Building a platform involves far more than simply linking individual software products. But how can you make the transition from independent solutions to a flexible, scalable and user-friendly platform? This article takes you step-by-step through the strategy, architecture and practical implementation steps required for successful product integration – with concrete examples, tried-and-tested methods and strategic recommendations.
The transformation from individual applications to an integrated platform requires well-thought-out strategic planning. The overview presented here is based on over 25 years’ experience gained from numerous projects with clients of all sizes. This overview is intended merely as a basic guide; each aspect could be explored in greater depth.
Many companies and start-ups begin with a core product and gradually expand their offering through additional software solutions, external tools and acquisitions. The result is often a heterogeneous landscape that can confuse users and lead to inefficient data management across different systems. An integrated platform with a unified user interface and cross-system processes, on the other hand, significantly improves the user experience and often opens up new opportunities for business models and cross-selling.
The transformation begins with a clear vision. This describes not only the technical objective, but also the economic and organisational benefits of the platform. An example: A healthcare group is planning to consolidate its various patient portals into a central platform. The aim is to provide a single login, standardised appointment management and seamless communication processes between doctors, patients and administration.
Key strategic cornerstones:
A frequently underestimated factor for success is the early involvement of all relevant stakeholders, from IT through to product management and support.
A scalable integration model provides a framework for the wide range of possible levels of integration. It offers a common language for project teams and helps with prioritisation.
The higher the level of integration, the greater the benefits – but also the greater the effort involved. It is important to note that not every system needs to be raised to Level 5. Rather, each integration should be assessed on the basis of its strategic importance and usage.
A classic example of Level 3 integration is a financial platform that integrates modules from external banking services into its web interface via microfrontends. Process integration could take place on a supply chain platform, where orders are processed automatically across multiple systems.
A platform architecture must be flexible, scalable and maintainable. The blueprint defines the architectural principles and key technical components.
Typical architectural building blocks:
Real-world example:
A mobility provider uses a platform architecture with a central API gateway that interfaces with different BFFs depending on the channel (app, web, call centre). The UI has a modular structure, allowing partner features to be integrated as microfrontends – such as booking functions from car-sharing service providers.
Not every integration makes sense. An objective assessment is essential for prioritisation. Key criteria:
Sample evaluation table:
|
Product |
Type |
Level |
Front-end integration |
Back-end integration |
|
In-house CRM development |
Self-hosted |
3 |
Microfrontend |
REST API |
|
SaaS analytics tool |
SaaS |
1 |
Link/iFrame |
Webhooks |
A suitable set of criteria not only helps with planning, but also with reporting to management.
A ‘big bang’ approach is rarely advisable. Instead, an iterative approach with clearly defined phases is recommended:
Best practice:
An insurance company began by introducing a centralised login and a new, responsive platform interface. In a second phase, advisory processes were digitised and later expanded to include claims reporting, a document centre and chatbots – each implemented as loosely coupled modules.
Well-established governance ensures the long-term stability and strategic direction of the platform. It forms the invisible foundation of every platform. The aim of governance is to guarantee consistency and reusability across product boundaries and to ensure technological and architectural coherence. This includes architecture reviews, decision protocols (ADRs), API guidelines, front-end design systems and comprehensive documentation. Clear quality management, regular architecture reviews and standardised development processes such as CI/CD are essential. Furthermore, established security policies and compliance requirements (e.g. GDPR, ISO 27001) ensure transparency and security in operations.
Maintainability is the foundation for the platform’s longevity and adaptability. It begins with the architecture, which should be characterised by clear modularisation, an interface-oriented approach, low coupling and high cohesion. Practices such as Clean Code, Domain-Driven Design (DDD), automated testing and well-integrated CI/CD pipelines ensure that the platform can be operated flexibly and reliably. A well-thought-out logging and monitoring strategy provides continuous insights into operations and helps to identify potential problems at an early stage.
A good example is a PropTech start-up that not only delivers features in every sprint, but also specifically evaluates maintainability: “Will this module still be understandable and deployable independently in six months’ time?”
High-performing support is crucial for ensuring user satisfaction and the stable operation of the platform. Well-structured support comprises various levels (layered support), ranging from first-level support, which handles initial user enquiries, to more specialised teams for complex technical issues. An on-call service (on-call engineers) is essential for quickly resolving critical system faults and keeping downtime to a minimum.
In addition to clearly defined escalation procedures and responsibilities, effective service-level management (SLM) is essential. This involves defining and monitoring service-level agreements (SLAs), which set out clear availability and response times. Transparent dashboards and regular health checks ensure that both internal and external stakeholders always have a clear overview of the platform’s status. Self-service tools and comprehensive documentation enable users to resolve minor issues independently, thereby reducing the burden on support.
Reliable support is essential for stable platform operation and high user satisfaction. Support should be organised in a multi-tiered structure:
Self-service options such as knowledge bases, interactive help tools and well-structured documentation reduce the workload on support teams and increase efficiency.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs), along with transparent dashboards and health checks, provide clarity on availability and response times – both internally and for customers.
Incident Management – Managing incidents professionally
Even in stable systems, incidents are inevitable. A clearly structured process is therefore essential:
A central ‘lessons learnt’ archive helps to prevent recurrence. For particularly resilient platforms, chaos engineering can also be used to identify vulnerabilities at an early stage.
Developing an integrated platform is complex, but can be managed very effectively through a structured approach, clear governance and step-by-step implementation. It is important to remain open to adjustments and iterations and to learn continuously from experience. However, this overview offers only an initial insight – each of these points deserves its own in-depth examination.
If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, you are well on your way.
Ready to develop your individual solutions into an integrated platform?
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