We’re kicking off our new series on B2B integration platforms. First, a level set: Most integration platforms deliver the benefits and performance they promise.
Unfortunately, many organizations underestimate what it takes to realize their full value over time. In our Integration Platform Success series, we’ll look at the benefits, use cases, and sometimes challenges of the platforms we support.
We’ll share tips to help organizations using or considering these platforms get the most ROI from their investments.
The Platforms We Support (and Why We Support Them)
At Remedi we have established ourselves as a trusted IBM B2B integration partner for nearly fifteen years, with roots as a Sterling Commerce provider that go back to our founding in 1994. We’re proud to be a Gold Partner and support those customers who rely on IBM for their business and system integration.
At the same time, our expertise also encompasses a broad non-IBM software portfolio.
Company president Brad Loetz states, “Clients utilize a variety of integration and EDI tools, and sometimes multiple tools from different providers. Our strategy has always been to meet clients where they are and support the toolset they prefer for their business needs.”
As a result, Remedi’s work and the platforms we support are in step with the requirements of our customers.
Organizations have deployed these platforms on-premises, in hybrid architectures, or in the cloud. They support EDI, API, file transfer, and application integration across complex business environments.
The following groupings represent operational capabilities across deployment models, not vendor tiers.
Enterprise, Legacy, and Hybrid B2B Integration Platforms
- Sterling B2B Integrator
- webMethods
- Sterling File Gateway
- IBM Transformation Extender (ITX)
- Gentran: Server for Windows & Unix
- Gentran: Server for iSeries
- Cleo Integration Cloud
- Cleo Clarify
- Cleo VLTrader
- Cleo Harmony
- Cleo Lexicom
- BizTalk Server
- Azure Logic Apps
SEEBURGER BIS Platform
OpenText (including GXS AI, BizManager, and TrustedLink environments)
Epicor/1 EDI Source (including EDI HQ and related integration titles)
Managed EDI Network Platforms
Our next two platforms make it easier for EDI hub organizations and their trading partners to communicate. They simplify the infrastructure and connectivity layer for partners of the hubs. But this doesn’t entirely remove operational responsibility for the environment from these, usually smaller, organizations that trade with the hubs.
Organizations that choose to outsource their EDI and B2B integration still need to manage key tasks. These include onboarding coordination, compliance interpretation, and exception management. This oversight is vital for a successful partnership.
For instance, without EDI expertise, fixing error messages can take a lot of time and cause frustration. Small and mid-sized businesses may face slow response times or a lack of document monitoring. This can hurt their finances and operations.
In-house teams or consulting and staffing services can handle these oversight tasks. Either way, you don’t want to overlook them. These platforms deliver the most value when you define these roles and responsibilities at the outset.
Our Roles Across these Tiers
Remedi acts in various roles across these environments, including:
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Implementation specialists
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Migration leads
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Mapping experts
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Production support engineers
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Optimization advisors
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Flexible managed services providers
For us, the common denominator is enabling the customer’s desired operational outcome, regardless of platform.
Where Integration Platform ROI Begins to Erode
Across platforms, industries, and deployment models, we’ve observed a consistent pattern.
The costliest integration issues often stem from gaps in deployment, upgrade, or operational expertise or missteps at key points in the lifecycle, not from product failures.
1. Implementation and Migration
Whether it’s deploying a new integration platform, migrating to cloud infrastructure, or modernizing toward API-enabled architectures, risk concentrates at implementation.
Common challenges include:
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Underestimated EDI mapping and workflow complexity
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Trading partner onboarding delays
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ERP, WMS, or application integration misalignment
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Poorly documented legacy logic
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Upgrade failures caused by environment drift
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Internal resource shortages mid-project
A well-executed implementation sets the stage for years of operational efficiency. A rushed or under-resourced one creates long-term technical and organizational debt. And planning blind spots can come back to haunt project teams behind major initiatives like migrating to a new ERP platform.
For example, failing to account for EDI dependencies early in the migration can disrupt order, invoicing, and other workflows after go-live.
This amplifies the risk of transaction failures and partner disruptions, as well as avoidable delays and SLA fines.
In many scenarios, we’ve stepped into live projects midstream to realign deliverables to key milestones and/or rationalize mapping standards. In addition, our team is always alert for opportunities to help avoid or reduce compliance penalties and downstream disruption.
2. Optimization & Performance
Once systems are live, the team’s focus shifts elsewhere. But over time, inefficiencies can accumulate, including:
- Mapping sprawl and inconsistent naming conventions
- Manual exception handling processes
- Limited transaction visibility
- Performance degradation as volumes increase
- Knowledge silos dependent on specific individuals
According to Scott Hulme, Vice President of Services & Software at Remedi, “Integration platforms often operate behind the scenes, so it’s all too easy for organizations to defer optimization until a fire drill demands immediate attention.”
The good news is, organizations can reclaim significant ROI without changing platforms by optimizing what’s already there via:
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Standardizing onboarding and mapping practices
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Improving monitoring and alerting
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Cleaning up legacy configurations
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Strengthening documentation and governance
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Introducing fractional support to reduce internal strain
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Regular Health Checks and Performance Tuning
3. Intervention Moments
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There are predictable inflection points where integration risk increases:
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A key integration resource leaves
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An ERP transformation is underway
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A cloud migration introduces new architectural complexity
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Retailer compliance fines begin to rise
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A platform upgrade stalls or fails
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A merger or acquisition expands the trading partner network
These are all situations where cross-platform expertise can be invaluable to internal teams. That’s because software makers optimize for product functionality, while internal teams are focused on daily operational demands.
We mentioned ERP migration planning gaps earlier because they are among the most common risk scenarios we help to remediate.
The issue isn’t the skill or competence of the internal team; it’s that many IT managers will only experience one or two in their careers, if at all.
As anyone who has ever helped to deliver one can tell you, ERP platform migrations are time-and capital-intensive, and systematically invasive. And once complete, organizations expect that the new platform will serve as the long-term system of record, up to 20+ years with regular patches, upgrades, and incremental customizations.
On the other hand, a firm like Remedi brings decades of experience supporting and troubleshooting migrations in diverse integration environments across many industries. The “muscle memory” that comes from managing multiple migrations allows us to identify familiar failure points, understand where bottlenecks start, and most importantly, how to avoid them.
What This Series Will Cover
In the coming weeks, we’ll publish deeper insights on each of the platforms we support.
Individual blogs will explore the use cases each platform is best suited for, notable features, common lifecycle challenges and risks, and best practices for optimization.
In the meantime, if you’d like to assess the health of your integration environment or learn more about how consulting, staffing, and managed EDI services can augment the capabilities of internal staff, reach out here to start the conversation.
FAQs
Q1: Are most B2B integration platforms fundamentally different from one another?
A: Many integration platforms tackle similar issues. They move, transform, and move data securely between systems, partners, and applications. They differ in implementation, governance, and optimization. Also, their effectiveness varies based on an organization’s size, industry, and internal expertise.
Q2: Why do integration platforms sometimes fail to deliver expected ROI?
A: Usually, ROI erosion happens not because of the platform, but due to gaps in expertise during key lifecycle moments. These moments include implementation, optimization, upgrades, or organizational change. Underestimating these moments can lead to inefficiencies, delays, and avoidable risk.
Q3: If a platform is cloud-based or managed, does that reduce the need for integration expertise?
A: Cloud-based and managed platforms can reduce infrastructure burden, but they do not eliminate the need for integration expertise. Responsibilities such as trading partner coordination, exception handling, compliance interpretation, and performance oversight still require knowledgeable resources to ensure long-term success.
Q4: When does it make sense to bring in external integration experts?
A: External expertise is often most valuable during high-risk stages in the platform lifecycle.
These include new implementations, migrations, ERP changes, staffing transitions, platform upgrades, or periods of rapid growth.
Q5: Will this series recommend one integration platform over another?
A: No. We intend for this series to help organizations see how different platforms work in the real world. We want to show what it takes to succeed with them over time. The goal is to match platform capabilities to business needs. It’s not about ranking or endorsing specific products.
Sources:
Remedi
IBM Integration Software
https://www.remedi.com/ibm-integration-software
Remedi
Cleo Integration Software
https://www.remedi.com/cleo-integration-software
Remedi
Microsoft BizTalk Integration and EDI Consulting and Staffing
https://www.remedi.com/microsoft-biztalk-integration-and-edi-consulting-and-staffing
Remedi
SEEBURGER BIS Consulting and Staffing
https://www.remedi.com/seeburger-bis-consulting-and-staffing
Remedi
1 EDI Source — EDI Software Solutions
https://www.remedi.com/1-edi-source-edi-software-solutions
Boomi
Boomi (official site)
https://boomi.com/
Remedi
OpenText TrustedLink & BizManager Consulting and Staffing
https://www.remedi.com/opentext-trustedlink-bizmanager-consulting-and-staffing
SPS Commerce
SPS Commerce Platform (official site)
https://www.spscommerce.com/
TrueCommerce
TrueCommerce Platform (official site)
https://www.truecommerce.com/
Remedi
Integration and EDI Consulting and Staffing
https://www.remedi.com/integration-and-edi-consulting-and-staffing
Remedi
IBM Sterling Integrator Mapping Support During Migration to S/4HANA
https://www.remedi.com/solutions-remedi-edi-mft-eai-and-api-solution-summaries/ibm-sterling-integrator-mapping-support-during-migration-to-s4hana
Remedi
Migration From BizTalk to IBM Sterling Integrator: JDE / ERP Migration EDI Support
https://www.remedi.com/solutions-remedi-edi-mft-eai-and-api-solution-summaries/migration-from-biztalk-to-ibm-sterling-integrator-jde-erp-migration-edi-support
Remedi
Remedi Integration Software and Partners
https://www.remedi.com/remedi-integration-software-and-partners
