If you've found this article, you're most likely researching Integration Platforms as a Service (iPaaS), or you're a Boomi customer looking for an easier-to-manage integration service. In both cases I've put together a number of good options for you.
What is Boomi?
Boomi is a popular Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) that provides a user-friendly, low-code environment for integrating diverse applications, managing APIs, automating workflows, and synchronizing data across on-premises and cloud systems.
Boomi was originally founded in 2000 with a focus on on-premise data integrations. With over 20,000 customers worldwide, Boomi now has a broad service offering, including B2B/EDI management and real-time event processing.
Boomi was acquired by Dell Technologies Inc. in 2010 and divested in 2021. Today, Boomi is owned by Francisco Partners and TPG Capital.
How to compare Boomi in the iPaaS software market
Boomi is one of the major software providers in the iPaaS software category where Gartner lists over 120 different solution providers.
If you're a customer of analyst firms like Gartner or Forrester you can get more detailed commentary of iPaaS solution functionality to suit your unique needs. Here are some key dimensions often mentioned by analyst firms and iPaaS software experts:
- Integration capabilities:
An iPaaS's core functionality should include data consistency, multistep processes, and composite service creation to cover various integration needs, such as customer data synchronization, employee onboarding, and fraud detection.
- Ease of use and automation:
With low-code or no-code environments becoming more common, the chosen platform should empower both IT and non-technical users to implement integrations seamlessly
- Architecture and strategy alignment:
Ensure the iPaaS solution aligns with your organization's application architecture. Modern architectures often require integration layers to decouple legacy systems and enable modular deployment.
- Scalability and flexibility:
Consider how the iPaaS adapts to your organization’s growth and evolving requirements.
- Geographic and compliance requirements:
Assess the platform's data residency and compliance features.
- Support and ecosystem:
A strong support system, training programs, and a partner ecosystem can significantly enhance the onboarding experience.
Boomi limitations mentioned by real customers
On the peer review website, Capterra Boomi gets an overall score of 4.4/5, with lower-than-peer ratings for Customer service (4.3) and Value for Money (4.3).
Some limitations mentioned by real customers include:
“It can be time-consuming to set up when creating a new complex process.” - Thomas C.
“The reporting leaves a lot to be desired. For me, it takes so long to find issues when troubleshooting.” - Benjamin D.
“The number of connectors/adapters available for integration with heterogeneous applications is limited. Since development happens over browser in cloud, any dis-connectivity with internet will block the development.” Kalaiselvan K.
“Slow with large numbers of records to transfer; little access to underlying Salesforce SOQL and SQL.” Richard B.
Limitations of Boomi for service integration
While Boomi offers solid integration capabilities to a broad range of business needs, one area where it falls short is in Service Integrations.
Here are some specific reasons why:
- Limited support for complex orchestration:
While Boomi is well-suited for simple to moderate service integrations, it may struggle with complex orchestration scenarios that require advanced error handling, compensating transactions, or long-running processes. This can be a challenge for organizations with intricate service workflows or business processes spanning external service providers.
- Limited support for event-driven architectures:
Boomi is primarily designed for batch-oriented data integration and may not be the best fit for event-driven architectures that require real-time processing of service requests and responses. While it can support some event-driven use cases, it may require additional configuration and development effort. API management modules are offered with additional costs.
- Limited service monitoring and logging:
Although Boomi provides basic monitoring and logging capabilities, it may not offer the level of granularity and customization required for comprehensive service integration monitoring. Organizations may need to invest in additional tools or develop custom solutions to gain full visibility into their service integrations.
- Integration development takes time and effort:
While Boomi is a powerful platform, it can take considerable resources and time to configure and develop your integrations.
- Scalability concerns for high-volume service integrations:
While Boomi is designed to scale, organizations with high-volume service integrations may encounter performance limitations or increased costs due to Boomi's pricing model, which is based on the number of connections and data volume processed.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of things Boomi does right. However, if you are tasked with building out the service management function for a larger and complex organization, you may need to look for an alternative.
List of Boomi alternatives 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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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 Boomi alternatives
Boomi is a powerful and user-friendly integration platform that offers a wide range of connectors and tools for data integration and management. However, when it comes to complex ITSM integration scenarios, Boomi may have some limitations. It may not provide the advanced orchestration capabilities, comprehensive service governance features, or native support for event-driven architectures that some organizations require.
Additionally, Boomi's pricing model and scalability concerns may be a factor for high-volume service integrations. While Boomi remains a strong choice for many integration needs, organizations with more complex service workflows or specific requirements may need to consider alternative solutions that offer more flexibility, customization, and control over their service integration processes.
If you're looking for an effortless integration as a service alternative, look no further than ONEiO.
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