[1] The iPaaS model allows businesses to achieve integration without big investment into skills or licensed middleware software.
[citation needed] iPaaS used to be regarded primarily as an integration tool for cloud-based software applications, used mainly by small to mid-sized business.
Cloud integration was basically created to break down the data silos, improve connectivity and optimize the business process.
[4] Since their emergence, many such services have also developed the capability to integrate legacy or on-premises applications, as well as function as EDI gateways.
The following essential features were proposed by one marketing company:[1] The emergence of this sector led to new cloud-based business process management tools that do not need to build integration layers - since those are now a separate service.