms like Salesforce, MUNIS, Workday, or Banner, to synchronize data and create workflows, reducing manual processing and avoid redundant data entry.

Differentiating between Workflow Automation and iPaaS

In the realm of automation, terms such as workflow automation and iPaaS are often thrown around and used interchangeably, but they refer to distinct concepts. There is certainly an overlap between the two, making it difficult to clearly distinguish them at times. However, it is important to understand that iPaaS cannot function without workflow automation. In this article, we aim to shed some light on the differences between these two terms in the context of cloud automation.

What is Workflow Automation?

A workflow is a sequence of tasks or operations that are performed to achieve a specific goal. For a workflow to be automated, certain criteria must be met. These criteria include:

Digital Execution: The process must be executed digitally and any analog steps must be digitized.

Standardization: The workflow must be standardized and defined invariably, regardless of the data or people involved.

Recurrence: Automating a workflow that only occurs once may not be efficient, therefore the workflow must be recurring, even if it is performed only once a year.

Examples of Workflow Automation

If the criteria are fulfilled, workflow automation can occur. But what does this term entail? Workflow automation refers to a process in which data is transferred from one point, A, to another point, B. A basic example of this is an employee (B) submitting a leave request, which is then reviewed and approved by a coworker (A) and a supervisor (C), followed by the request being moved from one point to another. This type of process automation is referred to as workflow automation.

Automated workflow refers to the process of streamlining and automating tasks within a work process. One example is Microsoft Power Apps, which facilitates the fast and effortless development and sharing of apps, although the integration of external tools into these apps can be challenging and demands a considerable amount of technical expertise. Power Apps aims to provide a self-sufficient platform for creating process automation.

So, are Workflow Automation and iPaaS the same?

The connectivity offered by iPaaS is far superior to that of workflow automation. iPaaS functions within a large network of data, applications, processes, and services, allowing for the mapping of intricate situations.

In essence, iPaaS enables the easy connection of complex tools and processes. On this platform, one can build integrations with other tools and establish workflow automation. Hence, workflow automation and iPaaS are intertwined as iPaaS requires workflow automation to operate, yet is capable of performing much more.

Now we understand that all the technical jargon can be overwhelming. We aim to make the concept of automation more comprehensible and accessible. Despite our best efforts, we may still have to use technical terms. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our team is here to help you with the analysis and implementation of business process automation, explain available options, and tailor solutions to your company’s unique needs.

What is Business Process Automation (BPA)?

Many companies around the world are utilizing various applications and executing multiple business processes to speed up the growth of their organizations. These processes span different aspects of the business and allow for the seamless transfer of data from one area to another. Unfortunately, most of these processes are still carried out manually, causing them to be time-consuming and prone to errors. Implementing Business Process Automation through a powerful iPaaS platform can solve this issue and improve the efficiency of these processes. This is the essence of Business Process Automation.

BPA involves the use of technology tools and solutions to automate and streamline various business processes within an organization. This technology helps automate repetitive tasks, workflows, and related activities. BPA reduces manual labor and speeds up processes by sending routine information to relevant personnel via user-defined roles and actions. With BPA, business processes such as employee onboarding, contract management, and accounting can be made more efficient, transparent, and consistent, leading to improved overall performance.

In addition to the previously mentioned areas, Business Process Automation (BPA) is also implemented in various departments within an organization, such as IT, and Process, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support, etc. to streamline tasks. Proper implementation of BPA can greatly reduce manual labor and ensure a seamless flow of data throughout the organization.

The objective of BPA is not to solely automate existing processes but to transform them into more efficient and effective ones. The use of BPA solutions results in faster, cost-effective, and error-free business processes. BPA transforms the way businesses manage data and systems, automating critical processes to maintain consistency. Among the available BPA solutions, an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) is considered the most suitable and scalable platform.

The Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) is a sophisticated platform for Business Process Automation that facilitates the integration of a wide range of business applications used by an organization and ensures the smooth flow of data across all aspects of the business. An iPaaS serves as a BPA solution as it seamlessly links different applications, enabling a two-way synchronization of data. It also allows organizations to automate their routine sync and order processes through scheduling. The trend of using multiple applications is on the rise, and iPaaS is poised to play a crucial role in BPA as it provides efficient automation solutions for all departments of a business, outperforming other options.

Benefits of iPaaS Automation

Budget-Friendly Option: Assembling various solutions to work together can be both challenging and expensive for businesses. With iPaaS, the software can be linked and data can be consolidated into a single, cloud-based platform, reducing the expenses associated with implementing solutions in various settings.

Enhanced Collaboration: With iPaaS, all data is available in a central, cloud-based location, making it simple for all stakeholders to access the information they need. This improves communication and reduces the risk of important information being lost.

Minimizes Human Error: An iPaaS provides a centralized location for storing all data and allows users to establish guidelines to organize and access it. It makes it possible for organizations to seamlessly access and connect data even when utilizing multiple systems. This streamlines the process of data analysis and leads to more accurate interpretation and assessment.

Enhanced Compliance and Security: To ensure that businesses can securely use cloud-based solutions, these solutions need to have advanced compliance and security features in place. An iPaaS solution should have solutions that offer enhanced security measures like:

• Authentication using OAuth, Active Directory, OpenID Connect
• Advanced API logging capabilities
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
• Compliance with regulations like CCPA, HIPAA, and GDPR

With these measures in place, organizations can protect their valuable data from cyberattacks, which have become increasingly frequent and costly. Global cybercrime expenses are expected to increase by an average of 15% annually in the next 5 years, resulting in an annual cost of $10.5 trillion by 2025, making it imperative for businesses to take security seriously. iPaaS solution provides a secure environment that businesses can trust to securely manage their data.

Optimizing Efficiency through No-Code Integration & Automation

Enterprises can keep up with changing market demands by reducing the time, costs, and resources required to incorporate new applications.

iPaaS is a solution designed for both businesses and IT professionals, allowing anyone to connect systems through its no-code feature and pre-built connectors. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including API management, building visual workflow, troubleshooting in real time, governance, security, and scalability.

By utilizing iPaaS, organizations can give their developers and business units access to numerous connectors for integrating systems within a centralized hub for better visibility and audibility.

Enhancing Management of Service with Integration & Automation

Integrating and automating ESM (Enterprise Service Management) and ITSM (Information Technology Service Management) practices can significantly enhance your organization’s efficiency and unburden resources. By adopting a service management approach that is smart, you can improve the overall performance of your enterprise and facilitate real-time communication among all stakeholders.

By integrating ITSM, PPM (Project Portfolio Management), and iPaaS on a single platform, organizations can automate a wide range of tasks, from simple to complex, and connect different systems across the organization. The best part is that the platform is no-code, making it accessible for everyone to use- No more mundane and repetitive service requests.

A few examples of how iPaaS can minimize the consumption of IT resources

Streamline Enterprise Integration with a Centralized Hub

iPaaS provides a centralized platform with pre-existing connectors to frequently used systems, as well as service for custom connectors. This means that you can automate tasks such as changing a username, adding people to distribution groups, or onboarding employees with ease.

Accelerate Automation and Workflow Creation

iPaaS comes with a user-friendly, visual flow builder (no-code) that enables you to create automation and workflows efficiently, reducing the backlog of the IT team for workflow and integration requests.

Optimize IT Resources for Better Output

By removing redundant data entry and manual processing, iPaaS helps optimize resources, resulting in enhanced output and better service delivery to customers.

Minimize API Risk

iPaaS provides a one-stop connectivity platform for increased oversight and control, reducing the risk of APIs.

Benefits of using iPaaS for integration and automation.

Accessibility for All: With the appropriate iPaaS solution, anyone can transform into a “citizen developer.” This means that the most effective iPaaS solutions use visual flow builders with a drag-and-drop interface that does not require technical expertise. As a result, you won’t have to rely on central IT resources to begin integrating data and automating your processes. By making integrations available to all, you can conserve valuable resources and enhance efficiency.

Data Integration: With limited resources, it’s crucial to make informed business decisions based on data. However, data from multiple systems and manual entry can lead to errors. By using iPaaS, you can gather the data and automate manual entry, resulting in a more accurate view of your data and allowing you to make better data-based decisions.

Automating Tedious Tasks: Automating repetitive tasks is a major advantage of iPaaS, particularly for IT departments. Daily, weekly, and monthly tasks can consume a significant amount of time and resources. By automating these tasks, IT departments can reclaim valuable time to focus on more important projects and issues. Additionally, tasks such as onboarding/offboarding employees can also take a lot of time, but with automation, they can be streamlined.

Gaining Insight into Integration and Data: With so many software applications in use, organizations can struggle to keep track of which systems hold the same data and how they are integrated. Attempts to connect these systems through APIs and webhooks can create security risks and result in a lack of visibility into integration points across departments and applications.

Utilizing iPaaS for Automation Solutions: With iPaaS, you can have a clear understanding of the APIs being used and who is using them, as well as where data is flowing. By using an integration platform, you can secure access and enhance the security of your systems. Additionally, you can monitor workflows being created in different departments and effectively manage resources and processes.

Improved Efficiency: iPaaS can result in increased efficiency in your organization. By automating repetitive tasks like data entry as well as complex processes such as new employee onboarding, you can reclaim valuable time and resources that can be redirected towards other efforts to enhance customer satisfaction.

Bonus Integration and Automation Benefits

If the aforementioned benefits haven’t convinced you, here are a couple more.

Did you know that using iPaaS can enhance communication within your organization? As businesses rely on data sharing across their systems to prevent the loss of crucial information, iPaaS provides universal access to this data, reducing the chances of misinterpretation. Furthermore, iPaaS contributes to the security and compliance of your systems.

One of the biggest security concerns for cloud-based solutions is the use of APIs for data exchange between systems. With the average company relying on over 300 APIs, the risk of cyberattacks is high and the average cost of such incidents is rising every year. iPaaS provides API management and tools to establish secure connections between systems, ensuring the protection of critical business functions.

iPaaS in Action: Automating the Mundane and Saving Time

The use of iPaaS by companies is aimed at streamlining both internal IT systems and external processes, such as the onboarding and offboarding of employees. The objective of the onboarding process is to ensure that new hires can start work with all the necessary resources from day one.

The use of iPaaS can eliminate inefficiencies and make the process smoother for both the company and new employees.

In addition, the utilization of iPaaS for automating the offboarding process for government organizations can save a significant amount of time and effort. These organizations undergo annual audits from the state and require a thorough review of inactive accounts. The manual process of revoking privileges and disabling accounts for no longer employed individuals can be time-consuming. With iPaaS, this process can be automated, thus saving valuable time and effort.

IT personnel can allocate their time towards more significant matters by automating tasks, especially those that are repetitive.

Now that we’ve run through how automation works with iPaaS and its many benefits alike, let’s take a closer look at hyper-automation.

A growing number of businesses are embracing Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) to enhance their hyper-automation initiatives. Hyper-automation involves the deployment of AI and machine learning to automate various processes and workflows. By integrating various technologies, tools, and platforms, hyper-automation streamlines end-to-end business processes, maximizing efficiency, reducing human errors, and freeing up time. With the help of iPaaS, businesses can save costs, improve the accuracy and quality of their work, and streamline their operations.

Hyperautomation is being adopted across various industries, including finance, human resources, customer service, manufacturing, and logistics. The integration of various cutting-edge technologies like AI, ML, RPA, and iPaaS helps automate processes and workflows. This results in improved competitiveness and agility for organizations, and better customer and stakeholder satisfaction.

The era of hyper-automation has arrived and is no longer just a future trend.

Companies of all sizes are embracing hyper-automation to improve their efficiency and drive digital transformation, either through CEO-led initiatives or smaller tactical efforts.

To achieve hyper-automation, businesses must first integrate the many different platforms and systems they use.

With Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) solutions, companies can connect thousands of applications easily and efficiently, without the need for custom coding.

Additionally, low-code iPaaS options allow non-technical employees to create integrations, reducing the strain on busy IT teams.

Let’s understand hyper-automation deeper

The concept of hyper-automation was first recognized in October 2019 and took the top spot on Gartner’s list of the Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2020. Other industry experts may refer to it as digital process automation or intelligent process automation. However, the core meaning remains the same. Hyperautomation refers to a set of digital technologies that are transforming organizations across various industries

 

The term “hyper-automation” refers to the utilization of advanced technologies such as AI, ML, and RPA to automate tasks that were previously done by humans. It encompasses not just the automation of tasks, but also the level of automation, making it a significant step in the digital transformation journey.

It is important to understand that hyper-automation is not meant to completely replace human work. Instead, it helps free up human workers from repetitive and low-value tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value ones. The combination of automation and human effort results in improved customer experiences reduced operational costs and increased profitability for organizations.

Hyperautomation prioritizes human involvement in the digitization process, a significant departure from traditional automation methods that solely rely on robotic process automation (RPA). RPA focuses on replicating repetitive human tasks using bots and structured data. However, hyper-automation takes it a step further by incorporating advanced technologies like AI to work together with humans, delivering superior efficiency and performance. By including the human element, hyper-automation ensures that organizations can keep up with the changing demands of the digital world.

Hyperautomation offers the advantage of incorporating multiple automation technologies to surpass the restrictions of utilizing just one tool. This enables companies to automate repetitive and scalable tasks beyond the boundaries of individual processes. Yet, effective implementation of automation demands proper planning and execution. Organizations must grasp how digital technologies integrate into their current operations, as well as their part in shaping new processes. Neglecting to consider the role of automation or automating a faulty process can bring about severe consequences for the organization.

Integration is a critical aspect of hyper-automation, allowing multiple automation technologies to work together cohesively. This is achieved through the intelligent management of business processes, which is an essential element of hyper-automation. A well-planned and executed BPM approach enables organizations to efficiently scale their operations and continuously improve their processes.

How do businesses approach Hyper-automation?

According to Gartner, companies are approaching hyper-automation in one of three ways- a strategic overhaul led by the CEO, a CEO-led overhaul with a focus on quick wins, or a single tactical project initiated by a small team. Regardless of the approach, Gartner emphasizes the importance of considering the appropriate hyper-automation tools and technology from the outset of any automation initiative.

What is the function of iPaaS solutions in the context of hyper-automation?

Hyper-automation requires seamless integration of various platforms and systems to automate processes across operations.

In the past, custom coding was used to connect these systems, but this requires significant time and resources which many IT operations do not have. To address this, low-code iPaaS solutions have been introduced, offering intuitive functionality and pre-built workflows to allow business technologists to build integrations, freeing IT teams from other tasks.

Hyper-automation Benefits

Hyperautomation can help organizations better meet their customers’ and stakeholders’ needs.

Improved Efficiency: Automates repetitive tasks and streamlines processes to boost productivity.

Reduced Errors: Automated processes have fewer mistakes compared to manual tasks, leading to improved accuracy.

Cost Savings: Automation can decrease labor costs and optimize resource utilization, resulting in cost savings.

Increased Agility: Enables organizations to easily adapt to changing business needs and market conditions.

Improved Customer Experience: Faster turnaround times and enhanced service quality result in a better customer experience.

Enhanced Decision-Making: Helps organizations process vast amounts of data, leading to more informed and quicker decision-making.

Hyperautomation with iPaaS

A step-by-step guide to using iPaaS to enable hyper-automation:

Pinpoint Processes Suitable for Automation: Evaluate tasks and operations that are repetitive or require multiple system integrations, and assess their potential for automation.

Select the Right iPaaS: Consider different iPaaS options available, taking into account aspects such as the ability to integrate, security, cost, and scalability.

iPaaS Implementation: Establish a connection between the iPaaS and the systems to be integrated by configuring API links or using the pre-existing connectors provided by the platform.

Automate Workflows: Design integration flows, map data, determine triggers and actions, and set up error handling and notification procedures.

Monitor and Improve: Continuously monitor and assess the performance of the automated processes and workflows, identify areas for improvement, and make necessary modifications.

By adhering to these guidelines, companies can utilize iPaaS to activate hyper-automation and realize business advantages such as enhanced productivity, reduced errors, and streamlined processes.

How can you make iPaaS automation work for your business/organization?

Identify business processes: Identify the manual, repetitive tasks in your business processes that can be automated.

Evaluate iPaaS solutions: Research and compare various iPaaS solutions based on features, cost, scalability, security, and ease of use, with a focus on their automation capabilities.

Define the automation architecture: Decide on the automation architecture that suits your business needs, taking into account security, scalability, and other requirements.

Implement the solution: Once you have chosen an iPaaS solution, set it up, configure it, and implement the automation you require.

Test the automation: Test the automation thoroughly to ensure they are working as expected and to identify any potential issues.

Monitor and manage the automation: Regularly monitor the automation to ensure they are functioning optimally, and manage them as needed to address any issues that arise.

Evaluate and improve: Regularly evaluate the automation to identify opportunities for improvement, and make changes as needed to enhance the overall effectiveness of the iPaaS automation solution.

Expand automation: As you become more comfortable with iPaaS automation, consider expanding it to additional business processes to increase efficiency and productivity.

Looking to explore the benefits of iPaaS Automation for your business or organization? Discover how you can quickly and efficiently integrate your applications using Aonflow.