Navigating Embedded iPaaS: Definition, Features & More

Did you know that SaaS companies are facing an increasing demand for integrations with popular tools?

As their user bases expand, so does the need for seamless integrations. Today, many SaaS companies receive numerous requests for such integrations, prompting them to turn to third-party integration solution providers.

As your platform evolves and gains new capabilities, it becomes even more crucial to ensure easy interaction with other programs. Your integration solution should be robust, adaptable to your specific needs, and scalable to grow alongside your company.

Embedded iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) offers a unique advantage by embedding integration capabilities directly within an application. This approach enhances user experiences and streamlines processes.

In this article, we’ll explore embedded iPaaS in detail, including its definition, key features, and a comparison with traditional iPaaS and in-house development.

What is embedded iPaaS?

Specifically tailored to be included straight into an application or service, embedded iPaaS is a type of integration technology.

• Unlike conventional iPaaS solutions that function as stand-alone platforms, embedded iPaaS products seamlessly integrate into a host application.
• Embedded iPaaS systems offer a single integration experience inside a main application. This lets end users link to different outside services without having to leave the host application environment.
• Embedded iPaaS guarantees a coherent user experience by streamlining data synchronizing, application integration, and workflow automation.
• Embedding integration features help companies provide their clients with stronger and more comprehensive solutions.
• SaaS providers can improve their product offerings by incorporating seamless integration capabilities, lowering the demand for external integration tools and increasing customer happiness.

How does embedded iPaaS work?

The way it works is simple: When a client integrates their CRM (like Salesforce) with your product via an embedded iPaaS, they can set up workflows where any changes in the CRM—such as adding, modifying, or removing a contact—automatically reflect in your product.

The process involves a few key steps:

1. Linking Applications: The CRM is connected to your system, allowing for seamless communication between the two platforms.
2. Defining Actions: An intuitive workflow builder is used to define specific actions that should occur when certain changes are detected in the CRM.
3. Using Conditional Logic: Conditional logic is applied to handle various scenarios, ensuring that the appropriate actions are taken based on specific conditions.

Embedded iPaaS ensures real-time data synchronization between systems, offers monitoring tools to track integration performance, and provides a seamless, native-like integration experience. This approach saves time, reduces errors, and enhances operational efficiency by automating processes and eliminating the need for manual data entry.

Example of embedded iPaaS

The embedded iPaaS market is much less crowded compared to the iPaaS market, primarily because iPaaS solutions have been around for much longer. Generally, there are two types of embedded iPaaS solutions:

Larger companies that offer both embedded iPaaS and iPaaS solutions: Examples include Tray.io, Workato, and Boomi.

Smaller companies that focus solely on embedded iPaaS: Examples include Cobalt, Prismatic, and Paragon.

Difference between Embedded and Traditional iPaaS

Although both embedded iPaaS and standard iPaaS seek to enable integration between many systems and applications, their methods and execution differ greatly.

Traditional iPaaS

Conventional iPaaS solutions are stand-alone systems meant to link several applications, data sources, and services all around a company.

• They provide tools and interfaces for managing and tracking integrations, making them a central hub for integration activity.
• Traditional iPaaS solutions, which are typically used by IT teams, require specific knowledge to set up and run.

Embedded iPaaS

Conversely, embedded iPaaS is meant to be directly included in a host application, therefore offering integration features inherent in the core capability of the application.

This method presents a number of clear benefits:

• User Experience: Users can use integration tools without leaving the main application, creating a more flawless and simple experience.
• Customization: Embedded integration systems allow for customization to fit the specific requirements of the host application, ensuring that integration capabilities complement the application's workflow and user needs.
• Reduced Complexity: Embedding integration capabilities drastically reduces the complexity of running multiple integration platforms. This leads to faster implementation times and reduced maintenance overhead.

Key Differences

Let's explore the key differences between the two approaches:

Features of Embedded iPaaS

Features included in embedded iPaaS solutions help to simplify and improve the integration process inside a host program. These characteristics comprise:

1. Pre-Built Connectors

On embedded integration platforms, pre-built connectors for popular outside-of-house third-party services and applications abound. These connectors let users quickly and effortlessly link their applications, therefore reducing the effort required.

2. Customizable Procedures

Users of embedded iPaaS systems can design and personalize processes to automate data transmission and process synchronization among several apps. This tool guarantees that integrations fit particular corporate requirements.

3. Real-Time Synchronization of Data

Embedded iPaaS products must provide real-time data synchronization if they are to guarantee consistently current data across all linked systems. Applications that rely on real-time data for operations and decision-making are particularly dependent on this ability.

4. Simple User Interface

Embedded iPaaS's user-friendly interface—which is meant to be simple and accessible for end users—is a main benefit. This reduces the learning curve and enables consumers to manage and monitor their integrations effectively.

5. Scalability

Embedded PaaS solutions are built to scale with the host application, allowing for increased data volumes and integration requirements. This scalability guarantees that the integration features can change with use.

6. Compliance and Security

In embedded iPaaS systems, security and compliance take the front stage. Strong security elements, including data encryption, access restrictions, and industry-standard compliance with GDPR and HIPAA, abound in these systems.

7. Monitoring and Analytics

Embedded iPaaS helps consumers quickly find and fix problems by offering monitoring and analytics tools that reveal integration performance. These tools allow for proactive integration management, guaranteeing the best performance.

8. Managing APIs

The ability to let users control and track security, performance, and API consumption ensures that APIs are used effectively and safely within the integration procedures.

9. Intuitive Workflow Builder

With an intuitive workflow builder, embedded iPaaS platforms enable your team to define integration logic easily. This visual interface allows for the creation of complex workflows without extensive coding knowledge, empowering your engineers to build sophisticated integrations efficiently.

Embedded iPaaS vs. In-House Development: Factors to Consider

Several factors must be considered when deciding between in-house development for integration needs and embedded iPaaS. Each method has its own benefits and drawbacks.

1. Development Time and Expense

• Embedded iPaaS products provide a ready-made solution that greatly lowers development time and expense.
• Internal development necessitates a large number of resources, including lengthy development cycles and qualified developers.

2. Maintenance and Assistance

• Embedded iPaaS systems incorporate built-in support and maintenance, reducing the workload of internal teams and ensuring continuously updated and optimized integrations.

3. Flexibility and Individualization

• Embedded iPaaS reduces the complexity and expenses associated with creating and maintaining connectors while also offering a high level of customization.

4. Time to Market

• By means of pre-built connectors and integration tools, embedded iPaaS solutions provide faster time to market.
• Internal development might produce longer development cycles, which could delay the deployment of integration features.

5. Compliance and Security

• Maintaining security and compliance in internal integrations can prove difficult and costly. Embedded iPaaS systems simplify the process of maintaining safe and compliant integrations by including built-in security safeguards and industry-standard compliance.

6. Scalability

• Embedded iPaaS solutions are designed to evolve with the host application, offering flawless integration as the program expands.
• Effective scaling of in-house integrations could depend on a large amount of rework and resources.

7. Skills and Tools

• In-house development requires a group of talented programmers who are knowledgeable about integration technologies.
• By eliminating the need for specialized resources, embedded integration systems allow companies to use integration capabilities without great technical understanding.

Key Considerations for Selecting an Embedded iPaaS Solution

Maximizing the advantages of embedded integration and guaranteeing successful integration depend on selecting the correct embedded iPaaS solution. Important factors take place in:

1. Capabilities for Integration

Analyze the variety of pre-built connectors as well as your capacity for creating unique integrations. To fulfill your integration requirements, the solution ought to support all required tools and services.

2. User Experience

Think about the embedded iPaaS systems' general user experience and interface. A user-friendly interface is necessary to ensure end users can easily monitor and manage integrations.

3. Customization Options

Make sure the embedded iPaaS provides enough customizing choices to fit integrations to your particular corporate need. This covers data mapping and customization processes.

4. Compliance and Security

Compliance and security come first. Make sure the embedded iPaaS solution provides strong security elements covering compliance with pertinent industry standards, data encryption, and access restrictions.

5. Scalability

Select a system that can expand with your company to meet rising data volumes and rising integration needs. Success over the long run depends on scalability.

6. Support and Upkeep

Analyze the level of maintenance and support offered by the embedded iPaaS vendor. Reliable support is required to deal with problems quickly and ensure seamless integration running.

7. Budget

Think through the whole cost of ownership, including subscription payments, initial setup expenses, and any extra expenditures for maintenance or customizing. Examine these costs in relation to the advantages and savings that embedded iPaaS provides.

8. Vendor Name-Building

Investigate the embedded iPaaS vendor's standing with industry recognition, case studies, and customer feedback. A respected vendor is more likely to offer a consistent, premium solution.

Cobalt's Advantage

When considering embedded iPaaS systems, Cobalt stands out as a leading solution provider. Cobalt offers a variety of benefits and focuses on delivering flawless and strong integration capabilities.

• Comprehensive Integration: Cobalt provides a wide array of pre-built connectors and customizable workflows, ensuring that all integration needs are met. Integrations include Amazon Seller Central, BambooHR, Datadog, ClickUp, and many more.
• User-Friendly Interface: Cobalt's simple maintenance and monitoring of integrations allows end users to access it through an understandable interface.
• Security and Compliance: Strong security elements and industry-standard compliance help Cobalt guarantee that integrations are compliant and safe.
• Scalability: Cobalt, designed to grow with your company, meets rising data volumes and integration needs.
• Reliable Support: Cobalt provides committed support and maintenance to guarantee flawless running of integrations and quick resolution of problems.
• Competitive Pricing: Cobalt offers competitive pricing that ensures you get the best value for your investment. With flexible pricing plans tailored to different business needs, Cobalt allows companies to scale their integration capabilities without incurring prohibitive costs. This approach helps organizations of all sizes—whether startups or established enterprises—access robust integration features without straining their budgets.

Conclusion

Embedded iPaaS is essential for SaaS companies looking to deliver seamless, integrated user experiences directly within their applications. Unlike traditional iPaaS, which operates as a separate platform, embedded iPaaS integrates directly into your application, simplifying management and enhancing scalability.

Choosing embedded iPaaS over in-house development saves time and resources, offering quicker deployment, lower costs, and ongoing support. Key considerations when selecting a solution include integration options, user experience, customization, and security.

Embedded iPaaS presents a way to seamlessly and intuitively combine several applications and services inside of a host system. Understanding the main characteristics and factors will help companies choose the correct embedded iPaaS products to fulfill their integration requirements.

Ready to take your integration capabilities to the next level? Cobalt provides a scalable, all-inclusive solution for SaaS businesses if you wish to improve your integration capacity.
Schedule a demo with us today to see how it can seamlessly integrate into your system and help drive your business forward.