How Are You Integrating Your Applications?

SaaS technology is not only changing the way applications are designed, developed and delivered, it also can support an efficient and flexible model for application and data integration.  So how can solution providers work with online services to get the right mix of technology for their customers?  Dell Boomi and RightNow recently teamed up in such an example, as guest blogger, Ralph Hibbs of Dell, relates below.

RightNow, the Bozeman, Mont.-based originator of the cloud-based customer experience solutions suite RightNow CX, recently employed Dell Boomi’s online integration service AtomSphere to help it integrate new web-based NetSuite business software into its CRM, database and finance applications.

RightNow wanted to replace its legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) system with NetSuite while also automating and streamlining business processes. The company was eager to eliminate the inefficiencies of its legacy system, which included some duplicate data entry and multi-step data transfers between financial applications.

After rejecting the options of an on-premise enterprise service bus (ESB) solution and custom coding as time-consuming, costly and not scalable to future needs, RightNow chose to employ Dell Boomi’s AtomSphere to resolve its internal IT challenges. The two companies already had worked together, with Boomi cloud integration technology supporting the cloud-based RightNow CX solutions to RightNow customers.

AtomSphere supports the integration of any combination of on-site and SaaS applications. The SaaS solution provides an online interface for integrating the application processes and also a dashboard for monitoring the health of the business process- or transaction-level interface between systems.

In a whitepaper, entitled “Taking Enterprise Application Integration Into The Cloud,” Boomi General Manager Bob Moul contends that the structure of cloud-based integration platforms eliminates unneeded complexity and dramatically increases the quality of collaboration, component re-use, data visibility and control, policy standardization and enforcement, configuration management, monitoring and auditing/validation.

“…Because cloud integration platforms are built with SaaS technology and concepts, they deliver the same benefits as SaaS applications themselves,” Moul wrote, citing the following benefits:

1. Significantly reduced cost structure


2. No integration products to install and maintain


3. Automatic upgrades — no “rev lock” issues


4. Usage based pricing — start small & expand over time


5. Global connectivity and access

For their part, RightNow and Dell Boomi used AtomSphere to integrate RightNow’s use of Concur travel and expense management software, Data Warehouse, NetSuite and its internal RightNow CX SaaS solution.

Its systems integrated via AtomSphere, RightNow gained a streamlined quote-to-cash process and near real-time financial reporting.  Due to the automation of back-office business processes, RightNow’s CFO now has access to current financial data from across the organization in a single, centralized dashboard via NetSuite.

Still need more information on how to jump into the cloud business?  CompTIA is offering a host of cloud channel training resources to help solution providers get started.  From one-day live courses, to online guides and market research, CompTIA members can access numerous tools to jumpstart their cloud business.  Solution providers and vendors also can network and learn from each other within the CompTIA Cloud Community and at the association’s upcoming Annual Member Meeting in Chicago.