In the third post of our MuleSoft Connect series, we take a closer look at some of the tools and releases MuleSoft plans to launch to generate real efficiencies while freeing resources so customers can innovate faster. We expect these new tools to materially help organisations save on the bottom line, reduce ecosystem complexity and power faster innovation.
Connectors
Connectors are out-of-the-box reusable extensions to Mule runtime engine that enable integration of Mule applications with third-party APIs, databases and standard integration protocols. Connectors express the technical details of third-party products as configurable attributes and properties. Currently there are over 250 Connectors available at Anypoint Exchange, including Coforges ’ Azure Storage Connector for Mule 4.
MuleSoft announced plans to introduce over 50 new Connectors during 2021 including Connectors for Google Apps and the Google Cloud platform while also continuing to focus on primary ecosystems like SAP, Salesforce, Oracle and AWS.
Nowadays, organisations have data stored in a variety of systems and applications. According to MuleSoft’s 2020 Connectivity benchmark report the average enterprise has data in over 900 different applications. While only about 28% of these applications are integrated, the average connected experience requires data from about 35 systems.
MuleSoft Connectors manifest in real time the long-time unrealized promise of modern IT: genuine re-use. Rules and means for connecting to specific systems tend to be the same from one connected system to the next. If you are getting data out of SAP or Oracle – you get the same data out of the same tables that follow the same rules – if you are putting data into SAP or Oracle – you are also putting the same data into the same tables with the same rules – and either way: putting data in or taking data out – the connection protocols are the same.
With Anypoint Platform and out-of-the-box Connectors MuleSoft provides organisations with the platform and tools necessary to maximise code reuse, efficiently remove data siloes and integrate faster, freeing up resources for innovation.
MuleSoft Accelerators
Many industries have a common set of use cases or best practices. MuleSoft Accelerators package best practices as bundles of API examples, templates, lightning web components, connectivity and architectural best practices. In addition, MuleSoft includes common services with its Accelerators like logging, notifications and scheduling which enables teams to jumpstart development and implement critical system integrations up to three times faster.
Last year MuleSoft released new Accelerators for Service Cloud, Commerce Cloud, healthcare, and retail use cases. The SAP Accelerator is live with use cases that include unlocking critical ERP data objects and orchestrating data flows between Salesforce, SAP ECC and S4 HANA.
Anypoint DataGraph
For some, when we hear “DataGraph” it may be tempting to think of Anypoint Datagraph as a new UI component of an Anypoint Platform dashboard – perhaps this is a new platform monitoring tool from MuleSoft? Not so! Anypoint DataGraph is so, much, more.
The first key to prepare yourself for what’s on offer from DataGraph is to think of the word “graph” as a verb – not a noun.
Anypoint DataGraph is not a “graph” (noun) for Dashboard data monitoring – that’s looking at it all wrong. Instead Anypoint DataGraph enables MuleSoft developers to use schemas to graph (verb) like data together from separate APIs in order to reuse existing processes and combine separate processes to get the most out of single endpoints.
Anypoint DataGraph is the most innovative recent offering from MuleSoft. Using DataGraph companies will be able to achieve reuse potential with ordinary process and experience REST APIs on levels comparable to the reuse potential Connectors unlocked for system APIs!
Looking to save money and increase efficiency in your organisation? Look into Anypoint DataGraph!
Historically we have used REST APIs to extract data and typically these APIs are consumed one at a time. This inevitably results in developers spending time writing multiple requests, parsing through API responses and repeating this process for each API.
With Anypoint DataGraph, MuleSoft punctures through this problem by empowering developers to use multiple APIs with a single request. Anypoint Datagraph composes combined responses to requests instantly using data elements sourced from multiple APIs.
Using a framework called a schema based on ubiquitous data constructs such as primary keys and foreign keys, Anypoint DataGraph makes it possible for architects to compose a single data service by a) unifying data across various APIs into b) one endpoint; without any additional code. Developers may then use this data service to consume many APIs with a single request. With Anypoint DataGraph there is no need to write low-value code to parse through APIs one at a time, let alone write whole new APIs.
Endpoints created with Anypoint DataGraph run as a SaaS applications that require no maintenance or patching – so there will be less code and less maintenance. Anypoint DataGraph is currently in beta and general availability launch is expected in the coming weeks.
MuleSoft Composer for Salesforce
MuleSoft Composer for Salesforce aims to be the fastest, easiest, most efficient way for organisations to connect applications to Salesforce. It achieves this by unlocking a complete view to Salesforce data integration for Salesforce and MuleSoft customers whether they have a specialist IT team or not.
With MuleSoft Composer business teams have the ability to control and manage their own integrations. While IT controls the scope and authorizations for Composer integrations, the tool exposes integration development to non-technical business users so business teams are free to innovate faster in a secure and scalable way.
MuleSoft Composer comes out of the box with Connectors to common cloud applications so business users can streamline sales operations. For example, Salesforce administrators may build automation workflows between NetSuite and Salesforce to streamline order-to-cash activities and boost efficiency across sales operations.
With Composer teams can visualise sales data using the Tableau Connector and collaborate by connecting data from systems like Sales Cloud to platforms like Slack and Google Sheets.
Key Takeaways
Organisations are gathering more data than ever before and it’s becoming increasingly important to integrate data from numerous, disparate sources including cloud platforms, on-premise applications and legacy systems. Excellent integration is a competitive strength and can give a competitive edge among other things by creating a more complete view of customers, delivering connected experiences and driving personalisation.
MuleSoft leads the way in making integration easier and more efficient with these new tools and innovations:
- Connectors : With Connectors, organisations may realise the promise of modern information technology and finally dispense forever with endlessly "reinventing the wheel” by creating connections and protocols for existing applications; Connectors unlock value by providing off-the-shelf integrations and protocols delivered ready-to-configure and re-use
- Accelerators : Accelerators provide blueprints to best practices so organisations can do things the right way, the best, the first time they try.
- Anypoint DataGraph : DataGraph makes it possible to create data services that consume multiple APIs, combining data from multiple sources, all at once without multiple requests – using one endpoint. This will save developers and operations teams time, reduce the volume and complexity of your API ecosystem and generate efficiency that will translate into resource savings.
- MuleSoft Composer for Salesforce : Composer provides organisations with a configuration engine for building Salesforce integrations without code so business users can build the integrations they need and bypass the IT lifecycle.
To catch other insights from the MuleSoft Connect Conference check out our previous posts here and here.
If you would like to find out more about how you can take advantage of MuleSoft's new tools and releases, give us a call or email us at Salesforce@coforge.com.
Other useful links:
MuleSoft services
API Strategy – Why does it matter
Mule 4 Migration Accelerator
