8 Reasons Enterprise Architects Want an iPaaS With Built-in API Lifecycle Management

Enterprise architects are responsible for designing and managing the integration of various systems, services and applications across your organization to ensure data and processes flow smoothly. Since they serve as the foundational building blocks for integration, APIs play a critical role in this process.

But managing the lifecycle of APIs can be challenging. According to a recent survey of global IT leaders, 98% are using APIs for digital transformation, but 95% are experiencing challenges with their increased API usage, including API management and tooling.¹ For example, many organizations are using multiple API management products to handle APIs that don’t talk to their integration platform as a service (iPaaS) solution. Unfortunately, this can introduce complexity, increase costs and heighten security risks.

However, an iPaaS with built-in API lifecycle management capabilities can help enterprise architects design APIs and set up connectivity between systems, services and applications. Achieved through a centralized location, an iPaaS can help manage virtually all aspects of the API lifecycle, from development to retirement. Plus, adopting an iPaaS equipped with API lifecycle management capabilities can help enterprise architects enhance their ability to design, deploy and manage integrations effectively — a win in today’s demanding, competitive market.

Before we explore why selecting an iPaaS with built-in API lifecycle management is the best path to success, let's explore the challenges enterprise architects face when using standalone API tools.

Below are the top pitfalls enterprise architects may face when managing APIs outside of an iPaaS.

1. Integration complexity and data fragmentation: Managing APIs separately from the iPaaS can lead to integration complexity. Enterprise architects must ensure that APIs seamlessly interact with other systems and services, which can result in complex integration points. Also, APIs managed separately can contribute to data fragmentation, making it challenging to maintain a unified and consistent view of data across the enterprise.
2. Security risks: Using standalone API tools can heighten security risks across an organization. Failure to seamlessly integrate and secure these tools may result in inconsistent security policies and access controls, which can potentially introduce vulnerabilities. This can inadvertently expose sensitive data to unauthorized access and data breaches.
3. Productivity bottlenecks: Workflow inefficiencies occur when architects and developers navigate between diverse tools for various API-related tasks, such as design, deployment, monitoring and management. This fragmented approach can disrupt the flow of work and lead to time-consuming transitions between tools, ultimately impeding development cycles. This can hinder productivity and may even result in coordination challenges among team members.
4. Lack of centralized control and visibility: Managing APIs separately may lead to a lack of centralized control over API design, policies and access. This can make it difficult to enforce consistent governance across the organization. Also, enterprise architects may have limited visibility into the overall integrations and API ecosystem. This can make it tough to monitor API performance, track usage and ensure compliance.

It’s clear a standalone API tool can lead to chaos. Informatica iPaaS can help. A service of Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC), Informatica iPaaS has built-in API lifecycle management that can boost productivity, improve collaboration and more.   

The API lifecycle management capabilities embedded in Informatica iPaaS offer many advantages for your company and your enterprise architects. Here are eight compelling reasons why Informatica iPaaS can help you effectively manage the full lifecycle of your APIs.

1. Simplified integration process: With its consolidated platform for integration development and API oversight, Informatica iPaaS can help simplify the entire API lifecycle. This includes API design, deployment and administration. As a result, it helps reduce complexities, improve operational efficiency and facilitate a more seamless and integrated workflow for architects and developers. This helps foster productivity and agility across the enterprise.
2. Enhanced collaboration: With its built-in API lifecycle management capabilities, Informatica iPaaS unlocks a new era of enhanced collaboration within organizations. This dynamic platform streamlines the development, centralized documentation, version control and maintenance of APIs, enabling cross-functional teams to easily work together. With real-time visibility into API changes provided by Informatica iPaaS, teams can communicate and coordinate more effectively, ensuring that APIs align with evolving business and integration needs. This heightened collaboration accelerates innovation, improves agility and ultimately drives organizational success in the digital landscape.
3. Improved orchestration and automation: Informatica iPaaS allows organizations to create complex, automated workflows that involve multiple systems and APIs. With Informatica iPaaS, APIs can be seamlessly created and integrated into these workflows, triggering actions or data transfers automatically based on events or conditions. Informatica iPaaS also empowers enterprises to optimize their APIs, reduce manual intervention and enhance operational efficiency by automating critical tasks and actions within your ecosystem.
4. Efficient integration design and development: Informatica iPaaS offers visual tools and templates that streamline the design and development of integrations. This empowers enterprise architects to efficiently model, create and test APIs, which significantly saves time and resources. It also enhances the agility of development teams, enabling them to respond more swiftly to business needs, a must in today’s competitive market.
   
5. Faster time-to-market: Informatica iPaaS empowers enterprise architects to expedite the integration process, along with API development and deployment. This is particularly crucial in today’s fast-paced business landscape, so you can quickly adapt to market needs and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
6. Enhanced monitoring and troubleshooting: Informatica iPaaS delivers extensive API monitoring and analytics capabilities. This gives enterprise architects real-time insights into API performance, usage patterns and potential bottlenecks. This data empowers them to proactively identify issues and fine-tune integrations, resulting in enhanced operational efficiency and the ability to ensure optimal performance of their APIs within the integrated ecosystem.
   
7. Boosted scalability: Informatica iPaaS can seamlessly scale to accommodate your organization’s evolving requirements. Enterprise architects can proactively design integrations with scalability as a core consideration, ensuring that APIs can efficiently manage higher workloads without sacrificing performance. This adaptability empowers enterprises to grow while maintaining the responsiveness and reliability of their API-driven systems.
   
8. Standardized governance and compliance: Informatica iPaaS includes pre-built governance and compliance functionalities. This enables enterprise architects to implement uniform security measures, data privacy protections and compliance protocols across virtually all integrations. This standardization ensures that data, APIs, integrations and processes consistently align with regulatory mandates. This helps mitigate risks of non-compliance and reinforce data security and integrity.

With its built-in API lifecycle management capabilities, Informatica iPaaS can empower your teams to design, implement, deploy, govern and monitor APIs faster, speeding time-to-market for new products and services – a necessity in today’s digital economy. 

Are you ready to streamline your API lifecycle management — all with the click of a button? Start a free, 30-day trial now. 

¹https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220131005216/en/97-of-Enterprise-Leaders-Agree-APIs-Are-Essential-for-Survival-but-Most-Face-Challenges-in-Rollout-of-Comprehensive-API-Strategy