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Organizations today operate with multiple specialized systems that need to work in harmony. Sales teams use CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot. Finance departments rely on ERPs such as NetSuite. Engineering teams build and maintain internal databases. Customer service uses ticketing systems like Zendesk.
When these systems don't communicate effectively, workflows break down:
Data integration platforms solve these challenges by connecting systems and ensuring information flows seamlessly between them. The right platform transforms disjointed processes into streamlined workflows, reducing manual effort and accelerating operations.
Modern integration platforms offer several critical capabilities that enable workflow transformation:
Traditional batch integration processes data on schedules—hourly, daily, or weekly. Modern platforms provide real-time capabilities that update information across systems within seconds or even milliseconds.
Real-time synchronization transforms workflows by:
While many integration tools focus on one-way data movement, bidirectional capabilities ensure that changes in any system propagate to all others. True bidirectional sync maintains data consistency regardless of where updates originate.
This bidirectional flow transforms workflows by:
Modern integration platforms reduce or eliminate coding requirements through visual interfaces and pre-built components. This accessibility extends integration capabilities beyond specialized developers.
No-code approaches transform workflows by:
Enterprise workflows require reliable data movement. Advanced integration platforms provide sophisticated error handling, monitoring, and recovery capabilities.
Robust error handling transforms workflows by:
Let's examine the leading integration platforms and how they address these key capabilities:
Core Focus: Real-time, bidirectional synchronization between CRMs, ERPs, databases, and SaaS applications
Key Strengths:
Pricing Model: Tiered based on records in sync
Best For: Mid-market companies (200-1000+ employees) with lean technical teams needing reliable, real-time synchronization between core operational systems
Customer Example: Acertus Delivers, a vehicle logistics company, used Stacksync to integrate Salesforce, Postgres, Zendesk, NetSuite, and Snowflake, achieving annual savings exceeding $30,000 while handling 3M+ shipment records with 99.99% sync reliability.
Core Focus: General-purpose integration platform with strong workflow automation capabilities
Key Strengths:
Pricing Model: Platform plus usage-based pricing (by "tasks")
Best For: Organizations requiring complex workflow automation across many different systems
Workflow Focus: Workato excels at multi-step business process automation spanning multiple systems, though achieving true real-time bidirectional sync typically requires building and maintaining separate flows for each direction.
Core Focus: Enterprise-grade API management and integration platform
Key Strengths:
Pricing Model: Enterprise pricing with complex licensing models
Best For: Large enterprises with complex integration needs and dedicated development teams
Workflow Focus: MuleSoft transforms workflows through its API-led connectivity approach, though implementations typically require specialized developers and longer development cycles.
Core Focus: iPaaS platform with pre-built integration apps, particularly strong in NetSuite integration
Key Strengths:
Pricing Model: Mid-range pricing, typically more affordable than enterprise solutions
Best For: Mid-market companies needing NetSuite integration with moderate technical resources
Workflow Focus: Celigo excels at streamlining quote-to-cash, order-to-cash, and procure-to-pay workflows, especially for NetSuite environments.
Core Focus: Synchronization between Salesforce and Postgres databases on the Heroku platform
Key Strengths:
Pricing Model: Contract-based pricing tied to Salesforce licenses ($2,500-$3,000/month for standard implementations)
Best For: Salesforce customers already committed to Heroku for application hosting
Workflow Focus: Heroku Connect specifically transforms workflows connecting Salesforce with custom applications built on Heroku, though it lacks broader system integration capabilities.
Core Focus: ELT (Extract, Load, Transform) for analytics data pipelines
Key Strengths:
Pricing Model: Usage-based pricing by Monthly Active Rows (MAR)
Best For: Organizations building data warehouses for analytics purposes rather than operational synchronization
Workflow Focus: Fivetran transforms analytics workflows by automating data movement into warehouses, though it's primarily one-way (into the warehouse) rather than bidirectional.
Different integration platforms excel at different types of workflow transformation. Consider these factors when evaluating options:
If your workflows depend on consistent, up-to-date information across systems, prioritize platforms with true real-time bidirectional capabilities like Stacksync. When a customer updates their information in one system, it should immediately reflect everywhere else.
Echo, an interactive e-commerce solutions provider working with Walmart, solved this challenge with Stacksync: "Instead of struggling with the HubSpot [API]... we can focus on our core technology. This is money well spent."
For simple data movement, most platforms will suffice. For complex, multi-step business processes spanning numerous systems, workflow-oriented platforms like Workato offer advantages.
Complete7, an IoT device management company, needed both data synchronization and workflow automation. They achieved 50% faster IoT data updates and 40% decreased manual intervention by implementing a comprehensive integration strategy.
Consider your available technical resources when selecting a platform:
LHT Terminals selected Stacksync partly for its low-code/no-code capabilities, allowing their team to focus on business value rather than integration maintenance.
Evaluate the breadth of your integration requirements:
Acertus combined Stacksync for real-time operational synchronization with other tools for specialized needs, creating a comprehensive integration strategy.
Regardless of which platform you select, these best practices help ensure successful workflow transformation:
Before implementing any integration, thoroughly document your current workflows, identifying:
This mapping provides the foundation for effective integration design.
Not all workflows deliver equal value when transformed. Prioritize integrations that:
Starting with high-impact workflows demonstrates value quickly and builds momentum.
Rather than attempting to transform everything at once:
This phased approach reduces risk and improves outcomes.
Successful integration requires clear responsibilities:
Without clear ownership, integration initiatives often stall or degrade over time.
Integration is not a one-time project but an ongoing capability:
Continuous improvement ensures sustained transformation value.
Modern data integration platforms fundamentally transform business workflows by eliminating silos, automating manual processes, and ensuring consistent information across systems. The right platform, whether Stacksync's real-time bidirectional synchronization, Workato's workflow automation, or another solution aligned with your specific needs—can deliver significant operational improvements.
Organizations that successfully implement these platforms report tangible benefits:
For mid-market and enterprise organizations seeking to modernize operations, modern integration platforms represent a high-impact investment with rapid returns. By connecting your critical systems with the right integration approach, you create workflows that are faster, more reliable, and better aligned with your business objectives.
To explore how your organization can transform workflows through real-time bidirectional data synchronization, schedule a demonstration with our solutions team today.
