Automation Growth Where Integration Software Falls Short (And How to Fix It) Noah Edis Nov 9, 2022 7 mins read Blog Automation Where Integration Software Falls Short (And How to Fix It) As you may know, we started Wrk to take the complication out of automation. We saw automated workflows becoming the new normal; Gartner predicts that 50% of enterprises will adopt automation by 2025. But we also saw a serious lack of beginner-friendly platforms and integration software that made it easy to scale up. For many businesses, integration software is still a black box; it’s complicated, it’s constantly changing, and no one’s there to help when things go wrong. And trust us—things will go wrong. Here are some of the most common pitfalls we’ve seen with integration software and how to fix them. Integration software can fail to handle complex data Remember when peopleless automation sounded like the most impressive, foolproof way to get work done? *Shudder*. It took too long for everyone to realize that eliminating all traces of human involvement in data processing was a recipe for disaster. Automation should empower your team—not replace them. As a result, you’re more likely to encounter clumsy automation platforms that struggle to handle large amounts of complex data. Zapier, for example, often receives complaints about its automation (or ‘ZAPs’) stopping at random. In some cases, you might not even be able to get started because the chosen software simply can’t handle your company’s data volume. Microsoft Power Automate is hyped as a highly capable integration platform, and yet, reviews say they underperform when data becomes too complex. Why is this the case? As we said, automation and integration software in general has had this drawback for many years—the erasure of human input. Platforms emerged with the ability to extract, transform, and load data without a hint of manual involvement. But this “set it and forget it” approach doesn’t work when you’re working with complex data that only humans can understand. At Wrk, we have the best of both worlds—you can set it and forget it, but our hybrid approach means that someone (or something) is always monitoring it. What’s the fix? When you’re evaluating an integration platform, pay attention to its ability to handle different types and volumes of data. A good tool will offer pre-built connectors for popular applications, so you don’t need to start from scratch every time you want to connect two systems. And no—the best platforms aren’t those with zero human input! At Wrk, we’re not interested in isolating you from complex and high-volume tasks. We work alongside your team to make sure we can handle anything you throw our way. Creating a security hazard We’ve all seen the daunting robot apocalypse movies; you know, the ones where the robots become self-aware and start harming humans (we’re looking at you, Terminator). This is one of the many myths that have been irreversibly attached to the concept of automation. While these movies are pretty exaggerated, AI automation has had to really step up their cyber security in the last few years. There are self-imposed risks—like using erroneous code, or data loss due to user error. But there’s also the possibility of malicious actors taking advantage of these platforms to wreak havoc on our systems. Why is this the case? Without delving into all the intricacies of how these systems work, most integration software is designed to make it easy for users to connect disparate systems and data. In other words, they provide a single point of access for all your sensitive data. If this sounds like a security nightmare, that’s because it can be. Low-security integration efforts can leave gaping holes in an otherwise secure system. This is why a lot of companies have had to really invest in safety measures and guarantees to their clients. What’s the fix? This might seem obvious, but it’s true: the key to avoiding a security disaster is to choose an integration platform that takes security seriously. Look for features like two-factor authentication and masking techniques (we use both at Wrk). Also, make sure the platform has a solid reputation; you don’t want to be the guinea pig for a new and untested product. Poor data quality Company data is a sprawling web at the best of times; that’s just the way it is. Every department has its own systems, protocols, and data sets. And as companies grow, this web only gets more tangled. When it comes to combining them, the difficulty lies in getting a clear overview of your business processes and finding out how to maintain seamless communication between your teams, customers, and partners. Why is this the case? It’s simply not possible to get a clear overview of your business processes when you’re using multiple, disparate systems. This is because each system has its own data sets and protocols; trying to combine them is like trying to put a puzzle together with pieces from random boxes in your childhood attic. What’s the fix? The answer lies in a no-code integration platform (or an NCDP). What’s that, you ask? It’s a platform that takes a graphical approach to integration, allowing you to visually map out your business processes and data flows. This way, you can see exactly how your systems are interconnected and identify where the bottlenecks are. We built Wrk with NCDP in mind; it’s why we’re able to offer such a low learning curve. Our platform makes it easy to get started and ensures optimal quality of data. Integration software can lack creative automation Coding takes a long time to master. Seriously… have you ever tried to learn Java? It’s not for the faint of heart. Once you’ve nailed down the basics, there’s little time or energy left to take a creative approach to automation. As a result, most integrations are built with the same tired old methods: batch processing, point-to-point connectors, and hand-coded scripts. There is no room for the shiny and new, and there is no way to benefit from new technologies as they emerge. Why is this the case? If you’ve been using no-code integration platforms for a while now, you’d be shocked by the complexity of some of the legacy systems out there. They’re often complex, with layers upon layers of code that are difficult to understand, let alone change. Tray.io, for example, is often thought to be too complicated and to have too little documentation and training. This is okay for people who are familiar with APIs and basic JVN—but it’s not so great for the beginner. Workato gets similar complaints despite being a well-loved tool. What’s more, these tools are usually tightly coupled to specific technologies, which makes it hard to take advantage of new developments. What’s the fix? No-code platforms and services are your ticket to stress-free and creative integrations. With a no-code platform, you can quickly and easily add new features, without having to wade through mountains of code. Slow to scale up with the wrong integration software Let’s face it: no one builds legacy integration platforms to support growth. If you’re lucky, you can patch the platform to work with new applications and data sources, but it’s a slow, painful process. Why is this the case? Older integration platforms use a hub-and-spoke model, in which all applications and data sources must connect to a central integration server. This might work for small companies, but it quickly becomes difficult to sustain as you scale up. What’s the fix? A cloud-based, no-code integration platform is a much better option for businesses that are growing quickly. With a cloud-based platform, you can easily add new applications and data sources without having to change up your entire system. Ditch archaic integration software—use our Hybrid Automation Delivery Platform instead We don’t think it’s fair for any business—big, medium, or small—to miss out on the incredible time-saving powers of integration software. But they so often do. Why? Because the skill ceiling is high, and the learning curve is steep. We designed our Hybrid Automation Platform with these issues in mind; it’s an iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) that keeps the user at the center. We’ve got thousands of ready-to-run Wrk Actions like creating contracts, sending messages, and updating CRM software. From there, you can use our customizable Wrkflows to stitch the steps together effortlessly. Begin using Wrk right away. Book a meeting with an automation expert today. Share This Article Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email