If you've found this article, you’re either researching business integration solutions, or you're a Workato customer looking for an easier integration service. In both cases you’ll find plenty of information and alternatives.
What is Workato?
Workato is a cloud-based integration and business process management platform that connects various business applications, databases, and services to automate workflows and data exchange.
At the broadest level, Workato can be viewed as an intelligent automation platform. It is known for having a large library of connectors and templates for citizen developers to use. In this regard, it competes with the likes of Zapier and IFTTT in the small-to-medium sized business process automation space.
How can Workato be compared to other integration solutions?
With over 11,000 customers Workato is a leading player in the integration as a platform (iPaaS) market. However, the broader focus on process automation means that it doesn’t always compare apples-to-apples with other integration solutions.
- Scope:
While many integration solutions focus primarily on connecting applications and systems, Workato offers a broader range of capabilities encompassing both integration and intelligent automation. This includes features like workflow automation and data transformation.
- Ease of use:
Workato's no-code interface and pre-built connectors make it accessible to business users or citizen developers compared to some integration solutions that require low-code or technical expertise.
- Flexibility:
Workato's advanced features, such as conditional logic and error handling, provide flexibility in designing complex workflows compared to more basic integration solutions. However, many of these complex cases are limited to point-to-point integrations.
- Scalability:
Workato can at the same time be more and less scalable than other integration solutions. With a broad range of ready-built templates it is quick to adopt, but ultimately it lacks the advanced customization and configuration capabilities of other integration solutions.
When you compare Workato to other integration solutions, it's important to consider your specific needs and priorities. For example, the complexity of workflows, the scale and maturity of business operations, and the level of technical expertise available. While Workato's broader capabilities and user-friendly approach may make it a strong choice for many organizations, some may prefer more specialized integration solutions or services based on their unique requirements.
Workato limitations mentioned by real customers
On peer review websites such as Capterra Workato gets better than average scores for integration solutions with an average score of 4.7 out of 5. However, the two areas where it scores below standard were Ease of Use (4.3 / 5) and Value for Money (4.4 / 5).
Here are a few real customer views of Workato limitations:
“This tool is quite costly and difficult for the users who are all not having programming background.” Keerthana K.
“I faced that least is Workato pricing structure is based on the number of transactions or actions you perform. If you have a high volume of transactions, it could potentially become costly.” Ravi C.
“If you aren't using a pre-built recipe the learning curve can be a bit steep. If you have a failure find the error can be a bit complicated.” - Greg C.
It is much harder to use without programming experience when we have to work with the API application. Maintenance of recipes is quite challenging. - Jothika K.
Don’t get me wrong. Overall, many Workato customers are happy with the service. If you look through other customer reviews of Workato, you’ll find that many positive reviews come from robotic process automation (RPA) consultants. This is a clear sign that Workato has a number of good use-cases in process automation.
Limits of Workato for Service Integrations
While Workato is a powerful and versatile integration and automation platform, it does have some limitations especially with service integrations:
- Cost:
Workato's pricing model can be more expensive compared to some alternatives, especially for organizations with high-volume usage or complex integration needs. The cost may be a barrier for smaller businesses or those with limited budgets.
- Learning curve:
Despite its user-friendly, no-code interface, Workato's advanced features and extensive capabilities can still present a learning curve for users. Some may find it challenging to fully utilize the platform's potential without proper training or support.
- Data manipulations and transformations:
Workato is not a fully no-code solution. For more advanced data manipulations in Workato you will need Ruby / coding experience.
- Customization:
While Workato offers a wide range of pre-built connectors and templates, some organizations may have unique or niche requirements that are not fully met by these standard options. In such cases, custom development may be necessary, which can be time-consuming and costly as custom connectors also require Ruby / coding experience.
- Flexibility:
Although Workato is designed to handle large-scale data and complex workflows, many service integration often requires more advanced and flexible configurations that go beyond rule-based automation. In particular, ETL functionality in larger data sets may prove challenging.
ITSM ecosystem management:
while Workato offers many advanced point-to-point integration features, it is especially lacking in functionality that enables multi-vendor management and full ITSM ecosystem integration. For this same reason, it may be a difficult option for managed service providers (MSPs.)
List of Workato 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.
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
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
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.
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 Workato alternatives
While Workato is a powerful and versatile integration and automation platform, it may not be the perfect fit for every organization. One area where it especially falls short is complex enterprise service integration.
Workato’s usage-based pricing model can become higher than expected for larger enterprises or rapidly growing companies, making more predictable options appealing. If you're looking for a reliable and scalable Workato alternative, look no further than ONEiO.
