What are the Challenges of SaaS Apps Integration with Existing IT Infrastructure?

SaaS solutions are reinventing the way of performing business operations, bringing the working process to a new level. SaaS integration implies a smooth connection of various software-as-a-service applications with the existing systems, enabling quick and productive data transmission.

The process is vital for firms of various sizes and industry sectors as it allows them to improve internal works and data transfer. 

The allure of SaaS application integration lies in the opportunity to embrace the agility and cost-efficiency of cloud-hosted services without the need for time-consuming installations and setup headaches. 

However, merging the cloud-based products with the on-premises software and making them all communicate seamlessly can be a challenge. The most apparent concerns revolve around security, storage, and interaction with existing legacy systems. 

Especially if a firm employs a multitude of SaaS products for diverse functions, such as CRM, client support, order administration, financial planning, and more. Nevertheless, SaaS software integration in the technology-driven world helps companies take a stand against the competition. 

In this article, we’ll talk about the essence of Software as a Service integration with the existing IT infrastructure, the primary challenges of the process, and how to maximize your gains from the breakthrough cloud solutions.

What is SaaS Integration?

The SaaS implementation process entails integrating SaaS applications with other software to facilitate data swap, automate workflows, and expedite operations. In simple words, SaaS integration definition means empowering new applications and existing systems to communicate with each other.

What stands behind the revolutionary role of SaaS products?

In the technically advanced business landscape, the company’s performance is tightly intertwined with its capability to quickly implement new applications into its infrastructure. SaaS solutions are web-based, with their hosting and administration handled by service providers. 

A company can access these software products via a web browser or mobile application with several clicks, without any desktop software installation. The core appeal of cloud solutions is that they provide an out-of-the-box answer to your organizational requirements without significant changes to your existing infrastructure.

What is the integration of SaaS applications in more detail?

Generally, SaaS integration embraces linking SaaS services with other cloud solutions, existing systems, and data sources in a company to streamline data transfer and automate processes. It typically deals with different integration methods, such as APIs and webhooks. 

Modern companies may utilize SaaS in various business areas, including marketing, sales, production, logistics, and more. If an organization wants all these apps to run in synergy, it needs appropriate SaaS integration.

By fulfilling the process correctly and efficiently, companies can enjoy significant SaaS integration benefits in the outcome. Thus, adequately integrated cloud solutions lead to reduced human errors, more efficient operations, greater productivity, informed decisions, and higher customer content.

SaaS Integration Challenges

While the benefits of SaaS integration are beyond questioning, every breakthrough tech comes with its flip side. The typical challenges of adopting SaaS include security concerns, fitting into the existing legacy systems, costs, performance, and maintenance. 

However, forewarned is forearmed. By knowing the threats, an organization can take efficient countermeasures, preventing pitfalls. 

1. Integration Costs

Custom development always comes at a price and so does SaaS applications integration. However, by making a wise investment in software building and support, you’ll get flexibility and boundless customization opportunities. 

To ensure your expenses are justified, you should cooperate with highly skilled specialists and cloud service providers. Non-compromised quality has its price, yet the SaaS integration strategy must be applied appropriately to save you from multiple headaches in the future. 

A poorly performed integration can lead to a bulk of apps that do not interact with each other, canceling the upsides of SaaS.

To derive maximum benefits of SaaS application integration at a reasonable cost, you should utilize proven tools and methods, such as integration platforms or Integration-as-a-service, and partner with trustworthy vendors. 

2. Attaining Scalability and Smooth Work

Resilience and growth are fundamental to any business. That’s why scalability and operation are vital factors in software development including setting up SaaS integration. As your company expands, the elevating number of queries and data amounts may adversely affect consumer journeys and overall business procedures. 

Therefore, you should consider scalability and performance demands in your SaaS integration strategies to construct solid integrations. 

3. Ensuring Security 

One of the largest concerns for business owners about SaaS integrations is maintaining data security. Indeed, if the integration process bypasses crucial security protocols, it can cause the unstructured accumulation of data in varying cloud services, leading to safety hazards. 

Another potential pitfall lies in the rushing timelines when organizations hurry up to unfold new features. A lack of time for proper integration can trigger system vulnerabilities, leaving loopholes for cyberattacks. 

To mitigate safety challenges when implementing SaaS application integration, you should ensure that your development partners apply reliable multi-layered security controls. This includes arranging authorized access to the firm’s infrastructure in the cloud and on-premises, encrypting data, and meeting the contemporary security protocols (i.e. SSAE 16). 

4. Potential Integration Issues

SaaS applications integration with existing IT infrastructure must facilitate seamless and efficient operation of the entire system. Appropriate implementation of new technology can be challenging as it often necessitates complex configuration and testing.

Faulty integrations can mess up internal workflows. For instance, if sales and accounting information aren’t synchronized with your CRM, your clients will get the wrong invoices, or the orders can be confused. 

Ultimately, a poorly implemented integration strategy can lead to low productivity, degrading consumer experiences, and declining revenues. 

To prevent such undesired consequences, you should meticulously select your SaaS integration partners and avoid relying on only one approach or methodology. Maintaining flexibility and fulfilling your SaaS integration projects gradually rather than all at once is paramount to future success.

5. Compatibility with Existing Systems 

Legacy systems can impede the integration process. Why? Because they are often out-of-date and less flexible than modern cloud applications. These systems can put excessive constraints, complicate changes, and make the integration process more labor-consuming. 

Another significant aspect related to legacy systems is potential security threats. Old technologies are less advanced in terms of data protection, and discrepancies in security features can expose your company to potential cyber-attacks. 

To curb this issue, you should ensure solid security measures and adequate integration techniques throughout the entire SaaS endeavor.

6. Continual Support 

Whatever approach you undertake in your SaaS integration project, ever-lasting support and maintenance appear among the most significant challenges. Cloud applications continually evolve, necessitating updates and refactoring of your integrations. 

Therefore, you should check whether your vendor is capable of providing appropriate maintenance to preserve the efficiency and performance of your integrations on a high level.

SaaS Integration Best Practices

The path toward deriving the maximum benefit of implementing SaaS application integration and mitigating challenges lies in leveraging the best practices in adopting cloud solutions. We’ve composed a list that would come in handy for any organization. 

Establish Integration Requirements

The vital starting step in a cloud app implementation project is determining requirements. How to approach it in the most organized manner? 

Essentially, you should identify the processes that need to be integrated and the information that must be shared among diverse apps. This would guide your choice of tools and services perfectly matching your integration needs.

Develop the SaaS Integration Strategy

After deciding on the integration platform, you should set up your integration strategy. It encompasses prioritizing the apps for integration, mapping data, and determining transformation requirements. A competently composed strategy helps businesses maintain a smooth execution of their integration projects. 

Select the Appropriate Integration Tools

Ensure API compatibility by checking whether the SaaS product and other systems have reliable APIs that support integration. You can utilize integration-platforms-as-a-service (iPaaS) like Zapier, MuleSoft, or Boomi which would simplify the task and help you manage the process.

Test the App Integration 

Once the integration job is completed, you should test the apps’ performance to ensure everything operates as planned. The testing procedure involves inspecting data transfer between applications and verifying the integration procedures. 

If you test the system before the integration is unfolded, you’ll be able to reveal potential flaws and remove them early.

Take the Necessary Security Measures 

The integration of cloud solutions entails sharing confidential data among various applications. Make sure that information transmission and storage are safe. Such measures as data encryption, access restriction, and monitoring, safeguard your sensitive information from fraudulent actions.

Manage Your Integration 

After integrating the required cloud apps into your infrastructure, you should continually support and maintain their smooth operation. Managing your integration includes controlling the data stream between apps and securing the seamless running of the integration workflows. 

With the necessary monitoring measures, you’ll uncover and fix any performance gaps before they seriously impact your business.

Train Your Staff 

Conducive cooperation is vital in all aspects of business activities, including SaaS integration. Provide the necessary training to your team, so that they can effortlessly exploit the SaaS integration platform and understand the workflows. 

By expanding the relevant skills of your employees, you will ensure the successful fulfillment of your SaaS undertaking and enable your team to detect issues if they occur.

Empower Scalability

Construct your integrations with business growth in mind. Make sure they can scale as your company’s operations expand, handling increased data amounts and user traffic. The modular approach can be instrumental in this regard as it allows for adjusting or broadening integration components without reinventing the entire system.

Organize Documentation

Each project should be appropriately documented to help all stakeholders be on the same page, keeping track of all working processes and project stages. Put down all the relevant information, including project demands, workflows, timelines, testing procedures, etc. 

Trustworthy service providers, such as SDA, guarantee that each job will be fulfilled and documented flawlessly. Project documentation will help you govern the works and teams and resolve the issues that may arise.

Integrate Your SaaS Applications with SDA

Today, businesses across sectors recognize the importance of SaaS integration since cloud technology opens new horizons in operating massive amounts of data. SaaS solutions drive information exchange and automate working processes, fueling productivity and efficiency.

However, as with any new technology, SaaS comes with a set of concerns that a company must be aware of before initiating the integration procedures. Meticulous planning will allow businesses to take practical countermeasures, leaving pitfalls aside.

The integration process will run placidly and straightforwardly if you partner with qualified software developers. Their expertise and skills will safeguard you from potential threats and help you gain the maximum value.

We, at SDA, perfectly understand how to integrate SaaS apps with existing systems, making all your applications work in synergy. We apply thoughtful SaaS integration solutions that comprehensively address your business tasks.

Whether you are planning the development of a SaaS application or integration of your existing apps, contact us and leverage our SaaS integration services to make innovations work in your favor.