A comprehensive guide for IT service management professionals and IT service providers evaluating integration solutions.

Executive Summary

Integration solutions have evolved from simple connectivity tools to critical strategic assets in 2025. The typical business organization now manages over 100 applications, with larger enterprises routinely handling several hundred. This application proliferation creates unprecedented integration challenges but also opportunities for those who adopt the right approach.

According to ONEiO research, there are now over 900 integration software solutions available in the market in May of 2025, with approximately 270 of these being specialized iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) solutions. This proliferation of options makes it increasingly difficult for organizations to navigate the landscape and select the right integration approach.

This report examines the current state of integration solutions in 2025, providing IT service management professionals and IT service providers with actionable insights to navigate this complex landscape across three distinct market segments:

1. System Integrators - Traditional service providers implementing and managing integration projects
2. Integration Software - Various platform types including iPaaS, API management, and specialized solutions
3. Managed Integration Solutions - Emerging "Integration Operations" (IntOps) model focused on continuous delivery

Key findings include:

• The average organization now runs well over 100 SaaS applications, with large enterprises wrangling 250-500+ SaaS applications
• The integration solution market remains fragmented, with service-based systems integrators and software-based iPaaS solutions both commanding significant investments
• Integration Operations (IntOps) has emerged as a new paradigm, treating integration as a continuous operational capability rather than a project-based task
• Security concerns in SaaS integrations have intensified, with enterprise business leaders warning about vulnerabilities in modern integration models

Organizations that strategically leverage integration solutions as enablers rather than cost centers are positioned to scale more efficiently, onboard customers faster, and deliver more reliable services in 2025 and beyond.

Integration solution market overview

An integration solution is a technology framework or service that enables disparate software applications, IT systems, and data sources to communicate and share information seamlessly. These solutions standardize, simplify, and streamline data flows within a business and with external service partners, typically through APIs, connectors, or other integration methods.

Integration solutions solve several critical business challenges:

• Connecting disparate software and systems that weren't originally designed to work together
• Ensuring consistent data flow and synchronization across platforms
• Automating workflows across multiple applications
• Enabling visibility across departmental and organizational boundaries
• Providing scalable connectivity as business needs and technology landscapes evolve

In today's complex technology environments, integration solutions have evolved from simple point-to-point connections or system integrators to sophisticated platforms and managed services that address everything from data integrity to security and operational reliability. As organizations adopt more SaaS applications and specialized tools, integration solutions become increasingly essential to maintaining operational efficiency and business agility.

Business value of integration solutions

ONEiO's earlier research has revealed that organizations recognize multiple strategic benefits from effective integration solutions:

• 71% of organizations cited "greater levels of collaboration" as the primary value, highlighting integration's role in breaking down organizational silos
• 64% valued "providing higher levels of customer service," demonstrating the customer-facing impact of seamless systems
• 58% recognized integration's ability to enable "faster approaches to change"
• 57% valued how integration helps organizations "become more agile"
• 47% cited "easier adoption of new technology" as a key benefit

Interestingly, while organizations clearly recognized integration's operational benefits, fewer (only 23%) explicitly connected integration capabilities to becoming "more competitive in the marketplace." 

SaaS application proliferation

The integration landscape in 2025 is shaped by the continued explosion of SaaS applications use across businesses of different sizes. 

According to ONEiO research, the number of SaaS applications used in business organizations has grown consistently over recent years. Our research indicates that enterprise businesses use between 250 and 500+ applications, mid-market organizations use between 150 and 250 SaaS applications, and smaller businesses typically use between 25 and 70 individual SaaS applications on a regular basis.

This application sprawl has created enormous integration challenges as organizations struggle to connect these disparate systems while maintaining data consistency, security, and performance.

System integrators market

System integrators (SIs) remain significant players in the integration solution landscape, though their role and market position continue to evolve. These companies provide services to bring together component subsystems into a unified, functional whole, helping organizations implement, connect, and manage complex technology ecosystems.

Unlike software-based integration platforms, system integrators primarily deliver integration through professional services, project management, and technical expertise. They often serve as the bridge between business objectives and technical implementation, helping organizations navigate complex digital transformation initiatives that span multiple systems and vendors.

Evolution of the system integration landscape

The global system integration market is changing rapidly. While top 20 Global System Integrators (GSIs) dominated the market for decades, we've recently seen a shift towards more collaborative IT service ecosystems.

System integrator companies specialize in bringing together component subsystems into a unified, functional whole. These organizations play a critical role in modern business operations by:

• Connecting disparate software and hardware systems
• Ensuring seamless data flow across platforms
• Implementing complex IT infrastructure projects
• Managing large-scale digital transformation initiatives
• Providing ongoing support and maintenance services

As businesses navigate the complexities of cloud migration, AI implementation, and cybersecurity enhancement, system integrators serve as essential partners in bridging technological gaps and maximizing IT investments.

Market size and shifting dynamics

According to recent market analysis, global system integrators (GSIs) account for US$863.8 billion in revenue, or approximately 8.9% of total IT spending worldwide. However, this marks a decline from 9.9% in 2019, indicating shifting market dynamics for integration services.

The top 20 global system integrators (GSIs) dominate the market, accounting for 51.9% of all system integration revenue in 2024. These industry giants collectively generated US$448.7 billion in revenue, while all other system integrators combined accounted for US$415.1 billion.

Despite their market dominance, these top 20 GSIs have experienced a declining share of the overall system integration market for five consecutive years. The most successful among them are expanding their managed services divisions, with market leader Accenture reporting an 11% year-on-year increase in managed services revenue—nearly double the growth rate of its consulting business. This shift provides stable revenue streams while enabling integrators to pursue innovative projects in emerging technologies like AI.

System integrator market transformation drivers

The system integration market is undergoing substantial transformation driven by:

• Shifting customer preferences - Enterprises now favor specialists with deep expertise in specific technologies or industries rather than generalist providers
• Value-based service models - Traditional time-and-materials pricing is giving way to outcome-based approaches
• AI acceleration - Generative and agentic AI capabilities are becoming key differentiators
• Increased competition - Cloud-native and industry-specialist integrators are gaining market share

Recent data reveals that spending on IT through system integrators reached $863.8 billion in 2024, up from $829.5 billion in 2023. However, the share captured by the top 20 global SIs has decreased from 52.9% to 51.9%, marking the fifth consecutive year of market share decline for these dominant players.

This trend reflects a market favoring agility and specialization, with customers increasingly reluctant to invest without clear ROI. The complexity of large GSI matrix structures can impede their ability to deliver the focused expertise that more specialized competitors offer.

Integration software market

According to ONEiO research, the integration software market has expanded considerably, with more than 900 distinct integration software solutions available in 2025. Of these, approximately 260 are specialized iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) solutions, representing a significant but still minority segment of the overall integration software landscape.

The integration software ecosystem

Integration software can be divided into several distinct categories, each addressing specific integration challenges:

1. iPaaS Solutions - Cloud-based platforms for connecting applications, data, and processes
2. API Management Solutions - Tools for creating, publishing, securing, and analyzing APIs
3. Data Integration Solutions - Platforms focused on ETL/ELT processes and data synchronization
4. Embedded iPaaS Solutions - Integration capabilities that SaaS vendors can embed in their products
5. Enterprise Integration Suites - Comprehensive offerings from major enterprise vendors
6. Industry-Specific Integration Solutions - Specialized tools for vertical industries
7. SMB Integration Tools - Simple automation tools for small business workflows

Leaders in the iPaaS market

With approximately 270 iPaaS solutions available in the market, there are many options to choose from. Here are some notable leaders in the space with unique value propositions.

ONEiO is a next-generation Managed Integration Service Provider, delivering Integration Ops as a Service for IT and technology service providers. Unlike traditional system integrators or static iPaaS platforms, ONEiO not only creates connections but also operates and continuously automates them—eliminating bottlenecks, reducing costs, and accelerating time‑to‑value. Powered by the proprietary ONEAI® engine and deep domain expertise, ONEiO keeps every integration scaling in lockstep with each customer’s growth, freeing IT teams to focus on delivering exceptional service.

MuleSoft (owned by Salesforce) leads in iPaaS with comprehensive integration, automation, and API management capabilities. The Anypoint Platform integrates applications, automations, and APIs with a focus on democratizing integration through an API-led strategy. While offering strong capabilities, MuleSoft's pricing models can be complex, and the platform has a steep learning curve.

Workato focuses on process automation and collaboration between IT and business through an intuitive, AI-assisted user experience. Its serverless integration platform emphasizes ease of use and democratized development, with a vast array of connectors facilitating diverse integrations and automations. Workato excels in AI-driven process guidance but can face cost escalations as new processes are added.

Informatica excels in data integration within its comprehensive Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) platform. It prioritizes data-centric integration with extensive features for governance, quality, and transformation, making it suitable for organizations emphasizing a unified data management approach. While powerful, Informatica can be complex and costly for some organizations.

TIBCO offers broad integration styles with a focus on data integration, though it has a less unified user experience. TIBCO Cloud Integration includes a range of products for application, data, APIs, and automation, making it a fit for data-centric integration strategies and enterprises emphasizing developer self-service.

Boomi provides a comprehensive iPaaS solution that focuses on ease of use and has recently introduced new AI-based services. Boomi Platform combines iPaaS integration with data and API management, emphasizing business outcomes through democratized integration and AI. It excels in hybrid integration patterns but can face pricing complexity.

The specialized integration solution landscape

Beyond general-purpose iPaaS platforms, specialized integration solutions address specific needs:

API management solutions

API management solutions help connect applications, secure data, and automate workflows through custom-built APIs. They streamline integrations by providing unified access to multiple APIs, eliminating the need for custom-built connectors. Leaders in this space include Merge.dev, Kombo, DreamFactory, Kong, and Tray.ai, each offering different approaches to API creation and management.

Data integration solutions

Data integration solutions help move, transform, and manage data across systems for analytics and business intelligence. These platforms automate data pipelines, eliminating manual ETL/ELT data transfers and reducing errors. Notable providers include Fivetran, Airbyte, Talend (Qlik), Hevo Data, and Matillion, focusing on different aspects of data integration challenges.

Embedded iPaaS solutions

Embedded iPaaS solutions let Software as a Service (SaaS) companies build, manage, and scale customer-facing integrations directly within their products. They reduce development time and allow businesses to offer seamless, native integrations without reinventing the wheel. Prismatic, Paragon, Cyclr, Cobalt, and Pandium are leading this emerging category.

Enterprise integration suites

Enterprise integration suites connect applications, automate workflows, and manage data across cloud and on-premises environments from major enterprise IT vendors. These platforms ensure communication between legacy systems and modern cloud applications within complex enterprise data landscapes. IBM App Connect, Oracle Integration Cloud, SAP Integration Suite, Microsoft Azure Integration Services, and AWS Application Integration Services dominate this space.

Industry-specific integration solutions

Industry-specific integration solutions connect specialized systems, automate workflows, and optimize data flow for niche use cases. These solutions address the unique needs of industries such as supply chain (Alloy.ai), finance (Amaka), marketing (Supermetrics), HR (Flexspring), and banking (Backbase).

SMB integration tools

SMB integration tools help small businesses automate workflows, connect apps, and streamline operations without coding expertise. These platforms eliminate repetitive tasks, saving time and improving efficiency. Popular options include Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), N8N.io, IFTTT, and Albato.

Integration challenges & solutions

Barriers to integration success

ONEiO's research has identified several significant barriers that prevented organizations from achieving their integration goals:

• Cost factors dominated concerns: 54% of respondents cited "cost of consulting and implementation" as a primary barrier, with an equal percentage pointing to "the time it takes to build new integrations"
• Product costs were nearly as problematic: 50% identified "cost of tools and products" as a major barrier
• Skills gap concerns: 35% reported "lack of experience and expertise" in integration as an obstacle
• Operational challenges: 30% of organizations were "too busy managing/repairing existing integrations" to focus on new integration initiatives

These findings aligned with what many integration professionals experienced in their daily work: traditional integration approaches were expensive, time-consuming, and required specialized expertise that was often in short supply. The prevalence of these barriers helps explain why only 25% of organizations viewed integration as a "fast, simple, and affordable" process.

Security concerns in modern integration models

Security has become a paramount concern for integration solutions in 2025. Modern SaaS integration models are creating unprecedented vulnerabilities:

• Companies now rely heavily on a small set of leading service providers, creating concentration risk
• Modern integration patterns are dismantling essential security boundaries built over decades
• OAuth and similar protocols create direct connections between third-party services and sensitive internal resources
• These integration vulnerabilities expose organizations to unauthorized access, privileged escalation, and opaque fourth-party dependencies

The consequences of compromised integrations extend beyond temporary disruptions to include:

• Unauthorized data access through compromised authentication tokens
• Software providers gaining privileged access without explicit consent
• Compliance violations with significant financial penalties
• Reputational damage that can take years to repair

Integration Ops and the future of integration solutions 

A transformative approach gaining traction in 2025 is Integration Ops or "IntOps"—treating integration as a core operational capability rather than a tool or project-based effort. 

The Integration Ops core concept

Integration Ops represents a fundamental shift in how organizations approach integration:

• IntOps is to integrations what DevOps is to software development and SecOps is to security
• It delivers integrations as a service, focusing on the whole lifecycle and treating them as products, not one-off projects
• This model eliminates bottlenecks, reduces costs, and accelerates time-to-value
• It fits perfectly into modern multi-sourcing models by defining clear roles and responsibilities in multi-party collaboration instead of centralized control
• When IT service providers treat integration as a capability and "products," they build new recurring, high-margin service offerings while gaining operational efficiencies at scale
• Particularly valuable in the age of AI, where speed and adaptability are essential for scaling IT services

ONEiO's approach to Integration Ops

ONEiO has pioneered Integration Operations (IntOps) as a comprehensive answer to the challenges facing traditional integration approaches. According to Juha Berghäll, CEO and Co-founder of ONEiO:

"Businesses need to reconsider how they view integrations entirely. Rather than treating integration as a custom development effort or a series of one-time projects, forward-thinking organizations are adopting Integration Ops—a model that treats integration as a core operational capability."

The ONEiO approach delivers several key advantages:

• Fully managed service: ONEiO handles the entire integration lifecycle, from planning through implementation to 24/7 monitoring and support
• Predictable subscription pricing: Eliminates surprise costs and project fees, allowing for more accurate budgeting
• Security and compliance focus: Addresses the vulnerabilities of modern integration patterns with secure design and continuous monitoring
• Ecosystem-driven service delivery: Supports multi-party collaboration instead of centralized control
• Continuous improvement: Treats integrations as products that evolve and improve over time, not static connections

This approach represents a fundamental shift from traditional integration models—moving from project-based efforts to a continuous operational capability.

Bottom line on integration solutions

The integration landscape in 2025 is evolving dramatically, with application proliferation, security concerns, and shifting market dynamics creating both challenges and opportunities.

Organizations now face a complex market with three distinct segments:

1. System Integrators - Increasingly focusing on specialized expertise and managed services rather than traditional project-based approaches
2. Integration Software Platforms - A diverse ecosystem of over 900 solutions spanning iPaaS, API management, data integration, and specialized tools
3. Managed Integration Services - An emerging paradigm centered on the IntOps model pioneered by ONEiO

Organizations that view integration as a strategic enabler rather than a cost center will gain significant advantages in speed, reliability, and scalability. The emergence of Integration Operations (IntOps) as a paradigm represents a fundamental shift from project-based to continuous operational approaches.

As you evaluate integration solutions, consider not just the technical capabilities and initial costs, but the total lifecycle impact on your organization. Managed integration services offer compelling advantages in reducing operational burden, improving reliability, and providing predictable costs—allowing your teams to focus on delivering value rather than maintaining connections.

‍