iPaaS migration: Workato without the Big Bang

Table of content

Why organizations get stuck on legacy iPaaS
The misconception: migration means a Big Bang
What a controlled migration looks like
Staying stuck is riskier

For many organizations, the integration layer in their IT landscape is sacred. And rightly so. If something breaks, everything stops: orders, invoicing, customer processes, reporting. No wonder conversations about replacing an outdated integration platform often end with: “Let’s not.” But the real question is: what's the cost of doing nothing?

Why organizations get stuck on legacy iPaaS

Many companies have been running on the same integration platform for years. Once a smart decision. Now a growing constraint.

At Workato - the integration platform we frequently work with - they see firsthand how outdated integration tooling holds organizations back:

High operational costs

Integrations are complex to build and even more complex to maintain. You depend on a handful of specialists. Every change takes time. The backlog grows faster than your team can handle.

Point-to-point spaghetti

APIs aren’t reusable. Integrations aren’t modular. New connections get “bolted on.” Every change triggers a chain reaction. Scalability shifts from promise to risk.

Fragmented tooling

After years of expansions and acquisitions, some platforms consist of multiple environments and interfaces. Management becomes complicated. Productivity drops.

Limited innovation power

New functionality often comes in the form of add-ons or expensive upgrades. Meanwhile, the business demands real-time data, flexibility, and AI integration.

Not migrating may feel safe. But the risk simply shifts — from visible to creeping.

Over time, what starts as “it still works”, slowly turns into:

Structural increases in maintenance costs
Lower developer productivity
Slower time-to-market
Growing security and compliance risks
Less room for data-driven decision-making and AI

The integration layer is no longer just a technical foundation. It’s a strategic accelerator — or a brake. And the longer you wait, the wider the gap between what the business needs and what IT can deliver.

The misconception: migration means a Big Bang

This is often the real blocker. Many organizations assume migration means pulling the plug, switching platforms overnight, and hoping everything keeps running. Well, that’s exactly what you shouldn’t do.

A modern iPaaS migration is phased, parallel, and risk-mitigated. You build a new foundation step by step while the existing environment continues to operate. Renovating while the store stays open.

What a controlled migration looks like

When transitioning to the modern iPaaS platform, the focus isn’t speed, it’s control. The core principle is simple: migration should not disrupt your integrations. No big bang. Just a controlled transition.

In the case of Workato, the approach rests on three principles.

1. Old and new run side by side

To maintain momentum, new integrations and use cases are built alongside the existing platform. Even during the evaluation phase, Workato delivers working proof-of-concepts, so you can move into production with confidence. Legacy and new environments temporarily run in parallel.

2. No dual-run burden

Workato provides financial support to help limit temporary dual-run costs. A full TCO comparison is created upfront, making costs, risks, and savings transparent before decisions are made.

3. Guidance from experienced migration experts

Workato works with dedicated migration specialists experienced in other iPaaS platforms, supported by a strong partner ecosystem and onboarding support. The goal: make migration as predictable as possible.

Staying stuck is riskier

The real question isn’t: “Can we afford to migrate?” It’s rather: “Can we afford to stay where we are?”

In a world where AI, process automation, and real-time data are becoming the standard, your integration layer needs to evolve with you. Otherwise, the rest of your organization will evolve around it, resulting in shadow IT, workarounds, and increasing risk.

Conclusion

Let’s have the conversation

Migrating to a modern iPaaS platform does not have to be disruptive. With a phased approach, parallel integrations, and a focus on business value, migration becomes a controlled transition.
Not a leap into the unknown, but a deliberate move toward an integration layer that is scalable, modular, and ready for AI.

Still unsure whether migrating makes sense for your organization? Let’s map your current landscape and calculate the real cost of standing still. Because sometimes, the riskiest thing you can do…is nothing at all.