Report:

A: This research evaluates 15 integration-platform-as-a-service (iPaaS) providers based on 24 criteria grouped into three categories: current offering (including integration scenarios supported, capabilities to ease integration development, management functions, and deployment/operational characteristics), strategy (vision, innovation, roadmap, partner ecosystem, adoption, and pricing flexibility), and market presence (revenue and number of customers). The evaluation helps identify how each provider measures up in enabling modern application architectures, supporting automation strategies, and democratizing integration.

A: This research should be used by application development professionals and IT leaders who are evaluating iPaaS providers to select the right solution for their integration needs. It is particularly relevant for organizations looking to enable modern application architectures, support automation strategies, democratize integration across IT and citizen integrators, orchestrate between distributed SaaS applications, implement API-led architectures, and extend the ROI of legacy systems through integration.

A: To be included in this Forrester Wave evaluation, vendors must offer: (1) A standalone iPaaS product that is independently sold and marketed; (2) At least $50 million in annual iPaaS revenue from the past four quarters; (3) Global reach with revenue in at least three regions, including two regions each producing at least 15% of revenue; (4) IT usability suitable for developers building complex production integrations; and (5) Demonstrated relevance to Forrester clients through user shortlisting, competitor mentions, and service integrator investment.

A:

• iPaaS offered only as part of a broader platform without standalone availability
• Annual iPaaS revenue below $50 million threshold
• Insufficient global presence (fewer than three regions or inadequate regional revenue distribution)
• Products designed primarily for non-technical users without sufficient capabilities for IT developers building complex integrations
• Low relevance to Forrester clients based on limited user interest, competitive mentions, or service integrator partnerships
• Vendors that declined to participate in the evaluation process
• Vendors that only partially participated in the evaluation process

A:

• Define integration's role in your architecture strategy and choose a vendor that aligns to that architecture, including product bundles for other needed categories
• Determine requirements for an automation fabric by identifying required data sources, integration options, process automation needs, and alignment with process optimization
• Evaluate needs for citizen integration versus technical integration and consider buying different iPaaS products for different personas
• For fusion teams, look for iPaaS that facilitates collaboration between IT and citizen integrators
• Pay attention to vendor roadmaps for generative AI plans to improve democratization
• Consider vendor positions (Leaders, Strong Performers, Contenders, Challengers) but adapt evaluation criteria to your specific needs
• Evaluate ease of use, testing and debugging tools, connector libraries, and operational characteristics
• Assess pricing models for alignment with value delivered and cost predictability
• Consider hosting region requirements and self-hosting options
• Evaluate support for specific integration styles needed (APIs, B2B/EDI, data integration, asynchronous messaging)

A:

• SaaS sprawl and function-first buying require integration to orchestrate between distributed vendor applications
• API-led architectures require integration to orchestrate technical services into business domain services and support multiple consumer channels
• Growing demand for automation includes iPaaS in automation fabric toolboxes
• Integration breathes new life into legacy systems of record, enabling them to participate in cloud-native and real-time architectures
• 77% of business technology decision-makers say the primary focus of process optimization is to accelerate digital transformation (43%) or improve customer experiences (34%)
• Movement toward democratized integration for citizen integrators and federated LOB IT teams
• Emergence of generative AI to improve integration development and user experience

A: Current Offering (vertical axis) evaluates the strength of vendors' existing products based on integration scenarios supported, development capabilities, management functions, and deployment/operational characteristics. Strategy (horizontal axis) evaluates the strength of vendors' future direction based on vision, innovation, roadmap, partner ecosystem, customer adoption, and pricing models. Market Presence (marker size) reflects revenue and customer count.