Service integration tools help you connect, automate, and manage different services, applications and external IT service providers.
Over my 15+ year career working in IT service integration and management I've come across many integration tools and platforms. Let's go through why you may need a service-focused solution and a shortlist of potential options.
Why use service integration tools
It's common for growing businesses to adopt service integration tools as the ecosystem of business services and 3rd party service providers expands. These tools enable the automation of workflows, reduce manual data entry errors, and enhance overall productivity by ensuring that different services work together efficiently.
Why you shouldn't just integrate service platforms directly
The fundamental problem with integrating something like ServiceNow and Jira is that these platforms are orchestration tools, not designed for direct integration. Each platform develops functionalities to fulfill customer needs, but integration is not their primary goal.
Why not just build bespoke point-to-point integrations
In two words... service interruptions. Service interruptions have significant commercial and reputational impacts. Effective integration solutions help minimize these risks, ensuring smoother operations and maintaining business continuity.
Benefits of service integration tools
By integrating disparate systems, companies can achieve a more cohesive technology ecosystem, leading to improved data consistency, faster decision-making, and a better customer experience. In today's digitalized landscape, service integration tools are key to maintaining competitive advantage and improving customer experience.
Some of the clear benefits of service integration software include:
• Efficiency: Automate workflows and reduces manual intervention, significantly speeding up processes across different applications.
• Reduced number of errors: Minimize the risk of human error in data entry and transfer, ensuring higher data accuracy and reliability.
• Smooth data flow: Facilitatesseamless data exchange between disparate systems, ensuring all parts of the business have access to timely and accurate information.
• Scalability: Enable businesses to easily add or modify integrations as they grow or their needs change, supporting scalability and flexibility.
• Cost savings: Reduce the need for custom integrations and lowers the overall IT maintenance costs by using standardized integration solutions.