Software AG Announces its Top Six 2017 Predictions for Application Integration

RESTON, Va.--()--Software AG today released its top six predictions for Application Integration in 2017. According to David Overos, director of product marketing for integration at Software AG: “Integration is no longer your IT department’s problem; it is everyone’s problem. With the IoT, APIs, blockchain and chatbots thrown into the mix, everyone needs to integrate with everything. And this is leading to companies who are partnering with integration vendors to ensure their success as they adopt these, and other disrupting technologies, in the future.”

#1. Specialists Not Required
Integration is becoming a pervasive problem across businesses, and that means integration tools will need to accommodate multiple user types along with traditional developers. Therefore, integration vendors will need to provide tooling for ad hoc and non-technical developers as well as specialists, including graphical, low code solutions.

#2. Microservices Mature
Cutting edge development teams experimented with microservices last year, but in 2017, mainstream organizations will take microservices architectures into production with real projects. To support these initiatives, integration vendors will go to market with microservices using important supporting technologies such as containers (Docker, Kubernetes, etc.).

#3. IoT Integration Everywhere
The IoT is abuzz this year with talk of smarter Things, plus the increased use of edge computing for analytics. So, as more companies move into real IoT implementations, the role of integration as the broker of “Thing” data will become fully realized. Data is only valuable if it gets delivered.

#4. Integrating Integration with APIs
A flurry of recent acquisitions of major API management vendors, such as Tibco’s purchase of Mashery and Rogue Wave Software’s Akana buy, showed the world that APIs are part of a bigger market—integration. Companies now view API Management as an extension of integration - because that’s where they are developing their APIs. This is a clear indication that the IT community recognize the value of APIs for application integration, and this trend will continue to gain importance in 2017.

#5. Rise of the Chatbots
Artificial Intelligence is everywhere these days, especially with the rise of chatbots and virtual assistants. But even the smartest chatbot can only provide intelligent responses if it has the right data to work with. We will see an increase in the need for bots to have timely data such as customer, product and service data to improve the virtual experience of customers.

#6. Blockchain Integration
The financial sector is seeing an increase in the use of blockchain technology for fast and secure payments. And industry after industry is getting in line behind the banks to adopt blockchain as a way to track secure ledgers of transactions, from healthcare to manufacturing. Integration will be the key that ties these new initiatives into your business, adding new channels for secure and fast business.

Overos noted: “Now that data accessibility is more manageable through these integrated lightweight protocols, containers and robust APIs, it’s becoming increasingly crucial to turn the growing mountain of data from disparate sources and formats into consumable information and actionable insights. IT departments need to find a new way forward to support the enterprise infrastructure and maximize the potential benefits of having improved access to data.”

About Software AG

Founded in 1969, Software AG (Frankfurt TecDAX: SOW) enables more than 2 million developers and 2 million users across 70 countries to digitally transform and modernize their businesses. With Software AG’s Digital Business Platform, innovative companies can interact with their customers and bring them on new ‘digital’ journeys, promote unique value propositions, and create diverse and exciting new business opportunities. Trusted by thousands of organizations, including 70% of the Fortune 1000, Software AG is consistently ranked a leader in key product categories by independent market research firms. To learn more, visit www.softwareag.com

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Contacts

Software AG
John Stewart, +1 978 289 3185
Twitter: @johncorpcomms
John.Stewart@softwareag.com
or
LEWIS for Software AG
Maya Calabrese, +1 202 507 4713
SoftwareAGUS@teamlewis.com
or
Software AG
Baerbel Strothmann, +49 (0) 6151 92-1502
Senior Manager Corporate Communications
baerbel.strothmann@softwareag.com
or
Software AG
Byung-Hun Park, +49(0) 6151 92 2070
Head of Global Corporate Communications
byung-hun.park@softwareag.com

Contacts

Software AG
John Stewart, +1 978 289 3185
Twitter: @johncorpcomms
John.Stewart@softwareag.com
or
LEWIS for Software AG
Maya Calabrese, +1 202 507 4713
SoftwareAGUS@teamlewis.com
or
Software AG
Baerbel Strothmann, +49 (0) 6151 92-1502
Senior Manager Corporate Communications
baerbel.strothmann@softwareag.com
or
Software AG
Byung-Hun Park, +49(0) 6151 92 2070
Head of Global Corporate Communications
byung-hun.park@softwareag.com