14. Go Dutch!
Exploring the local market
Aleksandra’s company has a lot of her software modules acquired from Salesforce. Now she needs to integrate between Salesforce modules and complete other software like her transport system, recipe app, and production planning. Her idea is that like with her furniture from IKEA she would like to go with a local player that gives value for money and is easy to use.
She found out that the Netherlands, her local market, is not the strongest in software. But those who are not strong must be smart. For example, Elastic and GitLab started in the Netherlands, but have always worked internationally, open source and online. And so there are quite a few gems of software companies to be found in the Netherlands.
But what about integration software? In a country where collaboration and open trade are important, integration software is bound to be important too. And of course it is. However, it is the big boys that dominate the market in the Netherlands. Companies like Tibco, Oracle, IBM, Salesforce, Red Hat, Dell and Microsoft. But here again, those who are not strong must be smart.
Go Dutch!
In a country where commerce and money are central, organizations are always looking for more efficient and faster ways to get their applications integrated with each other. Several Dutch software companies have seen opportunities here. And so in the area of system and data integration, several gems can be found.
Many build on proven open source technology, on top of that they build user-friendly interfaces. In doing so, they focus on speed of development and cloud, often packaged as low-code iPaaS (integration Platform as a Service).
It turned out that Aleksandra can find a lot of good software. Like Aleksandra’s not all organizations are aware of this clever Dutch software, which is why I want to draw attention to some important and innovative players. The list is in alphabetical order.
Dutch Integration software
Accelerators
Accelators are adapters between different platforms, such as SAP, Snaplogic and Splunk. An overview of all available adaptors can be found here. The adaptors are maintained by RoJo Consultancy in Breukelen, the Netherlands. The goal is to create out of the box connections between specific technologies.
Website: https://rojoconsultancy.com/accelerators/
Alumio
Alumio is a Groningen-based company that offers an iPaaS platform. The integration layer is built through configurations. Users there can choose connectors from SAP, Dynamics and Magento, among others.
Website: https://www.alumio.com
Assimbly Gateway
Assimbly is an open source integration project of Dutch origin. It develops all kinds of modules and components. Its main project is a message gateway based on the integration framework Apache Camel. It acts as a bridge between different software. It allows to connect all kinds of applications, APIs, brokers and databases.
It works as a standalone tool, but is also made to work in conjunction with other integration software. This open source software was developed by the Caesar Group, Dovetail and it-masters.
Website: https://assimbly.org/
Combidesk
An integration platform from Enschede. The platform was developed in 2014 because there were hardly any out-of-the-box building blocks for Dutch business software and APIs available. Technically, Java runs as the backend and the frontend is Angular.
Meanwhile, Combidesk has integrations for more than 50 apps available in its catalog. The goal is to let users link apps directly without manual intervention. Examples of apps are Afas and Exact. Customers are mainly webshop owners (merchants).
Website: https://combidesk.com
ConnectPlaza
ConnectPlaza originated from Opdion, but has been independent for several years now. The integration platform is built on the Spring Integration Framework.
Through the ConnectPlaza Studio, flows can be created in a simple way. The idea is to eliminate complexity by implementing flows within ‘three clicks’. ConnectPlaza’s slogan is therefore ‘No-Coding — No Consulting’.
Website: https://www.connectplaza.com
Connext
Connext is an integration Platform-as-a-Service offering from Yenlo. It is composed of various WS02 software. Think ESB, API and Identity & Access management.
This company differs from most others, what offers a product on top of a framework. Connext is more of a suite of WS02 software in the cloud. Because it is managed, the emphasis is on stability and scalability (autoscaling) of the environment.
Website: https://www.yenlo.com/solutions/connext
integrationmadeeasy by Dovetail
Dovetail is a company in the south of the Netherlands that offers the cloud platform integrationmadeeasy.com. This is a low-code integration platform based on Apache Camel with React as the frontend. Meanwhile, it has been under development for 15 years. The iPaaS platform is running on Amazon AWS (on premise is also possible).
The goal of the platform is to combine the power of an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) with the convenience of low-code. Dovetail focuses citizen developers (domain and process experts without programming experience), who can master integration just fine through the online training courses and the Dovetail Academy. But also for software developers and integration specialists, Dovetail offers a solid platform for configuring and standardizing integrations.
Dovetail cooperates with integration partners that are specialized in a specific vertical (like Logistics, Retail or Wholesalers).
Website: https://integrationmadeeasy.com
EffectConnect
EffectConnect is a marketplace integration platform. A platform for connecting webshops with marketplaces. Examples of marketplaces are Bol.com, Amazon and VTWonen. A complete list can be found on the website.
EffectConnect offers various plugins and APIs for connects. These mainly involve order linking or inventory synchronization. In addition, EffectConnect offers a Feed Manager that makes it easy to put together feeds for automated data sharing. B2B with retailers or B2C through feed-based channels such as Google Shopping, Facebook and Kieskeurig.nl.
Website: https://www.effectconnect.com/nl/
eMagiz
eMagiz Enterprise iPaaS is a platform to connect applications and systems easily and conveniently and to automate and manage data flows. eMagiz is somewhat similar to the low-code platform Mendix, with which it also works well. Another important partner is the Cape Group.
The platform runs on AWS and, like ConnectPlaza, is based on Spring Integration. It has now been around for about 20 years and is able to meet its original goal of “universal integration.”
Website: https://www.emagiz.com/
Enovation Platform
Platform aimed at exchanging medical information. Among other things, it supports EDI and HL7. In addition to modules for exchanging messages, there are also modules for exchanging documents.
Website: https://enovationgroup.com/nl/oplossingen/enovation-platform
Frank!Framework
Frank!Framework (formerly Ibis Adapter Framework) is an open-source platform consisting of more than 100 building blocks, which can be configured and linked without programming. The project originated at Nationale Nederlanden and has been open source for 7 years.
XML configuration files can be used to build pipelines. Extensive documentation can be found here. The sponsor of the project is WeAreFrank!
Website: https://github.com/ibissource/iaf
LemonForce
The Utrecht-based independent company offers lightweight integration solutions. The LemonForce Studio is designed to create integrations in a low-code manner. In doing so, it offers building blocks as ready-made integrations with ERP packages, for example.
The studio and integrations are .Net based. This sets the company apart from most other Java-based solutions. Because it is .Net based, it runs not only on premise, but also very well in Azure.
Website: https://www.lemonforce.com/
Niklas
Niklas is a Java-based Enterprise Service Bus from Hoofddorp-based Copernicus. The platform has a focus on scalability and support for many protocols. Like eMagiz, it has been around for 20 years, with the platform available since 2008. With EDI and AS2 support, it specifically targets the logistics and retail market. It has a partnership with IT’s teamwork.
Conclusion
Aleksandra found out that there was a lot of choice in her local market, with various innovative players to choose from. Basically this is true for most markets. You can choose an international player, but it’s also worth to compare them with more local options.
