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When companies consider digital transformation, they often think that it means moving everything to the cloud. That would imply a complete overhaul of all systems and a massive cost. Since the systems they have already work, many of them delay transformation, but hybrid integration platforms are the real solution they’re looking for.
If this all sounds like some kind of foreign language to you, you’re not alone. Let’s clarify by looking at what hybrid integration platforms do. Your business has applications and data that are on premises while others are in the cloud. You may also have several partners, personas, and domains that form part of your network of business interests. Hybrid integration connects them all and aims to do so seamlessly using hybrid integration platforms.
It’s entirely possible that you’ve decided to move most of your systems to the cloud, but since it’s a costly business, you’re likely to adopt a phased approach. Your hybrid system joins the dots and makes it possible for you to enjoy the benefits of digital transformation that connects all data systems before you’ve undergone a full transition.
The benefits are enormous. Your company can innovate faster, be more agile, and be fully connected without undertaking modernization all at one go.
You’ve got the Concept: What’s the “Platform?”
Having loads of data and systems all over the place can be a nightmare. Your data ends up isolated in “silos” because your systems aren’t “talking” to one another. It’s like having a family unit in which each family member doesn’t speak to the other and nobody knows what the others are up to. In a word: dysfunctional.
The hybrid integration platform is the place where you can unite or integrate everything. It’s a place where you can develop, test and maintain the links that make all your systems work together instead of working in isolation. It plugs into your cloud providers and accesses your on-platform applications, and the platform itself makes it all much easier for developers to design a system that makes the connections you need to orchestrate a smooth flow of data and functionality. Better yet, it’s so user-friendly that you can configure rather than code and the result is significant time and cost savings.
How to Choose a Hybrid Integration Platform
Unless you’re already ahead of the curve regarding this technology, we’d suggest that you consult with an expert before deciding on a hybrid integration platform. What are you looking for?
You need a strong platform that allows for flexibility. It needs to be designed to do what’s necessary to achieve your goals while keeping your, and your customers’, data secure. Ideally, it should offer a few ready-prepared ways to perform common integration tasks without first having to figure out the “how.” When the risk is low, you and your team should be able to try a few tweaks yourselves.
And, apart from being able to deal with a combination of cloud and on-premises systems, it should also give you access to a responsive support team for those times when you get stuck and need advice. Lastly, it should be familiar with the combination of software that you and your partners use. Yes, we’re talking integration with suppliers’ systems too.
All in all, you’re looking for ease of use, security, flexibility, and simple solutions to what may seem complex data integration and communication problems.
Where’s the Economy?
When looking at why investing in a hybrid integration platform is really an economy, you should already have picked up on some of the points already. If all your different systems and data sets could be orchestrated to work together on auto, you’ll save a lot of labour, come up with results faster, and have the benefit of knowing that those results are based on accurate information.
By allowing you to configure rather than code, your IT team or developers spend less time on trying to hard-code integrations from scratch. Plus, you’ll enjoy the benefits of digital transformation without having to “go the whole hog” all at once. You’ll probably discover a great many more economies based on your individual circumstances, but even these generics offer a compelling case for hybrid integration.
The bottom line is this: do you want to work more efficiently with partners, customers, and even between departments in your business? If the answer is “yes,” digital transformation is your goal and hybrid integration platforms are the key to getting you there.
