Syncing between two Jira Cloud instances helps companies share epics and issues between teams and beyond business borders. This can be done using third-party connectors and integration tools that are easily modifiable to your use cases. Manual and automatic options are available, giving you the ability to use custom triggers.
To shed more light on this topic, let’s explore a sample use case. I’ll use a third-party integration solution called Exalate for this illustration.
Epic Syncs: Jira to Jira Use Case
After creating an epic on one Jira Cloud instance, you can establish a connection with another Jira Cloud instance in order to share data between the two. In the same manner, changes on the origin (local) side will reflect instantly on the receiving (remote) side.
Let’s go through the requirements and potential challenges.
Primary Requirements
When you create a Jira epic and add issues to it on your instance, the changes should appear on the other end without having to replicate the same issues manually.
For this to work, you need to declare sync rules for the outgoing and incoming data fields. To automate the transfer of epic content, you can also create triggers using the Jira Query Language (JQL).
Potential Challenges
Network timeouts
Badly configured triggers
Code errors
How Can Exalate Solve This Problem?
Exalate is a bi-directional integration solution that helps sync data between work management systems and online repositories. Examples include Zendesk, Azure DevOps, ServiceNow, Jira, Salesforce, GitHub, etc.
Why use Exalate?
It allows you to sync Jira epics and issues in a few clicks.
Exalate’s Groovy scripting engine allows you to write custom rules for advanced use cases.
It allows you to sync multiple epics and issues using the Bulk Exalate option.
Exalate protects your data when sharing sensitive information.
How to Sync Jira Epics With Exalate
For starters, you need to install Exalate on both sides from the Atlassian marketplace. After installation, you can create your first connection. Refer to our Exalate Academy for a detailed explanation of the process.
To use the scripting engine for customizing connections, I recommend using Exalate’s Script Mode. It gives you the freedom to write your own Groovy scripts in order to control what goes over to the other side.
After setting up the local connection and accepting the invitation on the remote side, click the “Edit connection” icon (on the local side).
Go to the “Rules” tab and look for the “Outgoing sync” text field. Add the function Epic.send() to the console. This line of code sends out your Jira epic and its contents to a remote instance.
Click “Publish” to save and implement the changes.
Then repeat the same procedure by opening the “Rules” tab on the remote instance (the receiving side). This time, go to the “Incoming sync” text field and enter the function Epic.receive().
The .receive() method tells the console to allow the remote instance to receive data from the sending instance (local instance).
Click “Publish” to save the changes.
Once the connection is ready, head back to your Jira dashboard to create a new epic — add a name and description.
After creating the epic, go to the sidebar and click “Open Exalate.” Next, click “Exalate” and choose the connection name you created earlier.
Wait for the status to go from “Waiting for Remote” to “Synchronized.” Once this happens, click on the Remote Link, which will take you to the epic created on the other Jira instance.
You can confirm that the epic has been created.
Afterward, go back to the local instance and add three issues. Then go back to the remote side and refresh to see the issues within the newly created epic.
Note: If you don’t want to manually Exalate the issue, you can add Triggers to sync the issue automatically. So, anytime you create an epic on one side, it instantly replicates itself on the other side.
To create a trigger, click “Triggers” on the left sidebar. Click “Create Trigger” to start configuring your issue or sprint.
You can write as many conditions as necessary. If you have instructions, you can add them as “Notes” to the trigger. Once done, click “Create” to complete the process.
Congratulations! You’ve now set rules and triggers to help you sync epics between two Jira instances. Start monitoring things in order to adjust the rules according to the demands of specific projects and issues.
Summing Up
With Exalate, you can sync your Jira epics with another Jira Cloud account. You can also establish specific rules and triggers to automate the sync. These types of data syncs simplify your day-to-day operations and make providing better customer service easier. If you still have questions or want to see how Exalate is tailored to your specific use case, book a demo with one of our experts immediately.
Tableau ServiceNow integration equips organizations with expanded reporting functionalities to generate customized ServiceNow reports and build rich data visualizations crucial for complex, in-depth analysis.
ServiceNow’s reporting capabilities face two significant limitations. First, they only display the current state of data within the ServiceNow instance without capturing historical data trends or changes over time.
Secondly, they do not allow for the integration of multiple external data sources. This limitation stops organizations from building intricate, composite reports that can provide more comprehensive insights. As a result, they can fail to meet their specific and often complex reporting requirements.
Although these limitations exist within ServiceNow’s own system, leveraging Tableau can help overcome them while offering advanced reporting capabilities. And to make the transition smoother, we will look at an easy and streamlined method to export ServiceNow data to Tableau. That can aid your journey toward enhanced data reporting and visualization.
This guide provides detailed instructions for configuring ServiceNow Tableau integration, which enables organizations to take advantage of data analysis and acquire knowledge from a comprehensive perspective of their ServiceNow data.
So let’s get right to it!
When to Integrate Tableau and ServiceNow
The tactical integration of Tableau and ServiceNow can provide organizations with substantial benefits in their efforts based on data. ServiceNow Tableau integration offers organizations a powerful solution for managing and visualizing data.
Tableau’s advanced data visualization tools and ServiceNow’s comprehensive data management features enable organizations to extract maximum value from their data, navigate the information landscape, and make real choices based on relevant information.
ServiceNow integration with Tableau can provide organizations with helpful knowledge of essential metrics such as the time it takes to resolve incidents, the rate of successful service request fulfillment, the success rate of changes, and compliance with service level agreements.
Organizations can monitor customer satisfaction, employee performance, and resource utilization metrics to enrich their business operations. IT professionals can make statistically informed choices that improve IT service management by analyzing trends and identifying bottlenecks.
Consider ServiceNow and Tableau integration when:
Optimizing Service Management Process
When organizations focus on optimizing their processes to streamline service management, obtain actual time facts into service performance, and implement proactive measures for improvement, integrating Tableau and ServiceNow becomes a viable option. The integration allows organizations to convert detailed data into dynamic charts and graphs, aiding in making reliable choices by enhancing awareness of the data and providing practical information.
Improving Data Accessibility
The integration of Tableau and ServiceNow enables organizations to streamline their data collection process by integrating information from various data sources. This integration also facilitates easy access to customer data, thereby enhancing the efficiency of data analysis and management. It allows users to obtain precise and up-to-date information in real time.
Customizing Reports and Dashboards
Tableau integration with ServiceNow streamlines the complicated process of generating detailed reports and dynamic dashboards. The ability to create adopted reports and graphs is a valuable feature for organizations to develop further their data analysis and reporting strategies. By doing so, they can ensure that the displayed KPIs and metrics correspond with their unique requirements. Additionally, this information’s visual presentation is appealing to the eye and simple to understand for users.
Increasing Collaboration and Data Sharing
The integrated approach of Tableau and ServiceNow enables efficient teamwork and information exchange across various units and divisions. Reports, dashboards, and insights may be easily shared by users, encouraging a culture that values data and improving collaboration.
Boosting IT Operations
The integration of Tableau and ServiceNow allows organizations to conduct a comprehensive analysis of their IT operational data, which can help optimize their IT operations. The integration mentioned here enables the identification of areas that require improvement and streamlining processes such as incident management, problem management, and change management.
Available on the ServiceNow Store, this app enables organizations to integrate data by exporting ServiceNow tables and fields that offer flexibility and completeness in combining information. Integrating Tableau’s advanced data visualization and reporting features with an organization’s ServiceNow instance allows for build-up data analysis and reporting processes.
Key Features of Tableau Connector for ServiceNow
Tableau Connector for ServiceNow is an appealing choice for using the capabilities of both platforms since it possesses a number of critical features.
Simplified Data Extraction
Exporting ServiceNow tables and fields to Tableau has been simplified for users. Users can now select the desired tables and fields without requiring any complicated encoding or manual data extraction. The connector interface is designed to be easy to use, which alleviates the process of extracting data from ServiceNow.
Dynamic ServiceNow Dashboards
For teams in IT, support, or other areas, the connector makes it easier to create real-time Tableau dashboards that show key performance indicators (KPIs). The dashboards offer a means of obtaining real-time facts about a team’s performance. It enables organizations to keep track of their overall performance, monitor progress toward their goals, and identify areas that require improvement. The statement highlights the positive impact of promoting transparency, collaboration, and data utilization in developing decisions.
Combined ServiceNow Reporting
The connector enables organizations to generate all-inclusive reports in Tableau by merging data from different ServiceNow processes, such as incident management, problem management, etc. Integrating ServiceNow data with other systems such as CRM, ERP, Jira, and others can give organizations in-depth awareness of their operations. It can enable them to make informed choices based on a statistical data analysis.
Integrated Dot-Walking Mechanism
The mentioned feature enables users to efficiently retrieve and incorporate data fields from associated tables while exporting data to Tableau. Dot-walking is a technique that allows users to access and combine data from various tables within the ServiceNow instance by navigating relationships between them using dot notation. The tool permits users to seamlessly export data from multiple related tables, thereby increasing the adaptability and depth of their visual representations and reports, resulting in a more profound understanding and precise representation of information in Tableau.
Well-Thought-Out App Architecture
The architecture of the Tableau Connector for ServiceNow has been constructed to help with the export of vast quantities of ServiceNow data without causing any negative impact on the performance of your ServiceNow instance. The architecture is optimized to facilitate the extraction and transfer of data to achieve seamless integration between ServiceNow and Tableau. It enables organizations to handle large data sets without affecting the effectiveness and responsiveness of their ServiceNow setting, thereby improving their confidence when interacting with such data.
Advanced Data Security
The connector prioritizes data security and governance. ServiceNow Tableau Connector dispersed user roles to manage data access and security. There are three roles: Admin, Editor, and Viewer. The ServiceNow system admin determines users’ roles and permissions to export ServiceNow tables. Admin role has the most access, including reading, writing, creating, and deleting data sources. Editors can only read, write, and create data sources. Tableau Viewer cannot edit data sources but can export ServiceNow data to Tableau.
How to Connect Tableau to ServiceNow
The integration of Tableau’s data visualization and analytics capabilities with the data stored in ServiceNow can be achieved by organizations through a series of simple bending steps.
For a comprehensive understanding and detailed instructions, you can visit the app’s documentation.
Step 1: Install the Tableau Connector for ServiceNow
You can easily install the Tableau Connector for ServiceNow from the ServiceNow Store with system admin rights and HI credentials.
Since it requires no prerequisites, the Tableau Connector for ServiceNow is practical as it is a standalone app. The connector installs and applies without dependencies or configurations for a seamless experience.
Click the “Request an app” button and use your HI credentials to log in. Once the app is requested, you will receive instructions via email. The email will point you to the Installation Overview page.
Users should access the System Applications section and select All Available Applications > All to locate and install the Tableau Connector for ServiceNow.
From there, they can use the filter criteria or search bar to narrow your search, find the Tableau Connector for ServiceNow, and click Install. Upon installation, users can access the connector through the menu.
Step 2: Assign Tableau Connector Roles to Users
The Tableau Connector for ServiceNow has specific responsibilities that ServiceNow System Administrators can assign to users to enable them to use it.
To assign roles and provide users with the required access, find the user to whom you wish to give the Tableau Connector role in the Users table.
Clicking on the user’s User ID will reveal their profile for modification.
Click the Edit button after switching to the Roles tab. ‘x_acsof_tableau’ should be typed into the Collection search area.
The search returns three roles for Tableau Connector for ServiceNow. Move the necessary roles to the Roleslist by choosing them from the Collection. After clicking Save, update the user.
Users will be given the appropriate permissions to operate with the Tableau Connector for ServiceNow by giving them specific roles, enabling them to take full advantage of its capability.
Step 3: Create a Data Source in ServiceNow
To create a Data Source using the Tableau Connector for ServiceNow, the user must have either the TABLEAU ADMIN or TABLEAU EDITOR role assigned (refer to Step 2 for more details).
These roles provide the necessary permissions and access rights to configure and manage Data Sources within the connector.
To Create Data Source using Service Portal Instance-Name.service-now.com/sp:
Within the ServiceNow interface’s Tableau Connector, scroll down to find the Data Sources table. After locating the Data Sources table, select New by clicking.
To Create Data Source using Tableau Connector page Instance-Name.service-now.com/tableau_connector:
To initiate creating a new data source in Tableau, navigate to the Tableau Connector page and locate the New button.
Click on it to proceed. To properly set up the Data Source, it is necessary to complete all the required fields with the relevant information: Data Source name, Description (optional), Rows limit, Disable editing for other users, and set Use display value.
To configure the Export settings, click the Add Table button and start typing the table name in the search field, or scroll through the list to find the desired table you want to export.
Once selected, click the Add button.
After adding the table, select the specific fields needed for your reports. You can export any ServiceNow tables and fields, including custom ones. If necessary, enable the Use display value option to export data in string format.
You can apply filters to the tables to further refine the export results. Click on the Filter icon and configure the desired conditions. Add conditions and click the Run button to apply the filter.
If you have a table that contains fields with a Reference type, click the “+” icon. In the opened dialog, select the fields you want to export.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Step 4: Import ServiceNow Data into Tableau
To import data from the Service Portal Instance-Name.service-now.com/sp:
Navigate to the table marked Data Sources located further down on the page. Apply the Search feature that has been made available. Provide the name of the data source you seek (the one you created in the previous step).
To import data from the Tableau Connector page Instance-Name.service-now.com/tableau_connector:
Use the Show Matching or Filter Out filters to reduce the number of data sources displayed in the list. Search the filtered list until you find the relevant data source (the one you created in the previous step).
To access the context menu, perform right-click on the data source.
Choose the Copy OData feed URL option. The OData feed URL of the chosen data source will be copied to your clipboard so you can utilize it later.
Open Tableau Desktop and pick OData. In the Server area of the newly opened window, paste the copied OData URL.
Select Username and Password as your authentication type. In the appropriate areas, enter your ServiceNow username and password.
To start the import procedure, click the Sign In button. When the import is finished, you can use Tableau Desktop to create visualizations and analyze the data imported from ServiceNow.
Wrapping Up
The Tableau Connector for ServiceNow facilitates smooth communication between Tableau and ServiceNow, providing businesses with a powerful means to leverage ServiceNow data for practical analytical purposes. The statement highlights the effectiveness of the connector’s user role management and security features in maintaining controlled access and data integrity.
Advanced features such as a user-oriented interface, dot-walking, and data manipulation enable users to access and assess linked data fields efficiently. Combining Tableau’s analytical capabilities with ServiceNow’s data presents an opportunity for organizations to enhance their operational efficiency and gain a competitive advantage centered around the data era.
Maya is the product manager at a software development company. Her team uses Salesforce for marketing automation, app development, and analytics. But she needs to get data from the support and sales teams, who are using ServiceNow and MailChimp, respectively. And she is now thinking of looking into Salesforce integration tools.
So how can Maya integrate data from ServiceNow and MailChimp with Salesforce?
If you are reading this, you probably have a similar question. So, this article will help you and Maya understand how Salesforce handles native and third-party integrations. And I will walk you through the top Salesforce integration tools you need for your specific scenarios.
What is Salesforce Integration?
Salesforce integration is the process of linking other applications, databases, cloud services, or work management systems with Salesforce. This process centralizes your data on the Salesforce platform, making it possible to improve productivity and exchange data bi-directionally.
You can set up a Salesforce integration using APIs, middleware, webhooks, enterprise service bus (ESB), third-party integrations, or native Salesforce tools.
But to pick out the right Salesforce integration tool for your use case, I suggest we first go over different types of integrations in Salesforce.
What Are the Types of Integration in Salesforce?
Salesforce integration falls under the following categories:
Batch integration: This involves the data integration of data in batches instead of individually. The system takes a “snapshot” of the data and integrates it later. This process of taking snapshots and merging changes is called Change Data Capture.
Single-platform integration: Salesforce often provides native methods for integrating individual platforms through AppExchange apps. Unlike batch integration, single-platform integration involves moving the data individually.
Custom code integration: Your developers have to build your connector from scratch using APIs and webhooks. The drawback is that this type of integration consumes time and requires advanced expertise.
Real-Time and Near Real-Time Integration: This involves the real-time movement of data between Salesforce and an external system (say, ServiceNow).
How does Salesforce Handle Integrations?
As a system that syncs data with multiple internal and external applications and systems, Salesforce handles integrations using the following methods:
Fire and Forget: As the name suggests, this integration pattern involves initiating a request to the remote system, which updates Salesforce with the new order number and status in a separate transaction. The Salesforce system then decides to wait for the order to reach completion or “forget” it and move to a different request.
Request and Reply: This is a variation of request process invocation in which the remote system waits for the process to end before tracking the current state based on the response.
Batch Data Synchronization: This approach involves data exchange between Salesforce and a remote system in batches rather than singly. This integration approach follows a predefined schedule controlled by a set of triggers.
Remote Call-In: This pattern involves Salesforce retaining the data while the remote system handles how to create, update, or delete the data in storage. The remote system can “call in” default Salesforce APIs or API composite resources to perform certain operations.
Data Virtualization: This involves Salesforce accessing external data in real time using AJAX calls and GET requests, as well as responding through JSON objects translated. This integration pattern ensures that your data does not persist on the system storage. It also allows you to access external data from on-premise and cloud services.
App-native Integrations
Some apps integrate natively with Salesforce, thanks to a system of APIs and built-in connectors. In Maya’s case, she can integrate her company’s Mailchimp data with Salesforce using the built-in connector in AppExchange.
Third-party Integrations
Third-party integrations act as mediators between incompatible systems that don’t integrate data natively. Integration tools like Zapier let you transfer data bi-directionally between Salesforce and Slack or Google Workspace.
And the good thing is that you won’t need to write custom code since most of them have pre-built connectors that you can drag and drop to sync data.
Native Salesforce Integrations
These are connectors built within Salesforce using the default Salesforce API. This means that you don’t need to integrate them; they are available by default for your Salesforce org.
Native Salesforce integrations remove the need for third-party integration solutions. They also reside within your Salesforce ecosystem, giving you complete control and visibility over essential metrics.
External systems can fetch data from Salesforce through the following methods:
Change Data Capture – for real-time and near-real-time integrations.
Outbound Messaging – allows changes in Salesforce fields to trigger automatic Salesforce actions, such as sending alerts or creating task records.
Apex Custom Code – for building classes and triggers (button clicks, record updates, etc.) in order to execute flows and transaction control statements. Apex has a similar syntax to Java.
Polling – for instructing the API client to call the server at specified intervals to check for changes in data.
Salesforce Connect – for integrating data seamlessly across system boundaries by allowing users to view and change data outside your Salesforce ecosystem.
Heroku Connect – for syncing data bi-directionally between Postgres and Salesforce.
Mulesoft Anypoint – for automating your workflows and integrating data between systems in order to deliver seamless, pleasurable experiences.
Other noteworthy native Salesforce integration tools include OmniStudio, Dataloader.io, Mulesoft Composer, native Salesforce APIs, platform events, PushTopic, and Salesforce CLI.
Since everything resides in Salesforce, there is no need to spend money and time on training your teams to use third-party tools.
But the flip side is of course the limitation of these native tools. If you’re specifically looking for enhanced functionality, cost-effectiveness, customizability, and easier maintenance (and in general a better, more flexible fit for your specific industry), then a Salesforce third-party tool is your go-to solution.
Why Use Integration Tools in Salesforce?
Let’s discuss the benefits of Salesforce integration tools.
Improves productivity
Salesforce integration makes it possible for companies to automate the integration of data. This increases the speed and quality of information synchronization and removes redundant tasks in the workflow.
Improves customer experience
Salesforce integration solutions improve the customer experience by giving your teams better information about customers and clients.
In the case of Maya’s company, integrating ServiceNow with Salesforce will bring all customer information and tickets from the support team to Salesforce. And with tools like Experience Cloud and Customer 360, her company can improve the roadmap to satisfy customers’ needs better.
Improves the quality of decisions
Integrating your applications, services, and systems with Salesforce gives you access to tools for making better business decisions. These tools also make it easier to gather and synthesize business intelligence.
Salesforce products that can help you make informed decisions include Tableau, Data Cloud, Net Zero, and Einstein GPT.
Boosts revenue
Sales teams can integrate data from external systems with Salesforce in order to take advantage of the platform’s advanced revenue intelligence and management products.
Salesforce Tableau allows organizations to monitor and predict market trends when generating pricing plans for products and services. This will help them minimize expenditures and boost profits.
Improves communication and reporting
When you integrate your system with Salesforce, you get access to advanced analytics and reporting tools. Marketers, developers, managers, and people who need pinpoint accurate analytics can use the tools to visualize and report data.
You can also integrate your Slack with Salesforce to establish fast, smooth communication channels for intra-company and cross-company communication.
7 Considerations When Choosing Salesforce Integration Tools
Before choosing any integration solution for Salesforce, here are some questions to ask yourself and your teams.
What does my business need?
When considering tools for Salesforce data integration, the first rule of thumb is to find out what your business needs.
Let’s take Maya’s company, for example; they want to sync data between marketers (from Mailchimp) and customer service representatives (from ServiceNow).
With a better understanding of the integration goals, they can choose whether to use a native solution like Mulesoft or to opt for a third-party solution like Zapier.
And not only that, but they also need to choose a Salesforce integration solution that their teams can use. This will flatten the learning curve, reduce errors, and improve productivity.
How secure is the solution?
Businesses also need to choose secure solutions in order to protect sensitive information in transit or at rest.
Native Salesforce integration tools give you the security blanket of the Salesforce infrastructure. But if you are choosing a third-party solution, always check the features they have. Keep an eye out for certifications like ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
Is the integration solution worth the price?
Pricing also factors into your business needs. If the solution is within your budget and meets all the requirements, consider paying for it. You also need to choose a suitable payment model: pay-as-you-go, pay-per-user, or pay-per-flow.
Does it support custom integrations?
Salesforce integration can be either no-code (Workato), low-code (Jitterbit Harmony), script-based (Mulesoft Anypoint) or a combination of all three (Exalate).
So when choosing your integration service provider (ISP), always focus on the one that allows you to customize the integration for any use case. If you have experienced developers, choose the script-based options. Otherwise, stick with no-code solutions to make things easier.
The sweet middle ground is to choose an AI-powered integration solution that can generate, refactor, and optimize scripts. Experienced developers will use it to explore advanced customization scenarios, while inexperienced users will use it to generate scripts faster.
Does the integration meet compliance requirements?
Depending on the data you want to integrate between systems, you have to meet certain compliance requirements. Some common compliance regulations include HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, PCI DSS, etc.
What are the limitations?
Some Salesforce integration tools enforce API limits, while others only allow a specified number of concurrent users. So always confirm if the stipulated API limits will be convenient for your business to avoid service interruptions. You should also factor in large data volumes, especially if you are planning to integrate data from systems in bulk.
6 Third-Party Salesforce Integration Tools You Should Know
Now that you know what constitutes a reliable Salesforce integration tool, let’s review the best-in-class solutions that meet the criteria.
Dell Boomi
Dell Boomi is an integration platform that makes it possible to connect your applications and systems in order to automate business processes.
Industries in finance, marketing, manufacturing, healthcare, and the public sector use Dell Boomi to improve user experience and increase transparency. Organizations in these industries also use Dell Boomi to integrate Salesforce with legacy systems and modern applications such as FTP Server, NetSuite, and Workday.
Jitterbit
Jitterbit is a workflow automation that allows you to integrate your applications and cloud services with Salesforce.
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Let’s say you want to integrate tickets from Zendesk with a Salesforce case. You can use Jitterbit to transfer data between fields. Users with little technical experience can use Jitterbit’s low-code integration platform Harmony to automate workflows and build applications.
Workato
Teams working in IT, marketing, and finance rely on Workato for automated ticket escalation, employee onboarding, compliance governance, and threat detection. This iPaaS solution provides a secure pathway for connecting Salesforce with cloud services and work management systems.
For instance, you can use the Workato connector to sync a Jira issue with a matching case in Salesforce. Similarly, you can sync attachments and customer profiles from Dropbox and NetSuite with the corresponding Salesforce case.
Mulesoft
Mulesoft is a Salesforce subsidiary that integrates natively with external systems. It allows organizations to combine the power of AI and CRM analytics to get a comprehensive view of customers.
Mulesoft also offers products like Anypoint, Composer, and RPA, which allow users to automate tasks, build apps, monitor APIs, and build connectors with the code-based API Designer.
SnapLogic
SnapLogic is a no-code integration platform that uses pre-built Salesforce connectors – or Snaps – to sync data between applications, databases, and cloud services.
When using SnapLogic, you also gain access to SnapGPT, the first generative AI solution for natural language integration and automation. What does this mean? You can extract data faster while decreasing the potential for errors with the help of an AI-powered troubleshooting assistant.
The Salesforce Snap Pack gives organizations access to attachment downloads, bulk actions, platform events, and wave analytics.
Exalate
Exalate is an integration solution that allows you to connect Salesforce with other work management systems and repositories. This solution stands because it supports low-code, no-code, and code-based integrations (using a Groovy Scripting engine).
Suppose Maya’s team wants to sync SLA records bi-directionally between Salesforce and ServiceNow; they can set up a connection using Exalate’s Basic Mode (no-code) or Script Mode (code-based).
The Script Mode also provides you access to the intuitive AI Assist chat feature, which will help you generate scripts for setting up syncs and connections within minutes.
Salesforce integration allows you to connect external systems with tools native to the Salesforce ecosystem as well as third-party solutions. Whichever option you choose, you need to consider security, reliability, pricing, and business fit.
Now that Maya understands Salesforce integration better, she can choose the best tool for connecting her work management platform, repositories, databases, and cloud services with Salesforce.
Exalate is an integration solution that helps businesses integrate Salesforce with multiple managed services, CRMs, and ERPs. This solution allows you to share data bi-directionally using custom scripts and event-specific triggers for every Salesforce case.
If you’re an Exalate for HP QC/ALM user, we have some updates for you.
We, at Exalate, understand that change is an inevitable part of technology, and sometimes that means retiring legacy tools and solutions. We also want to focus on the future of our product and ensure services remain as smooth and efficient as possible.
To this effect, we are moving Exalate for HP QC/ALM into basic maintenance mode and it will remain so until June 2024, after which support will be halted completely.
As a company, we understand that this can be daunting and we will try to ensure this change is handled with utmost care and minimal disruption.
What to expect as an Exalate HP QC/ALM customer moving forward
We will provide the following under basic maintenance mode to our existing Exalate for HP QC/ALM customers:
Bug fixes and critical security updates only upon request by customers
Bug fixes handled by L3 support
Releases as hotfixes or custom-builds only
No new feature releases
Duration of the Basic Maintenance Mode
This mode will be available for a year, until June 2024.
Compatibility Checks
If you have any questions regarding compatibility, please contact us. From our end, we will not perform any compatibility checks from now on.
Exalate currently supports HP QC/ALM version 15.0.
Why the Decision
Since HP QC/ALM is an older product and has been replaced by newer versions, it’s imperative to let go of legacy systems.
We have also seen a decline in the usage of the Exalate for the HP QC/ALM connector over time. There has been a steady decrease in tickets raised by customers using this connector.
As such, it’s essential for us to focus our time and resources on more upcoming, popular, and widely used platforms. So, we came to this decision unanimously.
If you have any questions or concerns, we are always a call away!
Frictionless issue tracking and resolution form the basis of project management tools like Jira. But when teams use different Jira instances like Jira Cloud and Jira on-premise, managing information between them can be challenging.
So how would you sync issue types and custom fields, like select lists, between these different Jira instances?
Enter Exalate, a synchronization solution that helps map and sync various fields between multiple Jira deployments.
The Jira cloud and on-premise instances must pass the following issue information:
Summary, description, labels, comments, and attachments must be synced bi-directionally.
Issue types must be mapped and synced bi-directionally. So if an issue type in one instance is a Task, it must become an Incident in the other Jira instance. And if the issue type is Bug, then it must be a Change in the other system.
Custom fields such as select lists, aka dropdowns, must be synced bi-directionally.
The Challenges
Basic issue fields like summary, description, etc are easy to sync. The real challenge is to map the issue types in the two instances and sync them properly. The same mapping logic must apply to the select list entries as well.
If a user selects a particular item from the list, the other instances’ list must reflect the correct item.
Let’s take a look at why Exalate excels in a use case like this.
Exalate: a Customizable Integration Solution
Exalate is a highly customizable integration solution to synchronize data across multiple platforms like Jira, ServiceNow, Zendesk, Salesforce, Azure DevOps, GitHub, etc.
With Exalate, you can control your sync at a granular level and automate the information flow based on the native query languages of the platform you use.
Some key features of Exalate are:
Customizability: Exalate provides flexible configuration options, allowing teams to define their sync rules, filters, mappings, and workflows. Such customization ensures that the integration meets the specific needs and requirements of each team.
Security and Control: Exalate prioritizes security and provides features such as encrypted communication, access controls, and audit logs. This ensures that sensitive data remains secure during the synchronization process.
Scalability: Exalate is designed to handle large volumes of data and can scale according to the needs of your organization. It supports synchronization between multiple projects, teams, and even different companies.
How to Sync Issue Types and Select Lists Between Jira Cloud and Jira On-premise
For more information on how to do that, refer to the step-by-step Getting Started guide. You can also watch the Exalate Academy videos if you prefer.
After establishing the connection, click on the “Configure Sync” button. You’ll be redirected to the “Rules” tab. You can decide what information you want to send and receive between the platforms using the “Rules” tab.
Exalate provides two sets of script windows in both the Jira instances. The “Outgoing sync” defines what data must go out from the particular Jira instance. And the “Incoming sync” defines how to interpret data coming from the other Jira instance.
Map and Sync Issue Types
Next, you must map the issue types between the platforms. You can perform this mapping at either of the ‘Incoming sync’ script windows, depending on your requirement.
In this use case, we will create a Task or a Bug in Jira Cloud, and it should be reflected as an Incident or a Change in the Jira on-premise instance. So, when you create and sync an issue for the first time, a corresponding Incident or Change will be created in the other instance based on the mapping you have set.
You can also apply the same logic if the issue type is updated by creating a new mapping and mentioning it under the (!firstSync) condition. The firstSync variable determines if the issue is synced for the first time or not.
As seen in the code, a typeMap variable stores the mapping. It’s in the format remoteissuetype:localissuetype.
Then we call the getIssueType method of the nodeHelper class of Exalate. This method allows you to fetch the issue type of the replica.
Note: The replica carries the information to be passed between the systems, serving as the payload.
The getIssueType method picks up the local issue type that we have populated with the help of a map variable: typeMap, and assigns it to the issue type in Jira on-premise.
A fallback value is also assigned to the issue type if none of the values match. In our case, the fallback value is Task, but it can be any other value of your choice.
Note: We have shown a uni-directional sync here, but it can be bi-directional as well.
Sync Select Lists (Dropdown)
Select lists, also called dropdowns, are user-defined fields that allow you to select specific values from a list. These are called custom fields in the Exalate context.
To ensure that the information in the custom field is synced to the destination instance, you only need to add a single line of code.
For instance, we have a dropdown called ‘Support Group’ that holds multiple values like IT, HR, Finance, etc. When the user selects “IT” in one of the Jira instances, the corresponding value will be displayed in the other system.
Remember, just like you mapped the different issue types, you can also set up custom mappings for syncing select lists.
Output
When a Task is created in the Jira Cloud instance, an Incident is created in the Jira on-premise instance.
Likewise, the support group “Finance” selected in the Jira Cloud instance correctly reflects the value in the Jira on-premise instance.
Conclusion
By integrating platforms, modern businesses stay competitive and responsive to customer needs. This use case we demonstrated is just one example of how integration tools can enable collaboration between teams.
Curious to know if Exalate is the right solution for your business? It’s just a click away!
In the digital world, connections matter. The problem is, the proliferation of numerous platforms, devices, and software systems has spiked incompatibility. This makes it difficult to connect with clients and software partners.
However, data integration is pivotal to fostering innovation. It also ensures software architects don’t have to do the same thing over and over again. Rather, they can repurpose existing processes and data flows into new projects.
On the other hand, organizations generally find it untenable to constantly perform custom integration to overcome cross-platform incompatibilities in pursuit of information exchange.
Integration service providers (ISPs) bridged this gap by harnessing the power of integration.
We have previously discussed integrated service management (ISM), but here we’ll go into the role of ISPs in data transformation, along with their challenges, advantages, and common use cases.
What is an Integration Service Provider?
An integration service provider is a platform that connects different software applications and systems so they can seamlessly exchange data. As purveyors of a specialized application, ISPs offer clients software structured with an accessible interface. This is usually via an application program interface (API), to execute data flow integration.
ISPs typically offer features that range from customer data integration to cross-platform integration, including data management and database analytics solutions. They also aim to shorten deployment times, making it easy to exchange information using a no-code, low-code, or script-based integration solution.
Other features offered by ISPs include:
Real-time analytics
Flexible pricing models
Robust data mapping functionality
Easily configurable workflow triggers
Ability to implement custom connectors
Dashboards for managing integrations
Scalability through pre-built data connectors
Multiple protocol support, ranging from FTP, HTTP/S, Advanced Messaging Queuing, and Open Data Protocol.
How Do Integrated Service Providers Work?
ISPs use various technologies to facilitate the exchange of data across systems. They primarily work by using APIs to create connections between disparate and seemingly incompatible software artifacts.
In addition to being API-driven, ISPs also use frameworks like service-oriented architectures (SOA). SOAs use service interfaces to make components deployed in web service solutions reusable. These service interfaces are defined using a standard tag structure for defining XML-based services called Web Service Definition Language (WSDL).
Unlike most APIs that use the REST-standard-based protocols, the service interfaces exposed via SOA use another network protocol called SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) to send HTTP or JSON/HTTP requests.
Instead of using API integrations, an ISP can also employ another architectural pattern known as the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), which is a vital component of SOA.
ESB uses centralized software components to execute the integration between applications. It also handles connectivity, performs message routing, plus the transformation of data models.
While ISPs can use different architectural components to pursue integration, they invariably rely on one type of delivery mechanism and subscription model.
To reach customers, ISPs predominantly operate an integration platform as a service (iPaaS) business model. In fact, integrated service providers have mostly become synonymous with iPaaS since they primarily use this subscription-based pricing as a business model.
The iPaaS configuration provides enterprises with a set of automated tools to establish connections between core business applications in a turnkey manner. Hence, enterprises aren’t required to install or set up hardware or manage additional resources.
An integration service provider should ideally operate both cloud-native and on-premise deployments. Better still if they can provide customers with hybrid options.
Types of Integration Service Providers
With a better understanding of how ISPs work, let’s discuss the existing variations of ISPs.
System Integrators
These are companies that have expertise in bringing together different components of a subsystem into a functional whole. They also provide enterprises with the necessary planning, coordination, scheduling, implementation, and testing required for this type of integration for their computing systems.
Managed Service Providers (MSP)
These are third parties that manage an organization’s IT infrastructure remotely. They are typically geared to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that can’t afford in-house IT personnel to manage their day-to-day tech operations.
In discharging their duties, MSPs provide perfunctory integration services on behalf of their clients to ensure the systems work effectively.
Platform-as-a-Service Providers
These are a particular type of integration service that gives companies both deployment and development environments. Since they are cloud-based solutions, they deliver resources that engender data transformation through sophisticated enterprise applications.
Business Process Integration Providers
These mainly deal with large enterprise clients who want to leverage their vast information sources efficiently. Business process integrators assist such clients by connecting disparate systems and integrating numerous business processes into a single, cohesive unit.
Common Use Cases For ISPs and iPaaS
Just as data uses aren’t homogenous, all data integration and transformation aren’t created equal.
Application-to-application integration: This ensures different applications can seamlessly establish connections through permeable interfaces.
Data integration: This permits real-time synchronization and data flow between systems through managing complex data format translations.
Microservice integration: The proliferation of microservice architecture has increased the need for data integration to generate, support, and publish APIs automatically.
Multiple cloud integrations: ISPs enable them to manage complex integration from multiple public cloud sources.
Big data integration: Fostering data analytics and business intelligence with complex Big Data integrations.
Advantages of Using an Integration Service Provider
One of the main benefits of adopting an integration service provider is that they empower organizations with:
Fast and uncomplicated data integrations: To simplify and speed up the process of data integration.
Business intelligence: Cleaning and harmonizing data from various sources to provide the best quality for business operations and intelligence.
Innovate faster: The real-time business insights gained from streamlined data integration improve business efficiency and creativity.
Shorten deployment time: To allow software engineers to develop, test, and deploy integrations easily.
Convenience: Offering out-of-the-box connectivity solutions with low friction of use or maintenance.
Event monitoring: Monitor and manage integration solutions with access to process and system event logs.
Cost-effectiveness: ISPs eliminate hiring expensive specialists to perform in-house integrations. They provide businesses with the ability to implement high-performance integration at an optimum price with an adequate degree of reliability.
360-degree view of data: Offering organizations a means to establish a shared and holistic view of data from disparate data sources.
Building a more effective tech stack: Integration service providers enable organizations to break down tech silos using specialized tools and resources that are more suitable to their business objectives. This creates a more effective and stable tech stack.
Improved customer experience: Better integrated data allows organizations to offer customers better, personalized experiences tailored to their needs. This also allows them to gain better data insight for customer segmentation.
Selecting a Competent Integration Service Provider
In choosing an integration service provider, qualities like dependability, security, and industry expertise should be priorities. Exalate has a track record as an integration service provider, supporting increased scalability, flexibility, and maintainability across industries.
In addition, Exalate also provides AI-powered customization options through its AI Assist feature. Users can rely on this solution to generate scripts for complex integration scenarios.
Companies and solopreneurs need to integrate different work management systems in order to organize processes and gather data. Since configuring an integration manually is complicated, teams are looking for no-code integration solutions to ease this burden.
And with automation driving innovation in the modern workplace, no-code integration software makes it easy to automate and optimize operations.
We’ll discuss no-code integration in detail, exploring its importance and challenges. Continue reading to find out the best no-code integration solutions for automating your business.
What is No-Code Integration?
The concept of no-code integration involves using software to connect multiple apps, software, or platforms without writing any code. You can implement no-code integration using drag-and-drop features and default templates.
With usability becoming a core value in user experience, most integration service providers are building solutions that require as little coding as possible. This cultural shift has led to concepts like no-code and low-code.
Code-Based Integration vs. Low-Code Integration vs. No-Code Integration: How Are They Related?
Code-based integration involves the exclusive use of a scripting engine to configure syncs. This option is a no-brainer for seasoned developers who want absolute control over their integrations. It gives them the leeway to play around with mappings and configurations for advanced use cases.
Low-code integration is a variation of code-based integrations that combines scripting with accessibility features on a visual interface. Users of low-code integration tools get to write some code to change the default properties of the prebuilt integration functionality. They are suited for those who want to optimize processes and eliminate human error in long codes.
However, no-code integration strictly keeps you away from expressions, methods, and variables. As the name suggests, you won’t need to write any code to get your integration to work. Users without programming backgrounds can use no-code integrations to configure syncs instantly.
Generally, you’ll need to learn some programming language native to the code-based or low-code integration solution in order to make changes to default sync configurations. But as AI gains popularity, a lot of code-based or low-code integration solutions, now have some AI element embedded within them.
With no-code tools, you won’t have to bother with any programming or scripting languages.
Why Use No-Code Integration Solutions?
Now that you have enough information about no-code integration, let’s explore why you need it.
You can set it up easily
With no-code integration tools, anyone can configure syncs with consummate ease. By dragging and dropping a few components on the visual interface, you will be able to sync data between two management platforms instantly.
It saves time
Since setting up a no-code integration is fast, you can save time and invest your efforts in more pressing issues. For instance, you won’t need to start learning a new programming language — or looking for someone who does — before you can sync multiple Jira instances.
Just map the correct fields with your no-code solution and call it a day.
It simplifies troubleshooting
When you write code, you have to debug it and maintain it to ensure it is running correctly; this also introduces troubleshooting problems when looking for the source of the issue. But no-code ISPs usually provide error pages to help you detect the source of the problem as soon as it occurs. As a result, you can fix them without scrolling through crappy documentation.
Anybody can use it
No-code integration solutions are beneficial to business owners because they eliminate the need to train an entire team of developers. Since no programming language is involved, you can host a single training session for your employees, and they can work independently going forward.
It saves you money
The time you spend troubleshooting and crushing bugs is useful elsewhere. And that’s where no-code solutions can help; you won’t need to invest in testing tools since you are not writing any code.
You get to save money because you won’t be paying coders to work on your use case.
Drawbacks of Using No-code Integration Tools
The main challenge of using no-code integration is that you sacrifice autonomy at the altar of usability. You can only work with pre-built templates, which limits the applicable use cases.
In addition, no-code IPaaS vendors own and maintain proprietary software. As a result, you are at the mercy of the vendor whenever a feature malfunctions or breaks down completely. And since you cannot write custom code to control what’s being synced, you are stuck with the defaults.
Seeing that you don’t have much wiggle room with no-code integration tools, you will struggle to scale your infrastructure as more complex systems and data become available. This also affects productivity, performance, and user experience.
7 Things to Consider When Choosing No-code Integrations
Before choosing an integration solution, here are some factors to consider.
Pricing
When shopping for a no-code iPaaS solution, cost considerations should always be the first item on your list. Look for vendors that provide a suitable pricing model for your business. Some common pricing variations include:
Per-user: you have to pay for every user working with the integration.
Pay-per-instance (installation): you have to pay for every unique installation of the no-code solution on a work management system or operating system.
Apart from the price on paper, you also need to check out additional fees for maintenance, support, and miscellaneous costs. This will help you align your needs with the company’s budget.
Customer Support
You need to choose no-code integration platforms with responsive customer support. This will come in handy when your instance malfunctions. Most times, the level of support you receive depends on the service level agreement (SLA) you signed. So make sure you are getting the best value for your money.
Customization Features
Look for platforms with as many features and pre-built templates as possible. This high level of customizability will also afford you more flexibility when mapping fields for specific use cases The more customization features, the simpler your integrations and syncs.
Ease of Use
No-code integration solutions should be easy-to-use by default, but usability is a spectrum. Some platforms come with user interfaces that are not user-friendly, which makes them a nightmare to use.
So find no-code integration platforms that a tech newbie can use without breaking a sweat. You need to ensure the key features have a flat learning curve. To find out more, you can always request a product demo.
Compatibility
If you are working with multiple work management systems, you must ensure that the no-code integration tool you choose is compatible with them. For instance, some platforms work exclusively for Jira-Jira integrations, while others are more versatile. So figure out which one meets your business needs and use it to integrate your CRMs and ERPs.
Security
Before choosing a tool, always check out how it handles integration security. Here are some security features to consider:
Compliance certifications (SOC 2 and ISO 27001)
Encryption (SSH, AES, RSA, 3DES)
Multi-factor authentication (MFA or 2FA)
Tokenization (JSON web tokens, UUID).
Audit trails and access controls
Apart from these features, you must also confirm how the prospective vendor handles disaster recovery. Look for error report dashboards and troubleshooting consoles.
Automation
Automated integrations allow you to import and process data automatically. No-code integration platforms rely on automation to improve productivity by boosting the speed of syncs. This automation usually consists of triggers that initiate data synchronization once the conditions are met.
10 Low-code and No-code Integration Tools
We’ve gathered a list of no-code and low-code integration tools for businesses. Here are the 10 best no-code tools for automating integrations.
1 – Zapier
Zapier is an automated integration solution that allows businesses to automate workflows (zaps) and sync their work management systems. This tool provides an interactive interface for business owners in IT, finance, and other spheres.
With Zapier, your zaps are protected using 256-bit AES encryption and TLS 1.2. Enterprises can also implement company-wide SSO, which relies on SAML 2.0. You can also use access level controls and app restrictions to manage who has access to what.
As a premier ISP, Zapier supports integration with OpenAI (GPT-3 & DALL·E), Google Apps, Instagram, YouTube, and over 5000 other apps. You can also use internal Zapier integrations like Paths, Filters, Webhooks, and Multi-step Zaps.
Pricing
Free
Starter – $19.99 monthly
Professional – $499 monthly
Team – $399 monthly
Company – $799 monthly
2 – ONEiO
ONEiO is a cloud-native solution that provides an Integration Automation platform that combines AI capabilities to manage tasks and workflows.
As a cloud-based IPaaS provider, ONEiO’s core infrastructure is built on AWS. The available security certifications include SAS70 Type II, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS Level 1. ONEiO protects all outbound and inbound data with authentication standards such as Basic Authentication, API Keys, and OAuth.
ONEiO’s no-code integration solution can connect different endpoint types, including Slack, Zendesk, Zabbix, Azure DevOps, Hubspot, and Jira. You can also work with JSON, XML, CSV, and other text-based file formats.
Pricing
ONEiO has two pricing plans: Service Provider and Enterprise. Both of them are available on a pay-per-use basis. So you need to contact the ONEiO team to negotiate the subscription cost.
3 – Workato
Workato is an automation solution that helps you integrate business workflows across on-premise and cloud applications and services.
Some security features available to Workato users include the following:
IP allowlist
Supported cloud regions
Encryption key management
AWS IAM role authentication
Workato also comes with pre-built connectors for Wrike, Zendesk, Salesforce, Oracle, Adobe Cloud, AWS Lambda, OneDrive, etc.
Pricing
Workato also uses a pay-per-use pricing model under two plans: Workato For Your Business and Workato For Your Product.
4- Make (Integromat)
Make, formerly known as Integromat, is a no-code integration solution that infuses automation to create and manage workflows. It connects with apps, services, social media platforms, work management systems, and marketplaces like Twitter, Mailchimp, Stripe, Shopify, Trello, and Airtable.
When working with Make, you get free automation templates for syncing and customizing workflows across multiple platforms.
Some security features that are available to Make users include SSO, access control, VPN access, AES-256, TLS (versions 1.2 and 1.3), and AWS key management service (KMS). The core infrastructure is compliant with ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
Pricing
Free
Core – $10.59 monthly ($9 billed annually)
Pro – $18.82 monthly ($16 billed annually)
Teams – $34.12 monthly ($29 billed annually)
Enterprise – Contact sales for more information.
5 – Microsoft Power Automate
Microsoft Power Automate is a service that enables users to automate workflows, integrate data, and share files between several apps, services, and platforms. Power Automate has helped companies reduce time-to-market by 33%, proving its status as a market leader in integrations.
This low-code solution gives you access to AI Builder’s generative AI, which you can use to create language models for advanced use cases. You can also link data from platforms like GitHub, Slack, Google Drive, Salesforce, and Microsoft Tools like Azure DevOps and Dynamics 365.
Pricing
Power Automate has a per-user subscription plan and a per-flow plan. Here is the pricing range.
Per-user plan (license by user) – $15 per user/per month
Per-user plan with attended RPA (license by user) – $40 per user/per month
Per-flow plan (license by flow) – $500 per month
Businesses with an ongoing Azure subscription can also pay for every unique flow run via premium connectors for the following prices:
Per-flow plan (license by flow run) – $0.60 per flow run
Per-flow plan in unattended mode (license by flow run) – $3 per user/per month
You can also get the AI Builder for $500 per unit/month. To find out more details, check out the Power Automate pricing page.
6 – ZigiOps
ZigiOps is a no-code integration solution that automates workflows, supports advanced mappings, and synchronizes data from multiple sources. It also provides customizable templates for simplifying integration processes.
With ZigiOps, you get access to 300+ app integrations for DevOps, Cloud, and monitoring systems. Some notable ones include AppDynamics, Azure DevOps, Cherwell, and DataDog.
Regarding security, ZigiOps has every angle covered with protocols like 128-bit TLS 1.3 and TLS 1.2, as well as SFTP and FTPS. The IPaaS solution also has ISO 27001 and FIPS 140-2 certifications.
Pricing
ZigiOps is available at a fixed yearly price. You can get the ZigiOps Regular or ZigiOps Basic plans for your business. To find out more, book a pricing meeting with their sales team.
7 – Jitterbit
Jitterbit is a data integration platform that enables businesses to simplify workflow optimization with the help of a single automated integration tool. Since acquiring Zudy and PrimeApps, Jitterbit now supports low-code integration as well.
Jitterbit connects with Adobe, Acumatica, Zoho, Amazon AWS, Square, Workday, and other platforms and services. You can also customize your integrations with the help of plug-ins and client certificates.
In addition, Jitterbit is compliant with SOC1 Type I & II, SOC2 Type I & II, GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. Other security protocols and features include:
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection
SSL/TLS encryption (HTTPS)
Access controls
FIPS 140-2 encryption
Password encryption
Two-factor authentication
Pricing
You can get Jitterbit for a Standard (3 connections), Professional (3 connections), or Enterprise (8+ connections) subscription.
8 – Unito
Unito is a bi-directional integration tool that allows real-time data synchronization between apps, workflow management platforms, and cloud services. You can use Unito’s pre-built field mapping rules to decide what to sync.
Unito is SOC 2 certified, and the infrastructure is hosted in AWS data centers in the US. It is also compliant with PCI DSS, OWASP, and CSA. Since Unito relies on AWS, it uses tools like Cloudwatch and GuardDuty to protect user data. Also, data at rest is secured, thanks to 256–bit AES encryption.
With Unito’s no-code interface, you can sync user data, file data, contacts, workflow status, and work items. It gathers this data from popular apps and tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, Zendesk, Excel, Monday.com, Airtable, and Notion.
Pricing
Unito offers users a 14-day free trial, after which you need to pick a plan with prices starting at $10 per month for 100 items in sync.
9 – Exalate
Exalate is an integration solution that allows users to bidirectionally sync work items, issues, cases, and other forms of data. Exalate covers the entire spectrum, from no-code to script-based integration.
Here are different Exalate modes:
Basic Mode – the no-code version that allows users to sync data between two work management systems.
Visual Mode – the low-code version that allows users to map fields and establish basic sync rules without going too hard on the code.
Script Mode – the script-based version for advanced scripting. This mode is also powered by AI, enabling you to implement deep integrations using just human prompts. Just type in your sync requirements and AI will generate the script based on your input, existing configuration, and Exalate’s scripting API.
Exalate connects with Jira (cloud and on-premise), GitHub, ServiceNow, Zendesk, Salesforce, HP ALM, and Azure DevOps.
Pricing
Exalate has a free plan that gives you up to 1000 new monthly issue pairs. The cost of the Premium plan varies, depending on the platform you are working with. You can get the entire pricing breakdown here.
10 – Skyvia
Skyvia is a cloud-based data integration platform that helps businesses collect, manage, and back up data from multiple sources. Some supported data sources include Mailchimp, Spotify, G Suite, Oracle, MySQL, Dropbox, and Snowflake.
Businesses can use Skyvia to import, export, replicate, and synchronize data internally and externally.
Pricing
Skyvia has a comprehensive pricing list depending on the service you want.
Backup Pricing:
Free
Standard – $9 per month ($7 billed yearly)
Professional – $99 per month ($79 billed yearly)
Enterprise – $499 per month ($399 billed yearly)
Data Integration Pricing:
Free
Basic – $19 per month ($15 billed yearly)
Standard – $99 per month ($79 billed yearly)
Professional – $499 per month ($399 billed yearly)
Query Pricing:
Free
Standard – $19 per month ($15 billed yearly)
Connect Pricing:
Free
Basic – $19 per month ($15 billed yearly)
Standard – $49 per month ($39 billed yearly)
Professional – $99 per month ($79 billed yearly)
Conclusion
No-code integration makes it easy to sync data from multiple sources without writing a single line of code. Thanks to automated, no-code integration tools, users can now improve their efficiency while gaining more control over the data they share or receive.
And with the infusion of AI in no-code IPaaS solutions like Exalate, Power Automate, and Zapier, integrations will continue to blend seamlessly with automation for better results and improved customer satisfaction.
Exalate is an integration solution that helps businesses integrate with multiple MSPs and MSSPs. This solution allows you to share data bi-directionally using custom scripts and event-specific triggers.
Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a startup called “Happy Co.”. The team at Happy Co. used Jira for project management and GitHub for software development. But they had a problem.
They were finding it difficult to keep everything in sync. They were constantly copying and pasting information between the 2 platforms and were losing valuable time and productivity.
That’s when they discovered Exalate and Unito app, 2 integration tools, and asked themselves which one is right for them.
In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive and discuss Unito app vs. Exalate, comparing their features, pricing, user experience, etc. It’ll help you make an informed decision. Whether you’re a small startup like Happy Co. or a large enterprise, we’ve got you covered.
So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and read on to find which integration solution is actually the best fit for your company!
Get Familiar with the Unito App and Exalate
Before we compare these tools, let’s see what they were built for.
Unito
Unito is a no-code two-way workflow automation platform that enables teams to stay in sync with the tools they already use. So, a work item in one application is synced with another item in a different application.
For instance, a task in Asana becomes a ticket in Zendesk, with the relevant details passed between both tools via an automated, real-time sync.
Exalate
Exalate allows you to connect your tools and manage your work by setting up a customizable bi-directional sync. So, an issue in Jira can be triggered to Azure DevOps as a work item with any or all the information reflected and synced in real-time within each application.
It comes with a no-code builder but also allows you to enhance your sync with the help of scripts.
Features are what make these tools unique and appealing to a broader audience. So let’s get started by comparing their key features.
Unito App vs. Exalate: Compare the Key Features
Getting a better understanding of the features both the Unito app and Exalate offer is an important milestone for companies like Happy Co. to choose the right one.
Scripts or Flows
Exalate provides Groovy-based scripts that are used to fine-tune the sync behavior to a granular level between 2 instances of a platform, like Jira, ServiceNow, Zendesk, etc.
These scripts allow users to add custom logic as well as define how data is mapped, transformed, and synchronized between the instances.
Exalate also provides advanced features that use the power of AI and machine learning to increase the efficiency and accuracy of custom configurations. The AI Assist chatbot allows users to generate various forms of Groovy code snippets and mappings for complex use cases.
Overall, Exalate scripts provide a powerful way for users to customize and automate their synchronization behavior and tailor it to their specific needs.
In Unito, flows are the fundamental building blocks used to synchronize data between different work management systems like Trello, Asana, Jira, GitHub, etc. A flow is a set of rules that dictate how data is transferred between 2 or more systems. They define which data is synced, how often it is synced, and how it is mapped between the different systems.
Flows are a powerful way for users in Unito to automate the workflows and save time by avoiding manual copy-pasting of information.
Integration Breadth or Depth
When considering integration solutions, it is often the case that users are stuck between the breadth or the depth the tools offer.
Breadth, in a way, is an easy decision since it’s all black and white. If a particular application is not supported, you must go with the other option.
Integrations Supported
As such, Exalate supports the following platforms:
Unito supports 50 integrations. A few of them are:
Airtable
Asana
Azure DevOps
Basecamp
Bitbucket
ClickUp
GitHub and GitLab
Google Calendar, Sheets, and Contacts
Wrike
HubSpot
Jira and Jira Service Management
Miro
Salesforce
Zendesk
Trello
…
Note: You can also submit a request for an integration with Unito.
The depth of an integration refers to the extent to which 2 or more software systems are interconnected and can exchange data and functionality seamlessly.
Exalate scripts help achieve deeper integration between multiple instances. These scripts allow you to control every detail of your synchronization. You have the freedom to adjust and tweak your sync behavior to meet your specific business requirements.
Exalate allows you to:
Set up triggers for automatic synchronization at a granular level. These triggers use the native platform query languages you set them up for.
In the Unito app, flows are capable of handling a variety of use cases but are limited to what has been implemented through its UI. It can affect your synchronization mapping requirements because you can only use the defaults.
With Unito:
You can’t sync some fields bi-directionally.
Attachment sync depends on the plan you fall under. They are either streamed live within the respective application or are provided as a link.
Triggers are limited to what is offered within the interface.
Connecting or reconnecting existing entities in bulk isn’t supported.
There is a limit on advanced mappings, for instance, for statuses and entity types.
Ease-of-Use or Just Right
Exalate provides a script editor that allows users to create, write, and test their scripts directly within the Exalate application. Sure, people with technical backgrounds can work seamlessly with scripts, but with practice, even non-technical individuals can get around them. If not, Exalate provides a no-code builder to implement simple synchronization use cases.
It provides 3 modes to make it “just right” for all kinds of users: the Basic mode, the Visual mode, and the Script mode.
Unito app, a no-code solution, makes setting up the Unito flows through a single drag-and-drop interface easy. It is simple and fast to set up and get started with. It has an intuitive interface that guides you through the synchronization process.
It also provides a range of pre-built templates and customization options. That makes it easy to set up the desired mapping between fields or triggers without the need to write any code.
Decentralized or Centralized Integration
Exalate enables decentralized integration between different applications. So it doesn’t rely on a central authority or a single point of control to set up and maintain the integration.
It helps each integrating system or application retain control over its own data, synchronization rules, and functions. This approach allows for greater flexibility, scalability, and resilience, as systems are loosely coupled and operate independently without disrupting the integration setup.
Unito, on the other hand, provides a centralized interface that helps set up flows to decide the rules for your synchronization and triggers to automate the workflow. Every time there is a change in the sync rules or information flow conditions, a change in the central interface is required. It creates a dependency on the centralized application resulting in a single point of failure.
Decentralized platforms like Exalate and centralized ones like Unito both offer unique ways to connect and synchronize data between applications. While Exalate allows admins on both sides to adjust sync rules independently, Unito restricts this ability to only the user who created the flow.
Integrated Retry Mechanism or Manual Intervention
Exalate offers an integrated retry mechanism that helps ensure data synchronization between different systems is successful. These apply even when there are temporary interruptions or errors in the network.
It achieves this with incoming and outgoing sync queues that help restore the sync and apply changes from the point of interruption without any human intervention.
There are many potential reasons why a synchronization might fail, and therefore the whole process is asynchronous, using queues to go through every step of a sync transaction.
For Unito, this is not true since you need a manual page refresh or to clear the cache in case of common transient sync errors or downtimes.
Synchronization or Automation
Synchronization or automation has always been a debatable issue.
And there is no simple answer to this. It all depends on what you want to achieve by integrating your platforms.
Let’s review this in the context of Unito App and Exalate.
Flow-based integration solutions, like Unito, are optimally set up for automation. They can be used for simple, one-off tasks such as triggering an action in one system based on an event in another system.
Synchronization is designed with a different purpose. It requires a more customizable and robust approach that involves mapping and transforming data with different data types and structures at the architectural level.
Exalate’s scripting engine handles such complexities with scalable and distributed architecture.
Additionally, flow-based solutions may not be able to handle large volumes of data, typically involved in a synchronization process.
So if automation is what you are looking for, Unito is the obvious choice. For ongoing bi-directional synchronization tasks, Exalate should be your top pick.
There are other considerations while exploring integration solutions. We’ll discuss them in the upcoming sections.
Explore the Security of the 2 Apps
Security is a critical aspect of integration solutions. Without proper security measures, systems can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks and other security threats.
Data Residency, Security, and Privacy
Exalate ensures security in the following ways:
It uses 2 hosting providers: Google Cloud-based in Belgium and rsync.net in Zurich.
It uses JWT-based tokens to sign every message between the instances.
Data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
It uses encrypted (HTTPS) traffic between the Exalate node and the instance with properly defined certificates.
It relies on a single-tenant architecture such that each Exalate instance and its corresponding environment supports only one application. So process space, file system, and network are not shared between applications.
Distributed integration (peer-to-peer connectivity) to increase security and reduce coupling and dependencies.
It has a dedicated security team that conducts regular vulnerability checks and penetration tests. Any security breach is promptly escalated to all stakeholders.
It logs every data exchange for audit purposes.
It is also a participant in the Bug Bounty program.
It uses OAuth2 or token-based authentication mechanisms wherever applicable.
Unito is SOC2 Type 2 certified. It complies with PCI DSS requirements.
Exalate is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant.
In the upcoming section, we’ll be diving into the exciting world of use cases these integration solutions support.
Unito and Exalate: Discover the Use Cases
From improving customer experience to simplifying backend operations, these tools have a variety of industries they can cater to.
Exalate Use Cases
Exalate essentially supports custom-made integrations of any nature because of its scripting capabilities.
However, we’ll outline the use cases under the following categories.
Intra-company and Cross-company
Exalate provides a no-code drag-and-drop interface (Basic or Visual mode) that is perfect for implementing integrations across multiple teams or departments within a single company (intra-company).
But its real strength lies in the ability to handle integrations across a network of companies (cross-company) via the Script mode that supports decentralized integration. Since security is paramount for multiple companies connected via integration, the decentralized control it offers helps alleviate any security concerns.
Some Common Use Cases
Escalation: When a team wants to raise a bug, blocker, issue, or request with the responsible team without manual follow-ups. These teams can reside within a single company or be with a different company.
For instance:
The support team using Zendesk wants to escalate tickets to the development team using Jira without following up via Slack or emails. The development team can either be within the same company or it can be an outsourced service provider residing in a completely different company.
Customer success executives usually have useful insights into customer needs and issues. So these teams can raise customer issues to be taken up by the product team and prioritized in the product roadmap.
Every so often employees need to raise requests for new software, apply for leave or other HR-related issues, or simply have creative requests. The requests must be escalated automatically to the required department without any manual follow-ups.
Project Collaboration: When teams aim to collaborate on shared projects to promote transparency and streamline processes.
For instance:
Orchestrating workflows by connecting the project management working in Jira, the dev team working in GitHub, and the customer support team working in ServiceNow.
Order procurement process: Where order receipts are generated automatically in one system, like ServiceNow, to be reflected with the correct financial and inventory requirements for the operations team working in Jira.
Supply chain management process: Aligning multiple service vendors or suppliers using disparate applications through automatic, real-time information exchange. Doing so will help businesses meet their timelines, streamline the supply-distribution chain, and not lose profit.
Information Consolidation: When teams want to consolidate information within multiple platforms for better visibility for the top management and efficient decision-making.
For instance, developers often use open-source software applications like GitHub. However, clear visibility of the pull requests, issue statuses, and blockers to the project management team will enable them to reprioritize the backlog or align issues for releases or sprints.
There is also a need for business-critical information residing within different systems to be consolidated and visible to the right stakeholders in a merger and acquisition (M&A) setup.
Service Management: When teams want to excel in service delivery and customer experience. In turn, achieving faster resolution of incidents or tickets by orchestrating service management workflows end-to-end.
Service integration and management is an urgent need for today’s businesses. Services exist to be delivered in a variety of different domains like manufacturing, retail, healthcare, finance, etc.
Such multiple service providers, if integrated in the correct manner, can help streamline collaboration and reduce manual errors. For instance, handling customer incidents raised in SaaS applications in a timely manner according to the stipulated SLA must involve an automated integration process.
Unito App Use Cases
We will decode Unito use cases in the same manner as Exalate in this section.
Connecting Development and Other Teams: Software developers often use Jira due to its agile methodology for tracking issues. The development team needs to communicate Jira updates to external stakeholders or other teams.
Creating a Single Source of Truth: Consolidating information from multiple tools into a single view.
For instance, fetching tasks from three Asana projects into a single Trello board. All essential information is captured between the tools and kept in sync.
Seamless Collaboration: Allowing different departments to collaborate seamlessly with one another. For instance, coordinating a new feature release with the dev team working in Jira, the marketing team working in Trello, and the project managers having an overview in Asana.
One-Way or Two-Way Automation: Automating processes, status updates, and other fields across multiple instances helps overcome manual copy-pasting between systems. It also reduces human error and increases team productivity.
Now that we have discussed a few important use cases for Exalate and Unito, the team at Happy Co. wants to know whether the integration tools can align with their budget and requirements.
Let’s dig into the pricing and licensing and help them out.
Unito vs. Exalate: Pricing and Licensing
Unito’s pricing plans are based on how many items you want to sync and the desired feature sets, like the number of active flows.
There are 3 plans Unito offers:
Team plan: If you consider 1000 items under sync, the cost will be $106/ month.
Company plan: If you consider 6000 items under sync, the cost will be $674/ month.
Enterprise plan: It’s a custom plan for which you must contact the Unito team.
The time taken by Unito to detect what changes to apply to synced items depends on your plan:
Personal Plan: takes 15 mins.
Team plan: takes 5 mins.
Company and Enterprise plans: live sync.
Unito offers a 14-day free trial with 500 items to sync.
Exalate has a 30-day free trial with its full functionality at your disposal. So you get unlimited two-way or one-way syncs, custom mappings, and all 3 modes (wherever applicable) with the free trial.
Note: Since Exalate has a distributed architecture, you must buy licenses for both the platforms you want to connect.
Exalate has a Free plan that supports the Basic mode and has out-of-the-box, pre-made configurations for simple synchronization scenarios. You can sync up to 1000 new entities per month.
The Premium plan can be purchased after the free trial and it is fully customizable, including all the feature sets.
Exalate pricing depends on the platform you want to set up the integration for.
The final consideration is to see how Happy Co. will fare once they have purchased the solution.
How will the support, the documentation, and the community help them with their integration endeavor?
Ask for Support, Documentation, and Community
Unito app has an easy-to-set-up, no-code flow builder and quick onboarding.
The product’s customer support depends on the plan, with email and in-app chat available for all plans.
For Company plans, they have a 60-minute onboarding process. Other support features like a dedicated CSM, custom invoicing, and SLAs are only available to Enterprise plans.
Unito documentation is pretty straightforward, simple, easy to follow, and stable. However, they don’t have dedicated community support.
Exalate offers 2 support options.
Standard support assists with installation issues, troubleshooting, and workarounds for sync issues. Premier support offers higher SLAs, a dedicated support engineer, configuration assistance, and much more.
You can also purchase cloud enhancements for any of your Exalate nodes on top of the premier support. It offers three-fold infrastructure on Exalate cloud, proactive monitoring, and alerting, enhanced resource profiles, etc.
Exalate documentation is elaborate and extensive, with numerous script examples to help you get started.
In addition to this, it also has a strong community presence to answer any questions (even configuration ones) you may have.
Final Thoughts
Happy Co. and you have been on an interesting journey knowing what these tools bring to the table.
Here’s an overview of what we have gathered so far.
Conclusion
And there you have it! We’ve taken a deep dive into the world of integration tools and compared the features, pricing, security, etc of 2 popular solutions: Unito app vs. Exalate.
From startups like Happy Co. to large enterprises, choosing the right integration solution helps streamline workflows and team collaborations.
We hope this comparison has given you valuable insights and helped you make an informed decision. So what are you waiting for? Start integrating now.
This article is based on an interview between Mariia Onyshchenko, the Product Marketing Manager at Exalate and Jorden Van Bogaert, the Atlassian Service Delivery Manager at Brainsquare.
Jorden Van Bogaert is the Atlassian Service Delivery Manager at Brainsquare — an Exalate Partner that designs, develops, and manages complex, critical application landscapes. During our meeting, Jorden shared his thoughts about using integrations and why Exalate is an excellent integration solution.
I started our discussion by asking Jorden why companies choose one particular integration from the sea of available options.
“Teams working in different systems need to align their efforts to bring everyone together into one system.”
Jorden Van Bogaertm Atlassian Service Delivery Manager at Brainsquare
Jorden further elaborated that normally, the requirement is to have one system as the single source of truth, even though teams work on different systems, so all information syncs to a central place where they report.
I then asked him about the main hurdle with choosing a central system, to which he responded with an example. Suppose a partner is trying to convince one team to move from one system (Jira, for example) to a new one (ServiceNow) or vice versa. They need to address the question: “Can we optimize it so we can just work in Jira, and they can do their stuff in ServiceNow?”
In such scenarios, a tool like Exalate can break this impasse by making sure both teams stay on their respective systems but still share data smoothly.
This led us down the path of using REST APIs for integrations. I learned that customers usually encounter issues when building something independently. In Jorden’s opinion:
“They [customers] need to make it work bidirectionally, and with REST API, you can only push things. You also need to get things. But the problem with this option is that it will cost you a lot more even though it is feasible. You are basically rebuilding Exalate.”
While discussing customer experience, I found out that customers often inquire about the usability of Exalate—and their main concern usually revolves around scripting. Some customers don’t want anything to do with code, while others want access to advanced configuration and scripts.
“I needed the possibility to do advanced configuration, [but] the other tools I have tried were either too limited or way too expensive,”
added Jorden to buttress the point.
Still on the issue of advanced configuration and scripting, I was amazed to find out that devs enjoy using Exalate because it allows them to translate one programming language to another. And since most use cases, even the ones that customers consider basic, often end up requiring additional configuration, a tool like Exalate covers most of the custom coding.
“You can script everything. Well, I’m a big fan of scripting. I really like it because it supports almost any use cases.”
Said Jorden, in regards to Exalate’s flexibility being another key selling point for customers.
Taking a breather from all the coding talk, I shifted his attention to the Exalate UI and visual field mapping. Jorden explained to me that these features made it possible for users to know what to map when customizing the script for specific use cases.
“To make it easy, you need to sacrifice a lot. You can make everything clickable in UI, but that means that you’re going to make a product that defines the use cases for you. And I think people want challenges as well.”
We then drifted back to the technical side, discussing Exalate’s distributed architecture.
“That [Exalate’s distributed architecture] is one of the selling points we use, especially when it comes to linking two partner companies–they want to make sure that the other partner does not need access to their environment.”
Unsurprisingly, I learned that companies are particular about Exalate sending their data to partners unless given permission to do so. Essentially, the entities syncing data can independently control what goes over and what comes in.
I followed up with the question about how customers’ appreciation of how the Exalate console gatekeeps the data for all sides involved in the sync. In Jorden’s view, this feature helps maintain transparency by ensuring that both sides of the sync approve any changes to the script.
“If they change something on one side, Exalate will throw an error. It sounds bad that it breaks, but it doesn’t break. It stops until you fix it,” he emphasized.
When I finally broached the pricing subject, Jorden conveyed that prospects react neutrally to Exalate’s pricing. So every time they send a quote, there weren’t really questions. He thinks it was an expected price for what we said we could do with it. He also emphasized on Exalate not being in the high-end price range compared to other premium solutions.
Then I asked if customers were skeptical about involving Exalate partners whenever they needed integration solutions.
“It seems like [Exalate] is not self-explanatory. It is not. Because it is as complex as your use case”, Jorden added, underlining that Exalate could take a lot of time and tweaking to figure out. Alternatively, a partner could get customers started without breaking a sweat.
And with that, we landed on the usefulness of partners. Jorden also buttressed their importance by discussing how to set up triggers and translate the use case to code based on the outlined sync rules.
“The partnership is very useful in terms of understanding how the integration behaves and helping the users with their experience. For instances, understanding why Jira suddenly has a different status than ServiceNow.”
All in all, my conversation with Jorden showed me the importance of partners as intermediaries between Exalate and customers.
Jorden said that sometimes customers might think that something is not synced properly and then they might try to prove that its configuration is very difficult because it seems like Exalate didn’t handle it properly.
Well, that is where partners excel; they help understand what the customers want, which helps in mapping the required fields. And most importantly, the admins of both instances retain control over their spaces.
We’ve got some groovy news for you – Exalate has officially set sail as an independent company!
This marks a significant milestone for us as we chart our own course towards new heights of innovation and growth.
We’re going all-in on our mission to supercharge teamwork, collaboration, and productivity across teams and company borders.
With our distributed architecture and built-in scripting engine, Exalate is already the most powerful integration solution on the market. But we’re not stopping there.
Now that we’re stepping out as an independent company, we’re taking things up a notch.
We’ve secured significant funding that will help us elevate our product development, expand our reach and presence in key markets, and continue escalating our team of talented professionals.
In line with our vision to create a worldwide network of connected companies, we’ll also enhance our offerings for companies that want to build a larger ecosystem of connected partners, suppliers, and customers.
To fully embrace our exciting new chapter, we have gone through a complete revamp of our visual identity, including a new logo, colors, imagery, and typography. Our new branding reflects and unites our potential and values, setting the stage for what’s coming next.
Our friends at iDalko are going strong too. They will be continuing their journey in partnership with Avisi. You can learn more about their combined vision here.
This is an exciting new chapter for everyone involved!
If you’re already an Exalate customer, this won’t affect you in the slightest. The only change you’ll notice is the company name and email domain, from iDalko to Exalate.
Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of teamwork and productivity worldwide!
