Seamless native integration is the key to scaling your business in the long term. Integration can come in many forms, but native integrations allow for more customization. Thus, they are better prepared to help your business thrive.
With as much as a third of spending amongst information technology (IT) professionals going towards cloud services, there’s no argument that businesses are looking for easy solutions to their problems.
Admittedly third-party connectors for data integration can accomplish many goals for your business. But is it the best way to get what you really want?
To learn more about what native integration can bring to the table for you and your business, stay tuned!
What Is Native Integration?
Native integration refers to a means of integrating software applications or platforms with one another using application programming interfaces (APIs).
The importance of native integration lies behind the idea of communication. Suffice to say, nobody would disagree that communication is important.
Yet it is sometimes hard to fathom that technology places the same importance on communication.
This is why APIs are integral to the concept of native integration. To elaborate, APIs are back-end structures of code that ensure that distinct software systems can interact.
API integrations define the connections that occur between systems via the proper implementation of APIs.
Native integration is a particular mode of integration that utilizes APIs. Unlike non-native integrations, native integrations work with the native features and internal mapping of the current technical infrastructure of your business.
The native aspect of native integrations is paramount, as not every integration app can promise seamless integration with your business systems. And other approaches to integration opt for a one-size-fits-all solution.
Via native integrations and integration as a whole, businesses gain premier access to marketing automation tools, content management systems, management software platforms, and really any and all connections that could be expressly useful.
Native Integration vs. Third-Party Data Integration
Data integration, in general, is a crucial part of maintaining the digital livelihood of your business. In the modern-day, businesses run on tech.
This is the consequence of the never-ending digital transformation that has changed the way businesses do business for good.
But this isn’t exactly a bad thing. Cyber-centric ventures like the adoption of cloud technology and marketing automation have only optimized business in the long run.
Businesses use software to organize marketing activities, navigate sales, manage leads, and do much much more.
With all that said, it should come as no surprise that businesses use multiple software systems to get the job done, each and every day.
Data integration involves syncing business systems together for more efficient management.
There are many data integration tools, many of which are software as a service (SaaS) cloud solutions that are easy to find and use.
But while native integration relies on custom APIs, traditional data integration platforms depend on third-party connectors that do not have a comprehensive understanding of your business systems.
Unfortunately, this understanding, so to speak, requires a deep analysis and special attention to your business ecosystem that not all business-to-business (B2B) models are prepared to offer.
In other words, such a model needs custom software development. However, what some experts call the ‘consumerization of enterprise’ has yielded thousands of cookie-cutter B2B software platforms with little patience to tackle your specific business needs.
In fact, integration platform as a service (iPaaS) has emerged as its own category for classifying cloud integration business models.
The benefit of iPaaS solutions is that they standardize the integration process. The drawback is that they’re limited in scope and customizability.
Needless to say, this is why native integration can be a desirable asset for scaling businesses.
Advantages of Native Integration
By now, the reasons to employ native integration likely seem obvious. But just in case you need some more convincing, take a look at some of these advantages.
Customizability
Customization, as a rule, is the main advantage of native integration. Non-native solutions come with limitations. They are not equipped to deal with edge cases that do not fit the classic mold.
This is because blanket software connectors do not know the intricacies of your business system. Therefore, certain integrations, applications, and workflow automations can present unforeseen difficulties.
Native integrations empower you to do more and give you untethered control over your business operations.
Scalability
Using native integrations can give you a competitive advantage in your industry.
If your sales team is struggling to keep out with a hefty load of sales and invoicing, for example, you’re not alone. Other businesses are facing the same setbacks.
Except, if you make use of native integrations, you can set up some sales automation tools and leave those other businesses squirming in the dust.
Although the picture isn’t pleasant, the big picture is clear. And that’s just one example of what native integration can do for you.
Disadvantages of Native Integration
Native integration probably sounds too good to be true. But like any innovation, there’s a pros and cons list to level out the playing field. Here are the cons.
Efficiency
Though scalability is the ultimate goal of using native integration, there are some nuances. For instance, native integration is a more complicated process than relying on some popular iPaaS consumer app.
Indeed, the whole point is to reap the benefits of more customization. But to devote so much effort to a project for every system you need to integrate is a reality you would be wise to consider.
First of all, these efforts would be markedly resource-intensive. You may need to hire developers or augment your IT staff just to make ends meet. Not to mention, there are technical resources that you should account for as well.
You won’t regret the outcome, but the building and maintenance of native integration projects are a great deal of labor. Customizability might come at the expense of efficiency.
Affordability
When complexity is the name of the game, costly is the price tag. Simply put, the more complex or custom an integration is, the higher the cost will be.
While quoting numbers is futile here, keep in mind that ‘you need to spend money to make money’ rings true in this scenario.
Like with any product, you will want to carefully take note of your budget and resources. Research your options where applicable.
There are a couple of standout enterprises, for instance, that can create custom integrations for you and are specifically geared towards small businesses.
How Trio Can Help You Meet Your Integration Needs
Trio extends qualified software engineers to businesses in need and applies care and professional support to the issues they have.
Of course, data integration is a frequent concern of many businesses that may not have the IT team to truly focus on scaling upwards.
Ergo, native integration is one of Trio’s top priorities. Trio engineers are trained and specialized to think critically about the problems you’re facing and build direct solutions to solve them.
Trio excels in software knowledge and Latin American developers connections. Discover our exceptional Chilean, Brazilian, and Argentinean developers for outsourcing excellence.
To talk more about native integrations and their role in your business, reach out to Trio today!
