If you’ve found this article you’re either looking to integrate enterprise IT services, or you’re a TIBCO customer looking for a fresh solution. In both cases, I’ve got a good list of options for you to consider.
TIBCO integrations factsheet
TIBCO develops software solutions aimed at facilitating real-time data connectivity across applications, devices, and data sources. As part of this broad offering, TIBCO’s Cloud Integration solution is featured in Gartner’s 2024 Magic Quadrant for iPaaS solutions.
Established in 1997, TIBCO initially specialized in messaging middleware technologies. Over time, the company has expanded its product portfolio to address evolving market demands, incorporating areas like cloud computing, big data management, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
The company now has over 4000 employees globally and belongs to the Cloud Software Group owned by Vista Equity Partners and Evergreen Coast Capital.
Where TIBCO is the strongest
TIBCO's strength lies in its broad suite of solutions that cater to various enterprise data management needs:
- Application integration:
Connecting diverse applications using pre-built connectors, APIs, and messaging technologies.
- Data virtualization:
Creating a unified view of data from disparate sources without physical data movement.
- API management:
Designing, publishing, and managing APIs to expose data and functionality to internal and external stakeholders.
- Data enriching and cleanup:
TIBCO offers a variety of solutions for data validation, transformation and enrichment.
- BI / analytics:
Through a solution called Spotfire TIBCO offers extensive business intelligence solutions
Overall, TIBCO is an established enterprise IT vendor. It has the data security, reliability and support functionality you'd expect from a vendor serving many large global corporations.
When you may need an alternative solution for integrations
On the peer review website, Capterra TIBCO Cloud Integration gets an overall score of 4.3/5, with lower-than-peer ratings for Ease of Use (4.1) and Value for Money (4.1).
Some limitations mentioned by customers include:
“The ease of use. When even thinking about integrating systems, your mind instantly considers how long the process will take and demotivates you in using the process.” Hiten P.
“There is still some "finicky" behavior that needs to be embraced for some maps to behave as expected: save map, close map, open map back up, validate map, then you can continue making changes.” Justin K.
“Cons: Connectivity to Oracle. Connectors do not always work and getting expert support related to this issue is difficult.” - Kieran S.
“It does take a lot of time to set up effectively if you have a lot of data to move.” Ron S.
Limitations of TIBCO for service integration
TIBCO is a strong contender for many data management tasks, but one key area where it falls short is in Service Integrations.
Here are some specific reasons why:
- Steep learning curve:
TIBCO is more like a solution built for data management experts. It can be complex to learn, especially to non-technical users.
- Limited number of pre-built connectors:
The TIBCO platform can adjust to different data integration needs, but has limitations in terms of pre-built connections.
- Need for technical skills:
TIBCO is not always easy to configure. You’re likely to need to hire consultants or internal resources to maintain your service integrations and in many markets there are limited amounts of system integrators with the relevant skills.
- High total costs:
TIBCO’s pricing is volume-based. This can be either a good or a bad thing depending on your needs. In terms of total cost of ownership including set-up cost and maintenance, TIBCO’s overall costs can quickly add up.
- Inconsistent user experience:
TIBCO customers have in the past reported bugginess and inconsistent user experience that has at times lead to lost work or delays.
- Infrequent product updates:
For ITSM professionals, the breadth of different cloud services is growing rapidly and TIBCO is not always the fastest to keep up with new trends, eg. related to AI-powered integrations.
Overall, TIBCO can be a good solution for an organization with a skilled centralized IT function focused on the broad scope of data management. For modern, service focused ITSM organizations you may need a more agile and responsive solution.
Alternatives to TIBCO for Service Integrations
ONEiO
ONEiO is a next-generation iPaaS solution that automates integration processes, offering a central hub for connecting disparate IT tools, teams and vendors, enabling end-to-end process flows and data exchange across an organization's entire IT ecosystem.
HQ:
Helsinki, Finland
ONEiO provides a cloud-based integration solution for businesses focused on managing and delivering digital services. Understanding the specific needs of these companies, ONEiO offers predictable subscription-based integrations, allowing businesses to budget and plan with greater accuracy without investing in integration technologies, resources, and development. This flexibility ensures that regardless of a company’s resources or expertise, ONEiO delivers a fitting solution and allows businesses to concentrate on their core offerings without the complexities of integration development and management.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- Support for integrations with multiple parties and tools, with Out-of-the-box runtime intelligence.
- Flexible and predictable subscription based pricing. Supports volume-based and fixed price integrations.
- Domain experts in B2B and Ebonding, including pre-integrated vendors.
Cons:
- Small partner network
- API management capabilities
- On-premise systems can be integrated using ONEiO. However, ONEiO cannot be deployed on premise.
Mulesoft
Owned by Salesforce, Mulesoft leads in iPaaS with comprehensive integration, automation, and API management capabilities.
HQ:
San Francisco, California
Mulesoft offers the Anypoint Platform, integrating applications, automations, and APIs. It focuses on democratizing integration for teams and evolving into an automation fabric supported by AI. With strong partnerships, it's ideal for organizations seeking an API-led strategy.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- API creation and integration capabilities.
- Supports automation with a large template library and RPA access.
- Wide capabilities in composite service integration.
Cons:
- Pricing models can be complex.
- Focused on Salesforce data ecosystem.
- Has a ton of functionality but is not easy to use
Celigo
Celigo is an iPaaS vendor focusing on automating back-office processes with a strong emphasis on AI and ease of use.
HQ:
Redwood City, California
Celigo offers integrator.io, targeting upper-midmarket and small enterprises for back-office automation. It blends ease of use with AI innovations for efficient process automation and integration. Celigo emphasizes customer success through dedicated support and a roadmap prioritizing B2B integration, improved developer experience, and AI efficiency. Ideal for empowering non-technical users while addressing complex integration scenarios.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- AI for categorizing and resolving runtime errors.
- Large library of business-oriented templates.
- Strategic focus on empowering citizen integrators.
Cons:
- Limited enterprise features for large-scale operations.
- Operational data cannot export to external tools.
- Complex user interface.
Informatica
Informatica excels in data integration within its comprehensive Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) platform.
HQ:
Redwood City, California
Informatica focuses on amplifying data integration capabilities as part of its IDMC, offering a wide range of services for robust data management and integration strategies. It prioritizes data-centric integration with extensive features for governance, quality, and transformation, making it suitable for organizations emphasizing a unified data management approach. Informatica's global footprint and strong partner network support its comprehensive services, despite perceptions of complexity.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- Broad industry solutions and cloud infrastructure options.
- Strong platform security and operational reliability.
- Depth in data integration and management capabilities.
Cons:
- Pricing based on compute power can be complex and costly.
- UX focuses primarily on data, less on guided integration.
- Complex user interface
Jitterbit
Jitterbit offers a versatile iPaaS focusing on APIs, EDI, and citizen development, with a model conducive to predictable costs.
HQ:
Alameda, California
Jitterbit Harmony iPaaS focuses on in API, EDI, and easing citizen development, backed by a predictive pricing model. It innovates based on customer feedback, though its service integrator ecosystem is not as extensive. Its roadmap aims to improve business automation and developer support, making it an attractive option for general iPaaS needs or EDI modernization.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- Strong focus on EDI with significant templates.
- Simple user interface
- Customizable template marketplace for OEMs.
Cons:
- Limited prebuilt connectors and templates.
- Endpoint-based pricing model can be complex.
- Lacks cloud support for connectors.
SnapLogic
SnapLogic's iPaaS emphasizes data integration with a focus on AI-driven automation, offering a blend of application and API management.
HQ:
San Mateo, California
SnapLogic, the Intelligent Integration Platform (IIP), focuses on data integration, leveraging AI to boost automation and productivity. It supports diverse integration needs through a user-friendly interface and a modular approach. While innovative, its B2B capabilities are modest, making it suited for organizations prioritizing low-code process automation and data integration.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- Easy to use integration wizard
- Transparent pricing and multi-cloud marketplace presence.
- One of the first generative AI solutions in SnapGPT
Cons:
- Limited B2B integration features.
- Limited access permissions
Workato
Workato's iPaaS solution focuses on process automation and collaboration between IT and business through an intuitive, AI-assisted user experience.
HQ:
Mountain View, California
Workato offers a serverless integration platform emphasizing ease of use and democratized development. It accelerates business-IT collaboration with a user-friendly, AI-enhanced interface, encouraging adoption with in-product assistance and proactive customer engagement. The platform boasts a vast array of connectors, facilitating diverse integrations and automations. Despite a global presence, Workato's strategic emphasis on AI assistance and customer-centric innovations positions it as a formidable choice for organizations aiming to empower citizen developers and streamline business processes. Its approach to integration challenges not only simplifies the user experience but also promises to enhance operational efficiency and innovation across industries, making Workato an excellent choice for cloud-based business process automation and teams blending IT expertise with business insight.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- Intuitive user experience with AI-driven process guidance.
- Extensive library of connectors and templates.
- Fine-grained access permissions.
Cons:
- Pricing model can lead to cost escalations as new processes are added.
- Absence of out-of-the-box support for EDI and B2B-specific features.
- Reliance on Amazon AWS data centers.
SAP
SAP offers iPaaS functionality as part of its SAP Business Technology Platform, emphasizing integration within the SAP ecosystem.
HQ:
Walldorf, Germany
The SAP Integration Suite, part of the SAP Business Technology Platform, offers comprehensive integration capabilities. It focuses on SAP-centric ecosystems, aiming to unify business data and processes with a strong emphasis on AI. The suite's flexibility and extensive template library make it a robust option for businesses heavily invested in SAP products, offering a path towards digital transformation with a focus on modern application architecture.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- Thousands of templates, primarily for SAP applications.
- Global operational and support presence through SAP
- Transparent pricing.
Cons:
- Perceived primarily as an SAP-centric tool.
- Business model leans heavily towards SAP applications.
- Pricing not tailored to all market segments.
Webmethods
Software AG's Webmethods.io delivers iPaaS with a focus on democratized integration and a wide range of integration styles.
HQ:
Darmstadt, Germany
Webmethods.io by Software AG emphasizes business transformation through integration, offering a versatile platform that supports various integration styles. It's innovating with AI to enhance productivity and simplify the user experience. The commitment to a robust roadmap and customer-driven features makes it a compelling choice for B2B integration, citizen developers, and modernizing legacy systems. Software AG's focus on security and ease of use positions Webmethods.io as a strong contender in the iPaaS market.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- Wide functional capabilities and platform versatility.
- Large number of connectors and varied B2B offering.
- Extensive testing and debugging tools.
Cons:
- Lower customer satisfaction ratings.
- Not suitable for more advanced integrations
- Fewer hosting options than competitors.
Bottom line on TIBCO alternatives for service integration
TIBCO Cloud Integration gives broad functionality for integrating apps, data and APIs. It’s especially relevant for businesses looking for a single vendor for broad data management needs, such as BI data enrichment and analytics.
One area where TIBCO’s integration solutions fall short is in service integrations. It lacks some of the pre-configured connectors and advanced use cases you should expect from a modern-day integration solution. In addition the need for technical skills and high overall total cost of ownership may become an issue.
If you're looking for an effortless integration as a service alternative, look no further than ONEiO.
