Blog
Integration
Feb 3, 2025
·
5
minutes read

Root Causes of Integration Backlogs

Integration backlogs slow down IT projects, increase costs, and delay customer deployments. Here's why they happen and how to fix them:

  • Main Causes:
    • Resource Constraints: IT teams are stretched thin.
    • Technical Debt: Quick fixes lead to higher maintenance costs.
    • Lack of Standardization: Inefficient processes and inconsistent results.
  • Solutions:
    • Low-Code Platforms like Laminar reduce integration time from weeks to hours.
    • Process Standardization minimizes technical debt and speeds up workflows.
    • Effective Resource Management shifts tasks away from core engineering teams.
Integration Approach Resource Needs Technical Debt Time to Implement Maintenance Burden
Custom Code High High Weeks to Months High
iPaaS Moderate Moderate Days to Weeks Moderate
Laminar Platform Low Minimal Hours to Days Low

Low-code tools like Laminar simplify integrations, reduce bottlenecks, and prevent future backlogs. Addressing technical debt, managing resources better, and streamlining processes are key to avoiding delays and improving IT efficiency.

1. Laminar Platform

Laminar

The Laminar low-code platform tackles common challenges like resource limitations, technical debt, and lack of standardization, offering a streamlined way to manage integration backlogs. It achieves this by shifting integration tasks away from the core codebase.

Traditional integration methods often lead to scattered code and maintenance headaches. Laminar changes the game by focusing on better resource use, clear code separation, and improved processes:

Aspect Traditional Method Laminar's Solution Impact on Backlog
Resource Use Engineers stuck with custom coding Solutions teams work independently Fewer bottlenecks
Code Management Integration code mixed with core code Separate integration codebase Reduced technical debt
Process Speed Takes weeks of engineering time Completed in hours Faster deployments

By standardizing workflows and avoiding rushed, patchwork solutions, Laminar minimizes technical debt. Here's how it works:

  • Visual tools simplify workflow creation.
  • Reusable patterns make integrations quicker and easier.
  • Independent deployment ensures updates don't disrupt the core system.

This structure empowers solutions teams to meet any customer requirement without overloading the engineering team. It also accelerates customer deployments while keeping integration work separate from main development efforts.

Laminar's low-code approach not only speeds up integrations but also prevents future backlogs, offering a clear improvement over traditional methods.

2. Standard Integration Methods

Managing integration backlogs is a challenge that standard methods like custom code and iPaaS solutions try to tackle. However, these approaches often struggle due to limitations such as resource constraints, technical debt, and inconsistent processes.

Custom code allows for flexibility but demands significant resources. It often leads to scattered codebases and a lack of consistent practices, which can slow down integration work and put extra pressure on teams. Technical debt and the need for "glue code" only add to the problem [1][3].

Integration Method Resource Demand Maintenance Burden Standardization Level
Custom Code High Complex Low
Traditional iPaaS Medium Moderate Medium
Embedded iPaaS Low Minimal High

Even with modern iPaaS solutions, the need for glue code can stretch engineering teams thin [2]. According to Digibee's 2023 report, tackling integration backlogs effectively requires focusing on three main areas:

  • Resource Planning: Engineering teams need time set aside for both creating new integrations and addressing technical debt [3].
  • Process Standardization: Allocating development cycles to manage technical debt can reduce backlogs and improve outcomes [2].
  • Technology Selection: The right integration method plays a critical role in reducing and managing backlogs.

While these standard methods can address some integration challenges, a closer look highlights both their shortcomings and areas where improvements are needed.

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Method Comparison

Analyzing key performance metrics reveals how different integration methods handle challenges and their overall effectiveness.

Integration Approach Resource Requirements Technical Debt Impact Time to Implementation Maintenance Burden
Custom Code Development High engineering hours, specialized expertise Grows quickly Weeks to months Complex, ongoing
Traditional iPaaS Moderate engineering effort, platform expertise Moderate accumulation Days to weeks Regular platform updates
Laminar Platform Minimal engineering resources Minimal accumulation Hours to days Standardized, reduced

The resource demands of these approaches vary widely. The 2023 State of Enterprise Integration Report highlighted that over 50% of IT backlog projects require integration support [1]. Custom coding often pulls developers away from core tasks due to the heavy resource investment it demands. On the other hand, low-code platforms significantly cut down on resource needs without compromising integration quality.

Technical debt also plays a critical role. Custom code tends to build up technical debt quickly, leading to a growing maintenance burden over time [3]. Each new integration adds to this load, making long-term upkeep increasingly challenging. Standardized platforms tackle this issue by streamlining integration processes and minimizing the reliance on custom code.

Implementation time is another differentiator. Custom-coded solutions often take weeks or even months to deploy, while standardized platforms like Laminar can reduce this to just hours or days. Unlike traditional methods, these platforms maintain consistent implementation times, even as the number of integrations grows [2].

Maintenance is a major concern for custom-coded integrations, as they require continuous attention from engineering teams. In contrast, standardized platforms simplify upkeep with automated workflows and consistent processes. This shift allows developers to focus on strategic priorities rather than routine maintenance tasks.

The difference in efficiency is stark: what once took weeks can now be completed in hours. Platforms like Laminar show how streamlined processes not only speed up delivery but also lighten the load on engineering teams, keeping projects on track and reducing stress.

Conclusion

Examining integration backlogs highlights the need for tackling their underlying issues through better resource management, addressing technical debt, and streamlining processes. Companies that focus on these areas often experience noticeable gains in integration efficiency. These three focus points are key to overcoming integration hurdles and clearing persistent backlogs.

  • Addressing Technical Debt: Development teams should assess the cost of technical debt and prioritize addressing it during development cycles. This approach helps avoid delays in development and keeps maintenance costs under control [3].
  • Effective Resource Management: Using tools like embedded iPaaS solutions can greatly improve developer productivity. These tools can turn integration tasks that used to take weeks into jobs completed in just a few hours [2].
  • Streamlining Processes: Simplified integration workflows cut down on repetitive tasks and reduce maintenance burdens. This allows solutions teams to operate more independently while ensuring consistent quality across all integrations.

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