7 Effective Questions to Help You Identify the Best Low-Code Integration Platform

The growth of low-code platforms in recent years has left companies with the challenging task of evaluating countless options. For organizations looking specifically for a platform to simplify software integration, we have used the seven generic questions in Isaac Sacolick's article in ComputerWoche but focused specifically on integration platforms.

We hope this set of questions will help you determine the right fit for your needs. Let's start at number one!

Ensuring the solution aligns with your organization’s needs is essential when selecting a low-code platform. When choosing a development platform, the first thing to consider is whether the provider has solutions in its portfolio covering the specific software you want to integrate.  To do this, it is advisable to review the provider's website for specific connectors, as well as case studies, blog posts, and other resources. Ideally, you should see some material that covers organizations of your size and industry, making it easier to see if that platform can suit your specific needs.

Once this requirement is met, you can confidently invest time in evaluating the platform yourself. You can do this by initially requesting a live demo and then, if possible, by using the trial version.

You should consider whether the platform delivers not only in demo scenarios but also in practical deployments at scale, ensuring it works reliably when integrated into real business operations. Use the live demo to ask questions to clarify this, namely requesting real-world usage in scenarios similar to yours, especially in terms of scale.

Connect Bridge’s Case: The Connect Bridge integration platform has 400+ connectors and caters to a wide variety of organizations, from SMEs to large enterprises, across different industries, as well as public sector. You can find Connect Bridge’s success stories online and book your live demo or request a trial.

You should confirm if the platform works with your current project target systems and check if there is a wide availability of connectors for future projects. The integration platform should connect to the version you need, even legacy ones, and work with both SaaS and on-premises systems. You also should check what happens when you eventually update your target system to a newer version or to another type of deployment. Finally, check if the platform is adequate for your current and future use cases in terms of IT governance and security policies.

Connect Bridge’s Case: Connect Bridge is a comprehensive integration platform designed to support diverse use cases. Many target systems are supported, and several versions and deployment types are supported for each target system. Connect Bridge guarantees forward and backward compatibility, which means when there is an update for the software you are integrating with, Connect Bridge entirely handles that update. Once your integration is done… it is done for good.

A platform that offers a balance between low-code and pro-code capabilities gives you the flexibility to choose the most appropriate approach for different projects and is ideal for a range of users.

Power users such as business analysts or tech-savvy employees can use the low-code tools to create basic integrations, while professional developers have the option to dive deeper using code-heavy capabilities. The platform should also provide extensive documentation, including user manuals and videos, ensuring flexibility for all experience levels.

Connect Bridge’s Case: Connect Bridge offers a balance between low-code and pro-code capabilities, making it ideal for different types of users. Users who are not comfortable coding can go for a linked server approach or use Connect Bridge for Power Automate, while developers can use whatever programming language they want (Java, Python, or any other really).

Generative AI (GenAI) is starting to be incorporated by low-code platforms, namely to facilitate data mapping and automation. Naturally, you should not choose a low-code platform because of it using GenAI, but it is clever to ask if the platform has any such capability or if the are plans for that in its roadmap.

Connect Bridge’s Case: While Connect Bridge doesn't currently focus on generative AI, it is possible to use GenAI to create connectors to new target systems. You can also use GenAI to craft the code you will use with Connect Bridge or the flows (if using Connect Bridge for Power Automate). 

The platform should excel in its ability to integrate immediately with popular SaaS applications, on-premises systems, and databases. This means it should provide robust out-of-the-box connectors for popular systems. For custom integrations, you will naturally have to put in extra work, so determining which exactly are the out-of-the-box options is crucial.

Connect Bridge’s Case: Connect Bridge excels in its ability to integrate seamlessly with popular applications such as Dynamics, Salesforce, SharePoint, and Exchange. There are 400+ connectors available, but, if no connector is available for your target system, there is an SDK available to build a custom connector.

Ideally. the integration platform you choose should have a relatively low learning curve for power users and rapid onboarding for professional developers. Online training resources and an extensive knowledge base should make it easy to get started. Additionally, a trial should be provided for experimentation before full-scale deployment.

Connect Bridge’s Case: Connect Bridge is easy to use, providing a straightforward learning process for business users and quick onboarding for professional developers. Online training resources such as this Get Started video, an extensive knowledge base, and a helpful support team make it easy to get started. Connect Bridge also offers a user-friendly interface (with an organization similar to SSMS) and there is a trial available for testing integrations.

The platform should support enterprise-grade security with built-in data encryption, user access management, and compliance with data protection standards like GDPR. It should integrate well with the existing software ecosystem. Monitoring options are also relevant.

Connect Bridge’s Case: Connect Bridge employs encryption for data in transit, supports secure protocols like HTTPS for communication, and provides comprehensive monitoring and observability features, allowing administrators to troubleshoot issues proactively.

Still, for each specific project, we recommend that you:

1. Conduct a thorough security audit to ensure it meets specific compliance requirements.
2. Test the platform's performance and compatibility with existing systems.
3. Evaluate the specific connectors available for required integrations.
4. Assess the platform's ability to handle the expected data volumes and integration complexity.

Choosing the right low-code platform for software integration can be challenging, but Connect Bridge stands out due to its versatility, ease of use, and comprehensive out-of-the-box integration capabilities. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, Connect Bridge provides the tools to make software integration efficient and scalable.

Interested in exploring how Connect Bridge could fit into your organization? Visit Connecting Software's website to learn more or schedule a demo.