Integrated systems and applications are disrupting industries at lightning speed and CEOs are feeling the pressure to deploy the right technologies as we enter 2018. Integration specialists around the world expect to see an exponential growth in integration projects across industries this year, with API-led integration becoming a standard for any fast-growing IT ecosystem.
To get a better understanding of what’s next in the Systems Integration space, we asked our own integration experts at Coforge for their take on the most prominent trends for 2018.
According to Ramana Bulusu, Practice Head - MuleSoft, although API-based integration platforms were previously seen as off-the-shelf technology products, today companies are much more aware of their limitations and needs, and have acquired a better understanding of the flexibility, stability and security API integration offers. Similarly, platform vendors and integrators have gained much more experience and have developed a wealth of best practices and reusable components, be it for specific verticals or use cases, and are able to ensure fit-for-purpose customisation, faster roll-out and improved TCO and ROI.
Senior Technical Architect, Prashanth NC, mentions that in 2018, enablement capabilities will play a decisive role in the selection of suppliers for both technology products and related services. Best practices, reusable assets and knowledge transfer are key in enabling end-user organisations become resilient and self-reliant. Some of the best players in the integration industry have already incorporated in their operation and offering C4Es, and platform vendors and customers alike turn to specialised integration consultants like Coforge, to ensure not only expert implementation and deployment but most importantly, true end-user enablement.
Raveendar Reddy, Lead - Learning & Development, expects full API lifecycle management and enterprise integration-as-a-service to start becoming a standard in any integration product. He also hopes to see solutions that will help developers increase the pace of producing Web APIs. For MuleSoft in 2018, Raveendar is looking forward to the release of Exchange 2.0 and the new version of the Design Center.
Representative for Digital Integration & API Enablement, Srinivas Avula, puts a geographical spin on the 2018 integration trends. Srinivas sees increased interest from companies in the Middle East who are starting on their digital transformation journeys, with the UAE Government supporting the adoption of new technologies to accelerate this transformation. He also expects areas like Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things to drive demand for systems integration, as companies are increasingly adopting mobile channels to reach their customers.
For Ruchi Nandita, Project Manager – PreSales, Mobile and Cloud applications will be the key drivers for systems integration in 2018. As consumers increasingly opt for more digital options, more and more organisations are building front-end mobile applications to satisfy consumer expectations. Moreover, as most software products migrate to the cloud, point-to-point integrations will no longer be a viable option and API-led connectivity will be the approach of choice for companies investing hybrid and cloud environments.
GDPR is at the top of the 2018 list of Sarma Kalamchety, Account Manager. According to the EU directive, any application design should be compliant with the data protection mandates of GDPR and middleware like integration platforms are part of the chain. With API-led integration, it is easier to apply governance and security policies and build secure APIs to protect the data exchanged between systems, regardless of location. Another major trend for 2018 according to Sarma is coming from the Retail sector and particularly eCommerce. Companies that do not have an online sales channel are realising that they are missing out on a significant revenue stream and are rushing to create an integrated, seamless online presence.
If you would like to find out more about how Systems Integration could help you make the most out of your current infrastructure while enabling you to open your digital horizons, do give us a call at +44 (0)203 475 7980 or email us at Salesforce@coforge.com
Other useful links:
8 questions to answer before starting a digital transformation overhaul