The integration and management of data is a central issue in today’s system landscapes of all companies. Business processes are not limited to the space within a system, but extend across any number of systems. Potential often remains untapped because processes cannot be modeled across systems – data simply does not flow across systems. This inhibits internal processes and thus ultimately works to the disadvantage of the customer.
Mulesoft vs. Marini Systems
You want to implement your integration quickly and easily?
Data integration is not an end in itself. It is merely a means to an end, but an essential and necessary one at that. There are numerous iPaaS solutions on the rather non-transparent market. Which one is the right one for one’s own purposes is usually difficult to identify. Therefore, we compare the Anypoint platform from MuleSoft with the Enterprise Data Integration platform from Marini Systems, consisting of the HubEngine and DataEngine components.
What do the integration platforms offer?
Marini Systems
The Enterprise Data Integration Platform consists of two basic components: the HubEngine and the DataEngine. While the HubEngine specializes in data exchange between APIs and thus enables synchronization between systems, the DataEngine is designed for data management and ETL. Both cloud and on-premises integrations are supported. The platform follows a consistent and user-friendly no-coding principle. All common systems are available to be linked. Applications, microservices or databases can be linked without any problems. If a system is not available for selection, we will develop the appropriate connector for you.
Ease of use
HubEngine is specially designed to provide a simple user interface and intuitive operation. It can be operated even without technical knowledge. Therefore, HubEngine can be used as a self-service product, but usually our integration experts do the setup for you. Systems are synchronized within a few hours, including planning, tuning and testing.
ETL for each case
As soon as an integration becomes more complex, i.e. data is to be transformed (aggregated, disaggregated, enriched, consolidated, translated, etc.) before synchronization, the DataEngine comes into play. In addition, the DataEngine still has a user interface and thus provides a view of your data and visualizes it. Theoretically, reports, diagrams and charts are possible. The DataEngine – as a data layer – offers all possibilities to perform simple as well as complex data transformations. These can of course be done in the user interface – without writing a line of code.
MuleSoft
MuleSoft’s Anypoint Platform can be used to create and manage APIs and implement integrations within a product. From the platform, users can connect numerous other applications, microservices or APIs. Both cloud and on-premises are supported. A large number of prefabricated connectors are available for this purpose. The platform follows a no-coding principle, as MuleSoft markets the Anypoint Platform as a self-service product. Countless configuration options are available: Security, data storage, server performance, reporting and much more – even at the API level. This means that highly complex integration projects can be implemented with MuleSoft.
Ease of use
Operating the Anypoint Platform requires a strong technical understanding. Anyone who doesn’t know what to make of the terms SOAP or REST API or has never sent HTTP requests to API endpoints will quickly reach a dead end here. Even though MuleSoft’s Anypoint Platform is built according to the no-coding and self-service principle, MuleSoft’s product is based on an IDE (integrated development environment) like software developers use.
Powerful but technically complicated
Without the appropriate experience and a strong technical understanding of APIs and data types, the platform can hardly be operated. Therefore, it is almost impossible to implement your own integration projects without suitable consultants. Especially when it is simply a matter of synchronizing data between two systems. Mulesoft is used to build a corporate network in which all communication of all systems – both internal and external – is regulated (including security configurations).
At a glance
| Facts | Enterprise Data Integration Platform | MuleSoft Anypoint Platform |
| Costs | Low-cost entry possible | from approx. 70,000 USD annually |
| Fares | Fares depending on processing volume
|
Gold Plan & Platinum Plan
|
| Setup | Self-service or setup by us | Self-service or through external consulting |
| Extension | Self-service or set-up by us (e.g. project contract) | Self-service or through external consulting |
| Usability | Simple to medium | Heavy |
| ETL-Layer | Yes | No |
| Hosting | 100% Germany | Europe selectable |
| Connectors | Yes | Yes |
| Modeling APIs | Not included | Model, build and deploy your own API |
| Connection of applicatons | Check availability (List is constantly being expanded) | Check availability on Marketplace |
| Security configurations | Predefined | Possible |
| Scalability | Automatic scaling | Scaling possible |
| CDP | Yes | No |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Runtime | Min. 1 year | Min. 1 year |
Data security and GDPR
The Enterprise Data Integration Platform is robust and secure. We work according to the principle of “Security by Design”. All components are 100% GDPR compliant. Of course, all services are hosted exclusively in Germany. If you want to learn more, you can find more information in our Trust Center.
Mulesoft has also responded to the introduction of the GDPR 2018 (source). Mulesoft offers a so-called European Plane. This allows the infrastructure to be deployed on European servers. Detailed information about Mulesoft’s GDPR compliance can be found in Mulesoft’s news. In addition, Mulesoft offers many configuration options to customize data security in the infrastructure.
Costs
The Enterprise Data Integration Platform prices the HubEngine and DataEngine components individually, as they can also be booked independently of each other. The rates and options are transparent and primarily based on the usage of the individual components. We offer low entry prices per component per month. Thus, even simple integrations can be realized at a reasonable price. For an estimation of your costs you can ask here.
The costs for an integration with MuleSoft’s Anypoint Platform are not public. Apparently, the costs are largely based on the computing power required to run the instance of the platform as well as whether on-premises or cloud deployed. The platform is offered on an annual subscription basis. You can choose between three levels, which include various additional services such as preferred support.
Reporting
HubEngine allows you to view all relevant statistics of your plans in real time. The statistics and visualizations include logs, API calls, relations and plan executions. In addition to the live view, the historical view is also available. In the DataEngine, you can build custom reports, charts, and dashboards across all data. This way you always have an overview of movement and master data.
With Anypoint Analytics, users can evaluate metrics such as API usage, transactions, and performance. Fine-grained insights of API utilization, performance and errors can be presented in customized dashboards and reports. The API Manager enables customers to manage their users, monitor and analyze traffic.
Customer Data Platform (CDP)
With the Marini Systems Enterprise Data Integration Platform we offer you an actual CDP. You can merge all data, whether master data or any transaction data in the platform using HubEngine. In the DataEngine – as data layer – the data is stored. Here you have the central view of the customer. We offer you an actual system for logging in, not a platform that just moves data around. If you don’t need the data layer, the DataEngine operates in the dark, with the option to display the data visually at any time via a user interface – you just have to log in.
To the best of our knowledge, MuleSoft does not offer CDP. To get a central view of the customer (dashboards, tables) it needs another system like a CRM system (which may not be designed to act as a CDP). MuleSoft offers functionalities to route the data there, to cleanse or enrich it on the way.
Conclusion
The Enterprise Data Integration Platform from Marini Systems is endpoint independent. Using the HubEngine, you can synchronize and link all systems. If you want to transform, enrich, control or view your data, you can interpose the DataEngine – as a data layer. This allows you to model each of your processes individually, regardless of the system or department. We offer you all the associated professional services – from planning to setup.
MuleSoft is a real heavyweight in the integration world. This is noticeable in its operation. The tool offers countless possibilities such as creating your own APIs and presents itself as anything but user-friendly. Here, the trade-off between user-friendliness and power of the tool has to be drawn. MuleSoft is meant to manage large system landscapes, build API gateways and thus establish a manageable infrastructure, even externally.