Liaison Technologies, a cloud-based integration and data management solutions company have released a report examining the state of middleware solutions integration in today’s business environment. This environment – as with so many others – is being disrupted by the rise in the number of cloud applications and data sources.
The report brings important new facts to light on how enterprises are reacting to a change in business strategy as profound as the Industrial Revolution — digital transformation.
The most significant finding, was that 76% of surveyed organisations plan to fully or partially replace their integration middleware platforms. As such, 84% of all middleware will be replaced in the next four years. Only 30% of those surveyed are considering on-premise solutions.
>See also: What’s in store for cloud in 2017?
“The numbers we discovered are surprising to see,” said research analyst Michael Caton. “IT organisations are about to undertake one of the most dramatic infrastructure shifts we’ve seen in 20 years, and the transition will be to the cloud. This shift makes sense as companies look for greater flexibility, scalability, and predictable cost models.”
The primary driver for IT to shift integration middleware platforms — many of which were introduced more than 20 years ago — to newer cloud-based solutions, is increasing demand for integration between business applications.
The survey showed IT organisations feel pressure to keep integration costs down while finding developers with sufficient skills and expertise to handle the growing number of integrations between increasingly disparate applications and data sources.
Many organisations that responded to the survey are leveraging do-it-yourself (DIY) cloud-based approaches such as Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS). These approaches empower internal IT and business teams with self-service integration tools.
>See also: How to determine the right mobile strategy for your business
However, the twin burdens of integrating greater numbers of business applications and meeting stringent data compliance requirements, coupled with the scarcity of developer resources, is pushing many enterprises to consider a managed services approach.
To weather the transition successfully, the report finds that companies should also evaluate cloud-based middleware platforms that offer integration as managed services.
Nearly half of surveyed organisations cite this as a strategy that can boost internal productivity and relieve integration and data compliance challenges. About a third of business leaders surveyed said outsourcing integration and data management allows them to access resources with specialty skills, and a quarter cited the advantages of leveraging and reusing a managed service provider’s knowledge as a factor in their decisions.
>See also: Deployment of city-wide IoT network in African city
“The report reflects what the market has been telling us; the complexity of on-premises middleware environments, driven by the proliferation of business applications, is leading companies to look for new answers,” said Rob Consoli, chief revenue officer for Liaison Technologies.
“Competency with data can make the difference between success and failure today, so companies are seeking ways to integrate and manage the data flowing in from an ever-increasing number of sources. They need the expertise to harmonise this information and ensure that it is secure, compliant, and accessible.”
The UK’s largest conference for tech leadership, Tech Leaders Summit, returns on 14 September with 40+ top execs signed up to speak about the challenges and opportunities surrounding the most disruptive innovations facing the enterprise today. Secure your place at this prestigious summit by registering here
