Cloud computing has certainly taken off in recent years. However, as people respond to that trend, they often realize they need to integrate data and applications in the cloud or between the cloud and the business. Integration-platform-as-a-service (iPaaS) products and providers can help them do that. Here are some compelling ways to use iPaaS solutions this year.
Enable Higher-Education Institutions to Better Utilize Data
Modern colleges and universities have a wealth of data people can use to better understand operations. For example, which factors make a student more or less likely to graduate? Has the education provider succeeded in admitting more diverse students over the years? Which professors get the best feedback, and what do learners like most about them?
iPaaS products can unlock these answers and many others. Higher education administrators might use iPaaS along with machine learning to spot signs of mental health struggles. They could also compile data to get an overall picture of an individual student’s success. That could show people which learners are best suited to post-undergraduate programs.
Using iPaaS products could also help higher education entities prepare for the future of learning. Many university classes now occur at least partially remotely. iPaaS could allow administrators to work with data showing which learners are most likely to thrive in remote settings and those needing more support.
Support the Exchange of Health Care Data
A healthcare industry challenge occurs because data exists in so many places and gets transferred between numerous parties. A patient might send data from a health tracker to their primary care physician to show how a particular symptom manifests. If the doctor believes that person needs an evaluation from a specialist, they might send lab results, ultrasound data, prescribed medication lists, or other details to that provider.
iPaaS platforms help fill the information gaps within patient records. Then, the relevant parties can make faster, better care decisions. Other data exchanges occur between healthcare providers and payer organizations.
In one case, a Nashville, Tennessee-based health technology company selected an iPaaS provider to improve systems integration processes between providers and payer organizations. That change will allow working with more complex data and larger batches of it.
Pursue Data Consolidation
Companies have seemingly endless ways to use data today. Netflix indicates its recommendation algorithms influence most people’s viewing decisions on the platform. Other companies use data to prevent fraud, determine how to market new products, and figure out when to enter new markets.
However, challenges arise because data-driven companies often have too much decentralized information that employees can’t readily access. Consider the situation associated with technology company Equinix. People worked with an astounding 225 data management tools and faced challenges related to siloed information.
Company leaders had their sights set on digital transformation and a more data-driven culture. They chose an iPaaS solution that allowed data democratization and supported the consolidation of systems. It then became easier to make critical decisions more confidently because Equinix had a single source of truth for all data.
Accelerate E-Commerce Order Fulfillment
Amazon has undoubtedly changed people’s expectations about how fast their online orders should arrive. However, that puts strain on less well-equipped e-commerce providers. A November 2022 study indicated only 3% of retailers and consumer products companies were well-positioned to meet people’s demand for fast home delivery. Another 2022 study showed delivery concerns caused 56% of cart abandonment incidents.
E-commerce retailers shouldn’t expect a fast or guaranteed way to shorten delivery time frames. The right steps vary depending on a company’s current resources and most pressing issues. However, iPaaS products can help e-commerce brands process customers’ orders faster, resulting in higher satisfaction levels. The ability to connect multiple systems is one benefit of using them. That’s convenient, especially since many e-commerce brands sell products in numerous places.
Linking that distributed data enables getting accurate inventory counts, providing realistic shipping windows, and speeding up the checkout process. Some people can use the information provided by other websites to populate fields on e-commerce sites. That’s a handy alternative to entering all those details again. The easier it is for a person to complete their purchase, the more likely they are to do so and become loyal customers.
Are You Ready to Use an iPaaS Product?
Now that you’ve learned some ways to take advantage of iPaaS technology, you might feel more eager to see how it could improve your company and workflow. Think about your iPaaS budget and what problems you want to solve. How will you track success? It’s also worthwhile to think about how many data sources you have now and how much the number might grow or shrink as your company changes.
After figuring out those necessities, start narrowing down the pool of service providers. Learn about their prices, features, and how easy it is to scale a platform as your needs change. Talk to representatives about how they handle security and data transformation needs. Discuss how many people from your company will use the platform and get details about any user-friendly characteristics the platform offers.
You may not find the most appropriate iPaaS platform immediately. However, considering these matters will make it easier to reach a well-informed decision and maximize your return on investment.