If you’ve found this article you’re either an Informatica customer looking for a modern integration solution, or you’re exploring better ways to manage IT service integrations. In both cases, I’ve got relevant information and options for you.
Informatica integrations factsheet
Informatica is one of the most established data management platforms especially known for its ETL solutions and broad range of enterprise data management capabilities.
At the heart of Informatica’s data integration solutions is PowerCenter - an on-premise ETL tool capable of handling large data volumes. As part of its broader set of solutions, Informatica also offers an Intelligent Cloud Services platform designed to support a wide range of cloud integration patterns and use cases, from simple point-to-point integrations to more advanced, multi-step workflows. IICS includes a low-code, visual development environment that enables both technical and non-technical users to build and manage integrations.
Informatica was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Redwood City, California. It serves over 5000 enterprise customers across various industries, including financial services, healthcare, public sector, manufacturing, and retail.
Strengths of Informatica integrations
Compared to other integration platforms, Informatica has a broader emphasis on data management, offering data governance, observability and enrichment capabilities.
- Data integrations:
Informatica has a major focus on ETL-based data integration methods and on-premise data integration capabilities.
- Data governance:
Informatica has functionality for managing people, processes and technology as part of a structured data governance framework.
- Data quality improvement:
Informatica has advanced features for measuring and improving data quality.
- Data security:
Informatica offers both data privacy management and cloud data masking solutions.
Limitations of Informatica for service integration
On the peer review website, Capterra Informatica gets an overall score of 4.2/5, with lower-than-peer ratings for Ease of use (3.8) and Customer Service (4.2).
One area where Informatica falls especially short is in service integration. Some of the key limitations include:
- Real-time integrations:
Informatica’s strengths lie in ETL, so it does not have as advanced capabilities for maintaining real-time cloud-based integrations.
- Asynchronous integrations:
for similar reasons, Informatica is not well suited for complex or asynchronous integrations.
- Limited connectivity:
Informatica has less pre-built connections to well known modern service tools.
- Complex user interface:
customers have cited the complexity of Informatica as a stumbling block.
- B2B integrations:
With a heavy focus on data management, Informatica has little B2B integration capabilities beyond basic EDI support.
- Pricing:
Informatica is priced on a volume basis, so it can become expensive for maintaining core service integrations.
Overall, Informatica offers a solid on-premise ETL solution through PowerCenter, but often service integrations need to go beyond the core extract, transform and load functionality.
Alternatives to Informatica 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.
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
TIBCO
TIBCO offers broad integration styles with a focus on data integration, though it has a less unified user experience.
HQ:
Santa Clara, California
TIBCO Cloud Integration includes a range of products for application, data, APIs, and automation. With a global presence and a focus on data integration, TIBCO is a fit for data-centric integration strategies and enterprises emphasizing developer self-service.
Overall rating
Customer support rating
Pros:
- Flexible, volume-based pricing.
- Diverse integration capabilities.
- Supports a wide range of integration styles.
Cons:
- Inconsistent user experience across products.
- Some functionality is only self-hosted.
- Less frequent feature updates.
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.
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.
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.
Bottom line on Informatica alternatives for service integrations
As one of the original on-premise ETL tools, Informatica has a large list of enterprise clients and a proven capability for data management. However, one area where it falls short is in cloud-based integrations, and especially modern-day IT service integration.
While Informatica offers mature and reliable solutions for batch-based ETL data integration, modern IT service management organizations often require more real-time and configurable integration functionality.
If you're looking for an effortless integration as a service alternative, look no further than ONEiO.
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