Integration platform or custom-built integration – which should you choose?
Considering custom development or an integration platform? We guide you to the best solution based on flexibility, costs and scalability.
· 2 min read
Should we build a custom integration – or invest in an integration platform?
The choice may look technical, but it has a big impact on the finances, scalability and flexibility of your business. In this article we go through the pros and cons of both approaches – and when it makes the most sense to choose a platform over custom code.
Custom-built integrations – for the very specific need
Custom development can be the obvious choice if you have:
- A very unique system or process
- A small, manageable integration
- Few changes in the IT landscape
But…
What starts out as a simple solution can quickly turn into technical debt. When you need to change something, you have to change everything. When you need to troubleshoot, you need the developers on board. And when you want to scale – it gets expensive.
Integration platform – flexible and future-proof
An integration platform acts as an intermediary that makes it possible to build and manage integrations in one place.
The benefits include:
- Reuse of integrations across systems
- Central management and monitoring
- Less technical dependency on individuals
- Faster time-to-market for new systems
With an integration platform you can connect a new system to your IT architecture – without recoding everything every time.
What should you choose?
| | Custom development
|
Integration platform
| | — | — | — | |
⏱ Development time
|
Often longer
|
Faster when reusing
| |
💸 Maintenance
|
Requires developers
|
Can be handled by business people
| |
🔄 Scalability
|
Low
|
High
| |
🔍 Overview & monitoring
|
Limited
|
Centralised
| |
🔐 Risk
|
High (key people etc.)
|
Low (platform managed)
|
Conclusion: think long term
Custom-built integrations can be the solution here and now – but they are rarely the best long-term strategy.
If your company is going to grow, change systems or simply wants more flexibility, an integration platform is almost always the most future-proof choice.
👉 Read more about how an integration platform works, and how Connectify can help: