Being integration experts, we are exposed to a large portfolio of Australian based enterprises who are struggling to deploy their digital transformation and cloud migration projects. Are there common reasons for this struggle, apart from the complexity of integration? Often, integration is the afterthought where it should be front-of-mind. A growing number of our customers are deploying to Microsoft Azure Cloud, so we thought we’d share some of our expertise on how Microsoft’s Logic Apps tools can help speed up digital transformation, smooth out cloud migration and optimise business performance.
Azure Logic Apps is a Microsoft tool and framework that simplifies complex workflows and integrations. Pre-built design templates and connectors easily integrate COTS SaaS and enterprise applications, which leads to a reduction in custom code (although complex and/or multi-cloud environments still require integration expertise, as found with the team at IntegrationWorks).
Below we have documented the technology and business benefits of Azure Logic Apps.
- Deliver integration across web, applications and mobiles through pre-built APIs
Azure Logic Apps connects websites, mobile apps, API’s and business processes into a single solution with a monitorable single pane of glass. Internal teams can make use of pre-built integration workloads via REST and JSON to connect any system using HTTP. This allows for quick deployment and integration of single services – what would once take months to design and build, can now be implemented in a single sprint cycle.
- Create visibility of business process and workflows
Azure Logic Apps provides visual workflows and an easy-to-build interface to orchestrate different business-oriented processes and system integrations. An example of this would be for small business processes such as leave requests or expense management. Logic Apps builds these processes in a logical order using event based triggers to move the workflow on. These help optimise business performance by reducing hours of manual handling and data entry, thus freeing up resources to think, strategize and focus on the future.
- Integrate Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) SaaS applications
Azure Logic Apps have over 100 pre-built connectors for market leading applications such as Salesforce, Office 365, Sharepoint, Twitter, Dropbox and more. This allows internal teams to integrate the basic functionalities of these applications easily. They also work in real time, therefore giving quick access to data. In scenarios where the API connectors are not available, a specialist team (such as IntegrationWorks) will be required to build an API or a series of applications that expose the application via HTTP using Azure Logic Apps or Azure Functions.
- Allow for interoperability between organisations with Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) and B2B workflows
A number of organisations, particularly in the government sector, are looking to connect externally to other departments or organisations in a safe and reliable manner. Azure Logic Apps has built-in B2B features that can decode encrypted inputs received by external enterprise applications, then process it and encode the output back to the originating system. This benefits businesses because it automatically, and in real time, puts required external data into the target system for usage and saves hours of manual handling through manual data transfer.
- Connect to on-premise data using Azure Logic Apps and Azure Service Bus
This use case will usually require the support and expertise of an external integration specialist team – however – it can be done. Azure Logic Apps can retrieve data from different on premises sources including geographically spaced servers, and traditional on-premises applications. It does this through a secure connection to cloud-based services via Azure Service Bus and supports the connection to various Microsoft and non-Microsoft Systems including Oracle, MySQL, ServiceNow, SalesForce and Teradata.
- Improve innovation and increase experimentation for new workflows
Azure Logic Apps builds an environment where processes and systems are decoupled into smaller services bound by APIs. This decoupling can then enable organisations to experiment with different workflows, different connection points and data sources while testing them in a safe and controlled environment. If, in testing, a system does not work then it can be deleted with no impact and minimum time. This makes businesses truly flexible and experimental due to the fluid nature and reduced cost to deliver business process optimisation and innovation.
- Integration via Microsoft M365
Integration is seamless when accessed via the mature subscription services provided by Microsoft Azure. With the wealth of resources, the integration services can build your business in a low-cost manner around you existing O365 subscription
Azure Logic Apps are continually being evolved and updated with new feature-rich benefits that drive business performance. To keep on top of the changes, or to simplify workflows and consolidate to Microsoft platform development, or multi-cloud platform development, our Australian based integration experts can help.
IntegrationWorks is an early adopter and market leader in strategising, architecting and deploying Azure Integration Services (including Logic Apps, Service Bus, Azure Event Grid and Azure Service Bus) across manufacturing, mining, retail, local government, state government, federal government and healthcare organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
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