Organizations’ tech stacks are growing like weeds, and it’s leading to the need for more and more integrations. According to research from MuleSoft, the average organization uses 900 different applications and only 28% of those applications are integrated. To make matters worse, more than half (54%) of respondents say they’re frustrated by the challenge of connecting different IT systems and data sources.
Without integrations, your organization’s data sits in silos, causing disconnected experiences for your employees and customers. Separate systems and data can also hold your business back from achieving digital transformation and growth.
One way to solve these integration challenges is with MuleSoft, part of the Salesforce Integration Cloud. This article will explain what Mulesoft is and why it could be the answer to your connectivity woes. Let’s get started.
Background on MuleSoft
MuleSoft provides a platform that helps organizations connect any application, data, and devices across on-premises and cloud computing environments. Founded in 2006 by Ross Mason, Mulesoft was acquired by Salesforce in 2018 and now uses MuleSoft technology as part of its Salesforce Integration Cloud. MuleSoft has over 1,200 customers globally in almost every industry.
Forrester Research found that MuleSoft customers experienced a return on investment (ROI) of 445% within just three years and were able to free up 90% of developer time from maintaining APIs and integrations.
And since you’ve probably been wondering—why a mule? According to the company, the name comes from the drudgery or “donkey work” involved in data integration that the platform was created to escape. Also, because a mule is a cross between a donkey and a horse, the software delivers the strength of a donkey to haul the heavy workload and the speed of a racehorse to get it done quickly. And there you have, MuleSoft.
MuleSoft Features
The MuleSoft platform is called Anypoint Platform, and it includes various tools to develop, manage, and test application programming interfaces (APIs), which support the system connections.
The platform offers different tools and services, including the following components:
API Design Center
This graphical tool allows developers to design APIs, map data, test, and debug in a collaborative interface.
API Manager
This interface allows developers to manage APIs and users, access traffic, monitor service level agreements (SLAs), and troubleshoot.
Anypoint Studio
Java-based design environment that a developer can deploy APIs to on-premises and cloud environments. Studio also includes the ability to map, build, edit, and debug data integrations.
Anypoint Connectors
Includes a set of built-in connectors that a developer can use to integrate applications with other third-party REST and SOAP.
Anypoint Analytics
The analytics tool to track API metrics, such as performance and usage. Developers can use these tools to create custom charts and dashboards to see API performance and identify performance issues.
Anypoint Runtime Manager
Allows developers to connect data from legacy systems, custom apps, and APIs.
Anypoint Exchange
This central hub gives you access to thousands of APIs, templates, connectors, documentation, and other resources.
Anypoint Monitoring
A dashboard that helps the development team monitor application health.
Anypoint Visualizer
A graphical tool to map APIs and their dependencies.
Is MuleSoft Right for Your Organization?
MuleSoft is designed to support even the most complex hybrid integration frameworks. It can also provide these other benefits to organizations:
- Moving legacy systems to the cloud
- Building personalized, connected customer and employee experiences
- Improving operational efficiencies and reducing costs
- Eliminating the frustration of trying to connect data and systems manually
Integrating your environment can be challenging, but you don’t have to go down that road alone. Our senior-level Salesforce consulting team has experience building integration strategies with MuleSoft and other platforms. If you need a partner to help deliver connectivity faster, contact us today.
