New integration strategies connect, enhance workflow as never before

The next new technology used to be front-page news. The latest, greatest software made headlines for what its innovative features could help marketers do.

It wasn’t long after automation became integral to marketing that leaders and front-line workers realized a problem. They had multiple apps, but without being connected to one another there was limit to the benefit that could be gained. If the MRM couldn’t talk to the DAM, for example, it was back to manual effort to close process gaps and data gaps—and keep work on track.

The need to integrate was apparent early on. Fifteen (15) years ago, for organizations with multiple solutions, integration involved custom code—requiring the IT team or an outside services firm to do the work. Because it was time-consuming and expensive most marketing teams did without.

API was an early integration advancement. Short for Application Programming Interface, APIs enabled large tech companies like Adobe to build suites of products, with a software intermediary built-in that let each application talk to another. Best-of-breed gave way to pre-integrated solutions that worked together out of the box.

Now we’ve entered the age of low-code integration with iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service), making it possible to have a truly customized and fully integrated marketing stack. iPaaS, developed in the early days of cloud computing, allows many-to-many connections across all applications that a company uses, giving an organization’s standalone solutions the ability to seamlessly work together. iPaaS is the first low-code way to create a technology ecosystem of connected components.

Most enterprise marketing groups have upwards of 20 MarTech apps in place. Integrating all marketing applications with iPaaS is a game changer, in that it makes it possible to streamline marketing supply chains while enhancing the customer experience, and the work experience.

Four ways to get the most out of your iPaaS investment

Prioritize at use case level. If your systems aren’t talking, it’s due to either a data gap or a process gap. Planning an event and need a full financial picture throughout? You need to connect work management to the ERP so you can track expenses, including space, décor, invites, handouts and travel. Planning a promotion requiring content, visuals, and a form? You need to connect work management to marketing automation to make sure targeted, personalized messages are sent where and when they should.
Stay shoulder to shoulder with those doing the work. To fully realize the benefits of an iPaaS engagement, stay close to consultants while integrations are underway. Learn from them so you can support the code after go-live (and the consults are no longer there).
Emphasize testing in work plans. A test phase is important during integration. Each step needs to be tested (and debugged) in a development environment, not in a live environment, to prevent disruption of normal operations.
Keep business owners and administrators for target systems in the loop. If you’re integrating work management with CRM, for example, the business owners and admins of the CRM should participate in developing use cases and testing to assure they’re invested in long-term success.

What does an iPaaS do?