iPaaS Overview

Integration Platforms as a Service (iPaaS) vendors provide platforms for users to manage cloud-based applications. Each platform has a different set of SaaS applications that users can use to create or connect different workflows, ETL services, reporting solutions, etc. They can support integrating existing tools in your tech stack.

Example Use Cases for iPaaS platforms:

• Automating the process to get Facebook ad forms into Act-On as a form submission 
• Importing contacts from a CRM without a native integration to Act-On, such as Zoho 
• Capturing leads in Act-On from 
  • Scheduled sales demos via booking apps such as Calendly
  • Web visitors submitting inquiries from a web chat such as Drift
• Automate lead management process with your sales team 
  • Send SMS notifications for sales owners when new leads submissions are received
  • Create tasks in project management tools like Wrike, Monday.com, Asana, etc.
• Funneling data from Act-On to BI tools for reporting and analytics 
• And many more! 

Getting Started 

The first step in using iPaaS is figuring out what business problem you need to solve. There are different platforms for SaaS integrations in the cloud vs. on-prem, data migration, and ETL and reporting. Depending on what your use case is, one or more platforms may fit your needs. 

When considering a vendor, it is important to consider pricing. Each vendor may have a different pricing model; for example, they could be per integration, per record, a monthly flat fee, or an annual flat fee. 

Some vendors will have integration builders in the UI for marketers to utilize, while others will require more technical expertise to build the integrations. Most iPaaS platforms will be in the cloud, while others require users to download the software.  All of this should be taken into consideration when picking a platform. 

Once you’ve decided on a vendor, the vendor website will be the best place to start building out the integrations you need. 

iPaaS Vendors with Act-On Connections

Several iPaaS vendors have built connections to Act-On. These services can connect various CRMs, ERPs, reporting tools, data warehouses, eCommerce platforms, etc., to Act-On. Below is the list of iPaaS vendors with Act-On connections with the platform’s main use cases. 

If you have any questions about any iPaaS vendors or connections to Act-On, please reach out to the iPaaS vendor directly.

Example for Setting Up iPaaS Connections: Zapier

Use Case

• Zapier is a point-to-point solution where a user can move individual data records between solutions in an “if this, then that” method. 
• An example use case for Zapier and Act-On could be writing new form submissions to a Google Sheet. This could be shared with business partners outside of marketing, such as event planning, product management, or finance. 

User Experience

• First, identify the two solutions they want to pass data between. In this use case, it would be Act-On and Google Sheets.
• Create an Account within Zapier and select Act-On as the trigger and Google Sheet as the action.
• Execute Zapier’s workflow to define the triggering behavior, the accounts a user wants to pull data from, and the associated account that the data should be sent to. 
• Execute any setup in the individual system. For example, creating the Google Sheet and workbook and setting the field structure you want Zapier to write to. 
• Set the Zap to go live, and as form submissions come into Act-On, they will be written to Google Sheets. 
• For common use cases, there may be templates that already exist to streamline the process. The template for Act-On to Google Sheets is here.

Pricing 

• Zapier is a SaaS integration vendor that charges per task and Zap. 
• A user will purchase a certain number of tasks per month which equate to a record exchange. 
• Zaps may be limited or unlimited based on what tier you purchase. A Zap is a combination of a trigger and an action. 

Example for Setting Up iPaaS Connections: SyncApps by Cazoomi

Use Case

• SyncApps by Cazoomi is a marketing tool to automate data flow between sales and marketing software.
• Users have connected Zoho CRM to Act-On. Act-On does not have a native integration with Zoho, so utilizing SyncApps by Cazoomi will provide Zoho CRM users the ability to add Zoho CRM contacts to a marketing list in Act-On, sync lead scores from Act-On to Zoho CRM, Sync Act-On Email Campaign metrics back to Zoho CRM Campaigns, Campaign Response custom field, Custom Modules or even Notes and many more.

User Experience

• Create a SyncApps by Cazoomi account
• Choose Act-On and Zoho CRM 
• Go through the Setup process in the SyncApps by Cazoomi UI. There are six steps which include logging into Zoho CRM and Act-On and selecting what data you’d like to pass between the systems. SyncApps by Cazoomi has a drop-down list of options of what can be enabled through the integration specific to the SaaS solutions selected. 
• SyncApps by Cazoomi has a dashboard for users to manage the integrations 

Pricing 

• Cazoomi is a subscription model with three tiers. Each tier has access to all integrations, but the number of records and sync intervals vary by tier, and support varies by tier.