{"id":20472,"date":"2022-08-12T12:05:32","date_gmt":"2022-08-12T17:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/"},"modified":"2023-03-09T15:04:03","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T21:04:03","slug":"four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/","title":{"rendered":"The Four Types of Integration for Software Delivery: Pros and Cons\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure>\n<div class=\"feature-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.planview.com\/tasktop_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/istock-1188511715-1-850x550.jpg\" alt=\"The Four Types of Integration for Software Delivery: Pros and Cons&nbsp;\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you\u2019re looking to improve efficiency in your software delivery organization, a good first step is to integrate your toolchain and automate workflows.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The software delivery life cycle is complex and involves many specialists who each require specialized tools. Integration allows information to flow seamlessly from tool to tool, knitting your software delivery toolchain into a single connected <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.tasktop.com.mcas.ms%2Fwhat-is-a-product-value-stream.html%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">value stream<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Integration also lets you aggregate data across departments, creating visibility for leaders who need to see the big picture of how IT and software delivery are performing to support business goals. In this article, we\u2019ll take you through pros and cons of the four types of app integrations used in the software development life cycle.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/#A_good_integration_strategy_drives_flow\" >A good integration strategy drives flow&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/#What_is_application_integration\" >What is application integration?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/#The_pros_and_cons_of_app_integration_methods\" >The pros and cons of app integration methods&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/#1_The_Do-It-Yourself_method_using_open_APIs\" >1. The Do-It-Yourself method using open APIs&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/#2_Plugins\" >2. Plugins<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/#3_Point-to-point_integration_tools\" >3. Point-to-point integration tools&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/#4_Model-based_integration_tools\" >4. Model-based integration tools&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/#Questions_to_ask_when_looking_for_an_integration_tool\" >Questions to ask when looking for an integration tool&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/#Next_steps_for_building_your_integration_strategy\" >Next steps for building your integration strategy&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_good_integration_strategy_drives_flow\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">A good integration strategy drives flow<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The rise of product-based IT has led to a new approach to software delivery, where customer value is at the heart. In product-based IT, each product has its own value stream, powered by best-of-breed tools and <\/span><a href=\"\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.tasktop.com.mcas.ms%2Fsymbiosis-the-flow-framework-meets-team-topologies%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">cross-functional groups<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The goal of product-based IT is fast flow. Organizations want customer requests to be received, funded, and delivered as efficiently as possible. But it\u2019s not as easy as simply rearranging your teams.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dr. Mik Kersten, bestselling author of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fprojecttoproduct.org.mcas.ms%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">Project to Product<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">states that \u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">disconnected software value streams are the number-one bottleneck to software productivity at scale.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d In order to achieve fast flow, you need a robust, integrated toolchain.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Integrating tools and automating data transfer removes all the major impediments to flow, including:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"16\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1080,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Time wasted on duplicate data entry in multiple Agile and DevOps tools&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"16\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1080,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Human error as a result of manual status updates and handovers<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"16\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1080,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Overhead associated with manual traceability for compliance<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"16\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:1080,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Constant importation and exportation of data to suppliers, clients, and contractors<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With a connected value stream, every practitioner can work efficiently in their tool of choice, leading to a happier, more efficient workplace.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Integrating your toolchain is a big investment, so it\u2019s important to find a solution that will work long-term. Learning about the different types of application integrations will enable you to ask the right questions and make an informed decision.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_application_integration\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is application integration?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:40}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Application integration, also referred to as integration, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">is the flow of information between two or\u202fmore tools. Common integration patterns include:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"20\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:780,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Bidirectional integrations between software delivery applications like Jira and ServiceNow<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"20\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:780,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One-way event-triggered integrations from DevOps tools like GitHub to Jira<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"20\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:780,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Integrations from many tools into a central database like MySQL<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"20\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:780,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Integrations between internal and external systems belonging to clients or suppliers<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The number of options for software integrations can be overwhelming, so it\u2019s a good idea to have a strategy in place that identifies what type of software integration you actually need&nbsp; before you start sifting through individual solutions. Otherwise, you risk getting bogged down in the mire of competing options.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The most important aspect to consider when creating your integration strategy is the method of integration. Whether you build it yourself or buy it off-the-shelf, there are four main methods that every application integration falls into:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><em>Do-It-Yourself (DIY) integrations using open APIs&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><em>Plugins&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><em>Point-to-point integration tools&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"%1.\" data-font=\"\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><em>Model-based integration tools&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h1 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_pros_and_cons_of_app_integration_methods\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">The pros and cons of app integration methods&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:40}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_The_Do-It-Yourself_method_using_open_APIs\"><\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">1. The Do-It-Yourself method using open APIs<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:40}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are API integrations?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ftray.io.mcas.ms%2Fblog%2Fwhat-is-an-api-integration-for-non-technical-people%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">API integrations<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> are connections between two or more applications that let those systems exchange data.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">An <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redhat.com.mcas.ms%2Fen%2Ftopics%2Fapi%2Fwhat-are-application-programming-interfaces%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">API<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, short for application programming interface, is a set of definitions and protocols for building and integrating application software. It\u2019s a layer of programming that sits between the client and the application, routing and validating requests to services or information.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Think of an API like a telephone operator. You can call and make a request, and the operator responds to your request by connecting you to the right person. Similarly, you can program an application to request data from another application via an API. For example, apps like Expedia use APIs to gather information about flights from the websites of various airlines, which then gets displayed in Expedia\u2019s UI.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Should you build your own integrations using APIs?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Most applications have public APIs, also called open APIs, which tell your developers how to speak to the tool. If you choose to build integrations yourself without the help of a dedicated integration tool, it\u2019s up to your developers to determine which data is exchanged and how it will be interpreted. Developers build connectors, which establish a pattern of communication between two systems via their APIs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Large-scale organizations often severely underestimate the complexity of DIY solutions, how long it takes to execute, and how difficult it is to evolve alongside business needs. <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.tasktop.com.mcas.ms%2FWhich-Integration-Solution-Is-Right-For-You.html%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">largest US healthcare providers<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> opted to build their own system of integrations and soon realized they bit off more than they could chew. It went beyond the original timeline, taking three years to complete, and carried an astronomical opportunity cost of over $50 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Even for smaller businesses, do-it-yourself integrations are costly. According to Tray.io, the average <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ftray.io.mcas.ms%2Fblog%2Fwhat-is-an-api-integration-for-non-technical-people%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">cost of building a single API<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> integration can exceed $10,000, and requires a good deal of technical expertise.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And that number doesn\u2019t even include the cost of maintenance. As apps evolve and security requirements change, so do their APIs. If you use homegrown integrations, developers need to stay on top of these changes by updating connectors. The more integrations you have, the less manageable it is to maintain them.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Another consideration is that it takes a certain expertise, as well as some trial and error, to know how to sync data without disrupting the participating applications. Too many queries to an application can overload it and jeopardize its operational stability.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The bottom line: Building and maintaining custom-built integrations is usually more expensive and time-consuming than what you thought.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pros and cons of DIY integrations using open APIs<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<table data-tablestyle=\"MsoTableGrid\" data-tablelook=\"1184\" aria-rowcount=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"1\">\n<td data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pros<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cons<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"2\">\n<td data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Low upfront cost<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You\u2019re in full control<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Constant maintenance<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Not scalable<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Limited ability to meet nuanced use-cases<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Frequent outages due to new versions, API changes and infrastructure changes<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gradual roll-out, delayed benefits<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Takes developers away from higher value work<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"7\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Difficult to modify or add a tool to the integration<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"8\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">High risk of overloading applications&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Plugins\"><\/span><em><b>2. Plugins <\/b><\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What are plugins?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Plugins are pieces of software that you can install to expand the functionality of your existing applications. Some plugins facilitate data-transfer between specific tools. For example, there is a Jira plugin that allows updates to flow from Jira into Slack.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Are plugin integrations effective?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Plugins are good for specific, limited use cases, but it generally isn\u2019t a good practice to adopt this as your main integration strategy. For one thing, users have to become familiar with various rules and methods for each different plugin. This adds to their cognitive load and can lead to confusion. For another, the use cases of plugins are relatively inflexible, so your developers would have to resort to custom-coded integrations to meet more nuanced use cases.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">An additional challenge when using plugins to integrate is traceability. Without a central integration hub, it\u2019s incredibly onerous to try and trace requirements to code or tests for security and auditing purposes, which is a requirement in regulated industries.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The bottom line: Plugins are suitable for very simple, straight-forward use cases but do not support complex business process or edge cases very well.&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The pros and cons of using plugins to integrate your tools<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<table data-tablestyle=\"MsoTableGrid\" data-tablelook=\"1184\" aria-rowcount=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"1\">\n<td data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pros<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cons<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"2\">\n<td data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"8\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Low upfront cost<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"8\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Many options exist<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"8\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Easy to set up<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Limited, inflexible use cases<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Not scalable<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Difficult to manage traceability<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Can\u2019t access settings all in one place<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Heterogeneous methods and rules of plugins lead to confusion<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Point-to-point_integration_tools\"><\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">3. Point-to-point integration tools<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:40}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What does point-to-point mean?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Point-to-point integration tools are off-the-shelf solutions that provide a central application where you can manage integrations between two endpoints. Some tools provide pre-built connectors while others simply make it easier to build and organize your own integrations via public APIs.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tools that use point-to-point integration follow the same pattern as building your own DIY integrations. The only point of difference is that they have a graphical user interface. This UI helps you configure integrations and troubleshoot more easily.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Since these tools are purpose-built for integrations, they are generally good at collecting and syncing data without disrupting the functioning of your applications.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Each integration is like a bridge between two applications. If you want to connect to an additional application, you must build a bridge leading to each of the others. As you add more integrations, the number of necessary bridges grows exponentially.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><img class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"\" height=\"675\" data-src=\"https:\/\/media.planview.com\/tasktop_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tasktop-integrations_connectors-a.png\"><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The point-to-point method is also known as direct integration, star integration, or spaghetti integration. Looking at the diagram above, you can see where the term \u201cstar integration\u201d comes from. The term \u201cspaghetti integration\u201d refers to the high degree of complexity within the system.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Are point-to-point integrations efficient?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the domain of software delivery integration, point-to-point integration solutions require mapping <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">each project in a source tool to the corresponding project in the destination tool. This is repetitive<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, error-prone manual work that quickly gets out of hand when you cross the 10-project threshold.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Maintenance costs for point-to-point integrations add up quickly. Taking into account setup and any subsequent changes to fields, values, and workflows over time, it would take 150 hours to maintain 15 project integrations for a year.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Vendors label their application integration tools in a variety of ways. Examples include iPaaS tools, ESB (enterprise service bus) tools, workflow orchestrators, middleware, and more. There are subtle differences between these types of integration tools but, overall, they all provide the same functionality. Generally considered \u201clow-code,\u201d some require more custom-coding than others.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The pros and cons of using a point-to-point integration tool<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<table data-tablestyle=\"MsoTableGrid\" data-tablelook=\"1184\" aria-rowcount=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"1\">\n<td data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pros<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cons<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"2\">\n<td data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Centralized control center<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Graphical user interface<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Efficient data retrieval<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some technical expertise required to set up integrations<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Overhead of point-to-point mapping for initial setup and every subsequent change<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lack of reuse<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"9\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Slow to scale<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Model-based_integration_tools\"><\/span><em>4. Model-based integration tools&nbsp;<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What is a model-based integration?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Model-based integration is the most advanced evolution of application integration software. It\u2019s the only way to efficiently synchronize enterprise-sized volumes of sophisticated data while<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">maintaining the data\u2019s integrity and supporting cross-tool reporting.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Unlike point-to-point integration, model-based integration is based on the principles of reuse at scale.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A <\/span><a href=\"\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.tasktop.com.mcas.ms%2Fmodel-based-integration%2Ftasktop-infographic-model-based-integration-digital%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">model<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is an intermediary, like a universal translator, that sits at the center of all integrations and normalizes the data. It makes integrations scalable, because you only need to configure it once. During set-up, you define which fields will flow between applications, and this integration is automatically applied to all participating projects and artifacts, including any that are newly created.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Model-based integration requires 90% less maintenance compared to point-to-point integrations.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Prebuilt models are available for popular artifact types, which auto-suggest how data from each tool will be interpreted and represented in connected tools. For example, a \u201cdefect\u201d model can be reused to flow data between a ServiceNow problem, ZenDesk ticket, GitHub issue, and Jira bug.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As shown in the diagram below, model-based integrations are like spokes on a hub.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s easy to add and modify integration patterns without disrupting other connections.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"\" height=\"279\" data-src=\"https:\/\/media.planview.com\/tasktop_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/tasktop-integrations_connectors-b.png\">Where the point-to-point integration model requires fifteen d<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">ifferent connections, a model-based tool uses only six. This makes it easy for you to adapt your integr<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">ation infrastructure to the changing needs of your business.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.tasktop.com.mcas.ms%2F-Why-Models-Are-The-Only-Way-To-Scale-Software-Delivery-Toolchain-Integration.html%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Download the Tasktop guide on model-based integration<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The pros and cons of model-based integration<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<table data-tablestyle=\"MsoTableGrid\" data-tablelook=\"1184\" aria-rowcount=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"1\">\n<td data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pros<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"0\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cons<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr aria-rowindex=\"2\">\n<td data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"19\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">No-code, easy set-up<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"19\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Low impact on application performance<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"19\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Reusable models make it easy to modify integrations and add applications<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"19\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scalable<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td data-celllook=\"0\">\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"19\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Higher upfront cost<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Example of a model-based integration tool<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Currently, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tasktop.com.mcas.ms%2Fplatform%2Fhub%2F%3FMcasTsid%3D15600&amp;McasCSRF=6096fc22d23ff846b7072e5d8e78b9a51d2af3ab0b0aaece896df65a2a3a067a\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Planview Hub<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> is the only integration platform that uses model-based integration. It comes with prebuilt connectors to over sixty best-of-breed tools that you can configure to meet the specific use cases of your organization.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In addition, it allows you to connect unlimited DevOps tools for event-triggered artifact creation and updates.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With a sophisticated UI and smart-modelling capabilities, it\u2019s possible for a single administrator to set up integrations for a whole enterprise.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/go.tasktop.com\/the-roi-of-integration-webinar-on-demand.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Watch this webinar to learn more about Planview Hub<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Questions_to_ask_when_looking_for_an_integration_tool\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Questions to ask when looking for an integration tool<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:40}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There are a few questions to ask when deciding on which software integration tool is the best for your organization.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Will this tool integrate my Agile and DevOps tooling end-to-end?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Many tools claim to be end-to-end but they only integrate the DevOps cycle. DevOps cycle is just one part of your end-to-end value stream. Before a task reaches developers, it has already passed through planning, funding, and approval.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Look for a tool that integrates every stage of the software development lifecycle, including portfolio planning, application development, release and deploy automation, quality assurance, and service desks.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There is a caveat here: Beware tools that claim to integrate with ALL applications. This likely means that you\u2019ll have to do much of the coding yourself to build connections from a general API.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Is it no-code or low-code?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">No-code is better than low-code, because the set-up<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\" data-contrast=\"auto\">is much faster and easier. Non-technical personas can set up integrations without taking developers away from high-value work.&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1.125rem;\" data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Does the integration use models or is point-to-point mapping between each&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;project pair required?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Model-based integration is necessary if you want to operate at scale. Without models, you\u2019ll have to manually repeat the same configuration for every project pair and repeat every subsequent change in tens of places (highly error-prone).&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h1 aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Next_steps_for_building_your_integration_strategy\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Next steps for building your integration strategy<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559738&quot;:40}\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Think about your own organization\u2019s software delivery value stream. Where does work originate? How many applications does a defect or a story pass through before it finally reaches a customer?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There are so many opportunities to improve communication, reduce waste, and speed up handovers. The right integration strategy will help you realize those opportunities.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With an understanding of the different types of integration, the next step is to determine which type is the best for your organization. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/go.tasktop.com\/the-roi-of-integration-webinar-on-demand.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Watch the webinar<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to learn the must-have capabilities for an integration solution.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re looking to improve efficiency in your software delivery organization, a good first step is to integrate your toolchain and automate workflows.&nbsp;&nbsp; The software delivery life cycle is complex and involves many specialists who each require specialized tools. Integration allows information to flow seamlessly from tool to tool, knitting your software delivery toolchain into&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":243,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[9547,9548,521,478,9544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devops-teams","category-engineering-teams","category-lean-agile","category-products","category-project-to-product-shift"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Four Types of Integration for Software Delivery: Pros and Cons\u00a0 | Tasktop Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Compare the pros and cons of the four types of integrations for your software delivery organization, and learn how to find the best solution.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Four Types of Integration for Software Delivery: Pros and Cons\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Compare the pros and cons of the four types of integrations for your software delivery organization, and learn how to find the best solution.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.planview.com\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Planview Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Planview-Inc\/89422974772\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-08-12T17:05:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-03-09T21:04:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/media.planview.com\/tasktop_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/istock-1188511715-1-850x550.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Natalie Vandenberg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Planview\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Planview\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Natalie Vandenberg\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.planview.com\\\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.planview.com\\\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Natalie Vandenberg\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.planview.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/30b7dedce8a974fd00ab9547db0bb932\"},\"headline\":\"The Four Types of Integration for Software Delivery: Pros and Cons\u00a0\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-08-12T17:05:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-09T21:04:03+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.planview.com\\\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2497,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.planview.com\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.planview.com\\\/four-types-of-integration-for-software-delivery\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/media.planview.com\\\/tasktop_blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/08\\\/istock-1188511715-1-850x550.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"DevOps Teams\",\"Engineering Teams\",\"Enterprise Agile Planning\",\"Products &amp; 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