Embedded iPaaS vs. Unified APIs

As businesses navigate through the complexities of digital transformation, integrating disparate systems becomes a critical challenge. The end goal is to create a seamless ecosystem where data flows freely, processes are automated, and decision-making is informed by real-time insights. But how can we achieve this?

The key is going beyond technological advancement; it’s about enabling businesses to adapt quickly to changing market demands, reduce operational costs, and deliver exceptional experiences to customers, partners, and employees alike.

The bottom line is this: Effective integration strategies are integral for companies to maintain a competitive edge and to scale. 

This quest for seamless connectivity has led to the emergence of two technologies: embedded iPaaS and unified APIs. Each serves a unique purpose in the integration ecosystem, catering to different needs and complexities within an organization’s digital infrastructure.

The choice between a unified API and an embedded iPaaS depends largely on your integration needs and the complexity of the systems you’re working with. Here we break down the key concepts of each to help you make your decision.

What is an embedded iPaaS?

An embedded iPaaS is a cloud-based integration solution that is seamlessly integrated within software applications, providing native integration and automation capabilities directly to end-users. This type of platform is designed to streamline and accelerate the integration process, enabling businesses to offer a wide range of integrations to their customers without the need for extensive custom development. 

It focuses on simplifying integration complexities, making it easier for non-technical users to create and manage integrations, thereby reducing the reliance on developer and IT resources. This approach is particularly beneficial for software providers aiming to deliver a seamless and integrated user experience directly from their platforms, enhancing applications with built-in integration capabilities to improve user experience and streamline workflows.

What are Unified APIs?

Unified APIs, also known as “normalized” or “universal” APIs, are designed to simplify the integration process across multiple applications within a specific software category. They achieve this by aggregating many APIs into a single endpoint. 

This provides an additional layer of abstraction on top of the existing systems’ APIs and data models, making it easier to work with various applications without needing to manage multiple, distinct API integrations. Essentially, unified APIs aim to streamline the process of connecting to and working with different systems by offering a more simplified and unified interface.

Choosing between embedded iPaaS and unified APIs

The choice between an embedded iPaaS and unified APIs hinges on an organization’s specific integration needs and the complexity of the systems it aims to integrate. For those prioritizing simplicity and quick deployment, unified APIs offer a straightforward solution. However, if your company requires a more robust, scalable, and customizable integration framework, an embedded iPaaS is the answer.

The decision is not merely about choosing one over the other but understanding how each can serve the unique integration needs of a business. Whether it’s the simplicity of unified APIs or the comprehensive flexibility of an embedded iPaaS, the ultimate goal remains the same: streamlined connectivity.

Challenges of Unified APIs

While unified APIs aim to simplify the integration process, they may not be suitable for all scenarios, especially those requiring high levels of customization, complex error handling, and governance.

• Complexity underestimation: Unified API providers might undermine the complexity of integrations, suggesting a one-size-fits-all solution. However, this approach often fails because it assumes all applications are built with the same API standards, schema, concurrency, and security protocols, which is rarely the case, especially with enterprise-grade applications. The reality is that integrations are inherently complex and require a flexible solution that can adapt to various customizations and business needs.
• Customization limitations: If a customer’s application has been customized to fit their specific business needs and processes, unified APIs may not cater to those use cases effectively. 
• Dependency on the provider for changes: With unified APIs, any required changes or enhancements to the integration often necessitate going back to the provider. This model can be risky as it places the customer’s satisfaction in the hands of an external company. The code lift required to support enterprise integration customizations and variances with a unified API tool can be as heavy, if not more so, than building custom solutions in-house, potentially leading to unnecessary costs.
• Error handling and customization: Unified API solutions may offer basic error codes but lack comprehensive error handling logic, custom notifications, and customizable workflows. This limitation can hinder the ability to manage and troubleshoot integrations effectively.
• Data operations and transformation: Unified APIs are generally limited to simple data/record syncing against a single Common Data Model. This limitation restricts larger data operations and transformations, which are often necessary for complex integrations.
• Governance and control: Unified APIs may not support a diverse set of end-user permissions or provide detailed administrative consoles for customer management. This lack of governance and control can be a significant drawback for organizations that need to manage individual customers or user permissions closely.

Seamless Integration with Workato

Workato addresses this challenge by offering an embedded integration platform that emphasizes flexibility, scalability, and comprehensive integration capabilities. Our embedded iPaaS platform is designed with complex integration requirements in mind and has customization and future-proofing baked right in. 

Plus, Workato’s embedded iPaaS provides pre-built connectors to a wide range of SaaS apps and databases, so you can save time and speed up the roadmap. Get seamless integration that is as powerful as it is easy to use. Check out a demo or request a free trial to learn more.