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Integration
Feb 3, 2025
·
6
minutes read

Reducing Engineering Workload for Bespoke Integrations

Want to cut integration development time by 90%? Low-code platforms can help you create custom integrations in hours instead of weeks - freeing up engineering teams to focus on core product development. Here’s why they work:

  • Faster Development: Build integrations 10x faster using visual tools and pre-built components.
  • Lower Expertise Needed: Solutions teams can handle tasks without relying on senior developers.
  • Reduced Maintenance: Standardized components minimize upkeep and simplify updates.
  • Scalable Solutions: Easily adapt integrations without overloading engineering resources.

Quick Comparison:

Aspect Manual Integration Low-Code Platforms
Development Time Weeks to months Hours to days
Expertise Required High (Senior developers) Moderate (Solutions teams)
Maintenance Effort High (Custom code base) Low (Standardized components)
Scalability Limited by engineering capacity Independent of core teams

Low-code platforms like Laminar are transforming how integrations are built, empowering teams to handle custom requirements efficiently. Ready to learn how? Let’s dive in.

The low down on Low Code vs. No Code integration

Low-Code Platforms: Reducing Integration Work

Low-code platforms have changed the way businesses tackle custom integration development. These tools use visual interfaces and pre-built components to cut down on manual coding. By streamlining integration processes while allowing for customization, teams can create reusable solutions and eliminate repetitive work. Forrester's research shows that these platforms can speed up software development by as much as 10 times compared to traditional coding methods [2].

Here's how low-code platforms stack up against manual integration approaches:

Aspect Manual Integration Low-Code Platform
Development Time Weeks to months Hours to days
Technical Expertise Required High (Senior developers) Moderate (Solutions teams)
Maintenance Overhead High (Custom code base) Low (Standardized components)
Scalability Limited by engineering resources Independent of core engineering

According to a survey by Appian, 80% of IT developers say low-code platforms free up their time for more complex projects [2]. This means engineering teams can focus on building core products, while solutions teams take on integration tasks without relying heavily on engineering support.

A great example of this shift is Laminar, which simplifies integration work by moving it outside the core codebase. This allows solutions teams to manage custom requirements independently. Brian Steinbach, Chief Architect at Elastic Path, highlights the flexibility of this approach:

"More straightforward integrations can be created using pre-existing components exclusively within the low-code visual editor. More complex integrations can be built by writing code and publishing custom components before wiring together in the visual editor." [3]

With tasks that once took weeks now completed in hours, low-code platforms reduce maintenance burdens and make managing custom integrations more efficient. This not only eases the workload for engineering teams but also speeds up customer onboarding and improves scalability in real-world use cases.

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Results from Customer Implementation

Companies using low-code integration platforms have seen a clear reduction in engineering workload. Let’s look at two examples where deployment speed and resource management improved significantly.

Mid-Size SaaS Company: Faster Customer Onboarding

A mid-size SaaS company revamped its integration process by adopting a low-code platform. This eliminated the need for manual updates and cut developer maintenance work from 60% to 20%. Compliance updates, which once took days, now take just hours. This shift has allowed developers to dedicate more time to building new features.

Here’s how their metrics changed:

Metric Before Low-Code After Low-Code
Integration Updates Manual across multiple consoles Centralized single-point updates
Developer Focus 60% maintenance, 40% new features 20% maintenance, 80% new features
Compliance Updates Days to implement Hours to implement

Enterprise Software: Scaling Integration Delivery

An enterprise software provider improved integration delivery by creating reusable components for configurations. This approach reduced operational overhead, made scaling easier, and sped up client solutions. Developers could then focus on solving more complex problems.

Key benefits included:

  • Lower operational overhead
  • Easier scalability for integrations
  • Faster response to client needs

"Low-code allows developers to focus on new challenges instead of being tied to legacy tasks."

"Low-code platforms enable faster client solutions by reducing developer involvement in repetitive configuration tasks."

Implementation Guide for Low-Code Integration

How to Choose a Low-Code Platform

Picking the right low-code platform is all about ensuring it fits your integration needs. Here's a quick breakdown of what to look for and how to evaluate:

Evaluation Criteria What to Check
Scalability Test with your expected transaction volumes and data loads
Security Features Review compliance certifications and security measures
Integration Capabilities Check the connector library and options for custom development
Cost Structure Calculate the total cost, including usage and maintenance
Support & Training Look into the quality of documentation and response times for support

Choosing a platform that checks these boxes can simplify integration tasks and reduce the need for heavy engineering involvement. Once you've made your choice, it's time to prepare your team to use it effectively.

Training Teams for Integration Development

To empower non-technical teams to handle integrations, structured training is a must. Here's how to approach it:

  • Build Skills Gradually
    Start with basic concepts and progress to more advanced scenarios. Include hands-on exercises that mimic real-world challenges, regular assessments to track learning, and training tailored to specific roles.
  • Leverage Mentorship
    Pair experienced developers with team members who are new to integration development. This one-on-one guidance can shorten the learning curve significantly - by as much as 40% - and encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing.

While training sets the foundation, maintaining integration quality over time requires a solid maintenance plan.

Quality Control and Maintenance

To ensure your integrations run smoothly long-term, follow these best practices:

Version Tracking and Testing

  • Keep a clear record of all updates with proper documentation.
  • Use automated and regular testing to catch issues early.
  • Monitor performance continuously and make necessary adjustments.
  • Separate development and production environments to avoid disruptions.

Good documentation is crucial - it should include system diagrams, update logs, testing procedures, and troubleshooting steps. These steps will help maintain high integration standards while supporting future updates.

Conclusion

Key Takeaways

Low-code platforms have changed how organizations manage custom integrations. They drastically cut down the engineering workload while maintaining high standards. Research indicates that these platforms can speed up software development by up to 10 times compared to older methods, with nearly 80% of IT developers saying low-code allows them to focus on more complex projects [2].

These platforms streamline development, reducing timelines from weeks to mere hours. They empower solutions teams to work independently, lower maintenance efforts by isolating integration code, and support growth without requiring additional engineers. This shift has made custom integrations faster and more resource-efficient, enabling quicker customer deployments and better use of organizational resources.

AI’s Role in Low-Code Integration

The addition of AI to low-code platforms takes efficiency to the next level. Accenture's research reveals that 97% of executives consider AI foundation models crucial to their strategies within the next 3-5 years [1]. Platforms like Laminar are already showcasing this evolution, using AI to speed up integration design and tackle more intricate challenges.

"Low-code enables rapid, cost-effective experimentation for new business models."

As low-code and AI-driven tools become more widespread, engineering teams will increasingly focus on innovation and strategic goals. Gartner forecasts that by 2026, low-code will dominate new application development, highlighting its expanding role in the tech landscape.

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