The rumors leading up to Salesforce’s acquisition of Informatica undoubtedly sparked questions. At SnapLogic, we understand the uncertainty created by moves like this. But fear not, we’ve got you covered.
Why Salesforce wanted to acquire Informatica
Data is the name of the AI game.
In the past year, Salesforce has intensified its emphasis on data and AI with its Agentforce, Data Cloud, and Einstein offerings. Although possessing data assets in MuleSoft and Tableau, the acquisition of Informatica has the potential (at least on paper) to elevate this focus, facilitating improved data synchronization across diverse ecosystems for organizations. Data synchronization is, of course, pivotal for maximizing the potential of enterprise data in AI applications. So the obvious assumption is that Salesforce intends for Informatica to serve as a vital component in completing the “Customer 360” puzzle.
Enterprises, too, have been very clear in communicating their need for a single unified platform. However, the Frankenstein’s architecture that Salesforce is assembling is only unified on the surface. It will actually require significant technical integration work, even if it is sold as a unified whole. In fact, we may see the opposite result, with Informatica bundled into Salesforce deals that are related only tenuously, if at all, to its use cases. We have seen this forcible bundling with other recent Salesforce product announcements, trumpeted as being included in thousands of deals — but without any measured impact.
As Salesforce looks to develop more GenAI solutions, vast amounts of customer data will be needed to power them. While some assume the best approach is to partner with a hyperscaler or one of the many solutions that start by concentrating everything in one place (and cleaning and processing it there to make it fit for use), enterprises need access to all types of data, applications, and APIs, not just what is available in one platform, no matter how wide and deep. Rather than partner with countless data and application companies, leveraging an integration company that already navigates these technologies makes sense.
E siamo d'accordo!
È una buona mossa?
While the deal does make some directional sense on the surface, Informatica is a poor choice for Salesforce. Salesforce data cloud has been a struggle, so this acquisition would seem to complement the earlier Tableau and MuleSoft acquisitions by providing a better grip on customer data. Without strong data integration and management, there’s a real danger of data lake vendors capturing this lucrative opportunity. However, technical and operational issues make this particular acquisition less than ideal for both Salesforce and Informatica.
On the technical side, Informatica is itself already an amalgamation of numerous acquisitions, resulting in a challenging on-premises legacy architecture with disparate code bases and interfaces. Further, Informatica at its core is a relational data integration engine. This means that managing semi-structured and unstructured data, which makes up the majority of customer data and which is critical for generative AI, is not a strength of the Informatica platform. Operationally, Salesforce would need to come up with an architectural focus, rationalize overlapping portfolios, provide guidance to customers about when to use which integration toolset, and cover fundamental technical gaps.
Salesforce’s interest in Informatica validates our long-standing belief that high-performing digital applications and experiences can only be delivered through a combination of data integration and application integration. Generative AI deepens this pattern, as GenAI workloads inherently blend data and application integration. Given the magnitude of integration challenges and roadmap uncertainty, Informatica customers would be wise to start exploring modern, stable, and innovative alternatives like SnapLogic. Especially ones built from the ground up to be a full-service, unified, one-stop shop for integration.
Vantaggi strategici di SnapLogic
Ecco perché SnapLogic si distingue:
Neutrality: Unlike Salesforce, which will prioritize its own products and face increased friction from its competitors, SnapLogic remains independent. We prioritize integrations tailored to your specific needs, regardless of vendor. This flexibility and future-proofing safeguard your data environment.
Unified architecture and user experience: In contrast to the confusing mix of codebases, interfaces, and release cycles resulting from the MuleSoft and Informatica acquisitions, SnapLogic provides a unified cloud-native architecture that combines data and application integration, API management, and GenAI application development in a single platform with a single environment and interface. This translates to easier management, faster implementation, and lower costs.
Seamless migration path: Migrating to the Informatica cloud can be daunting. Many leading enterprises have opted for SnapLogic’s smoother migration process. Our partners like EXL offer free assessments and migration paths to simplify your transition.
Predictable pricing: Informatica’s consumption-based pricing model creates budget uncertainty. SnapLogic’s unlimited data packages provide peace of mind with clear, predictable costs.
Data security: If Salesforce intends to use this acquisition to leverage customer data for training AI models, they may face resistance from customers who don’t want their data to be used in that way.
Built for the AI/GenAI era: SnapLogic was designed from the ground up to handle the rich, semi-structured, and unstructured data required for SaaS applications and GenAI projects, while MuleSoft and Informatica were designed for a bygone era of on-premises and structured data.
- We lead the way in GenAI innovation. SnapGPT, generally available since July 2023, empowers integrations through natural language, while Informatica’s ClaireGPT remains in preview.
- AgentCreator, generally available since January 2024, allows anyone to create powerful LLM-powered applications without coding, a capability not offered by Informatica.
Cosa c'è dopo?
Se queste indiscrezioni sono vere, sarà interessante vedere come le due aziende affronteranno tutto ciò che è stato evidenziato sopra. Ma si tratta solo di voci e l'accordo non è certo.
Ciò che è certo è che l'IA generativa è pronta a trasformare il mercato dell'integrazione tradizionale. McKinsey prevede che il mercato passerà da un TAM (mercato totale indirizzabile) di 100 miliardi di dollari a 1,5 miliardi di dollari, dato che quasi tutte le aziende moderne si trovano ad affrontare una pressione immensa per produrre più output con meno risorse.
Avevamo previsto questa domanda e negli ultimi due anni abbiamo investito molto nelle soluzioni GenAI. Mentre questo settore esplode con nuove possibilità, continueremo a fornire soluzioni GenAI tangibili ai nostri clienti e partner.
