Cloud integration supports dynamic project developments
What is our primary use case?
I work in the insurance industry.
For this build, the cloud offering provides scalability and agility for my current project, which is in the insurance domain for CNA insurance. We do end-to-end data management as well as follow a microservices architecture. Additionally, we are using AI and machine learning for tasks such as data discovery, data quality, and generative AI applications for development purposes.
What is most valuable?
Some of the most valuable features with Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services include master data management, API management, data governance, data quality, and cloud application integration. We can utilize both ETL and ELT capabilities and have the ability to integrate data with different data lakes, even integrating with Snowflake.
The cloud-native platform provides scalability and agility for my current project. Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services allows us to manage the entire data lifecycle in the insurance domain, supporting microservices architecture and leveraging AI and machine learning for data discovery, quality, and integration.
What needs improvement?
I still have to look into potential improvements, but what I have currently provided input on is what I'm using. I still need to work on it and check for any potential improvements.
One thing to consider is that while Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services already integrates with AI platforms, we need to use these tools rigorously and check all these aspects, including machine learning and analytics. I feel that more work needs to be done on this aspect.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have almost three years of experience.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
Product deployment generally takes place as we have an integrated version with various applications, and while we don't deploy daily, we follow a CI/CD pipeline closely for performance.
Different organizations may have different practices; some might have a release plan, but for my project, we manage deployments every one to two days without experiencing significant delays or issues, so I consider it user-friendly.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable as of now.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable. The solution has good scalability and powerful capabilities.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services is straightforward for me because I'm not facing any issues with this.
I am part of the initial setup and deployment.
What about the implementation team?
For the deployment team, we have a production development team that isn't just one person; it's a combination of almost eight or nine teams working together. Depending on the team's requirements, they handle deployments at different times, so around ten people are involved.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The reviewer needed more time to provide information about differences with other integration platforms.
What other advice do I have?
I have experience with Informatica solutions, specifically with Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services. This is for my project basis, as IICS is the cloud-native solution they supply us for this purpose. I focus on ETL, ELT, reusable integration artifacts, and cloud data integration, including Snowflake. Everything is there, including scalability and performance, which are also good.
On a scale of 1-10, I rate Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services a 9 out of 10.
Handles large data volumes effectively and offers competitive pricing
What is our primary use case?
One of the projects I am currently working on, MVDW, involves a very huge volume, but without any major blockers, we are able to implement the code effectively. For the current MVDW project, we have around 100 plus integrations, and it is not a complex project; we can categorize it as medium complexity. However, the volume is significant since we are dealing with client data and PHI data, which is very large, but we have not faced any challenges concerning volume.
What is most valuable?
Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services can handle a really huge volume of data. Informatica is really a good tool to handle large volumes when it comes to CDI, the Cloud Data Integration tool.
Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services is very scalable. The scalability provided by Informatica is commendable, and I don't feel any challenges regarding this aspect. We are able to automate our features effectively.
Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services has good governance and security features. We are dealing with metadata and not playing directly with the data, which means the security measures are very good. From a developer's point of view, only the metadata is visible, which cannot be compromised. Developers do not need to control the actual data; they can build without even interacting with the data itself, so I don't foresee any security issues for developers in this context.
What needs improvement?
There is a lot of improvement required, as we still face some cache issues most of the time, which is a challenge that we expect to see resolved in the future. Additionally, there is some limitation when we are working with a tool, especially regarding In and Out parameters, and I feel that this aspect should be improved going ahead.
We face issues with the API side, as Cloud Application Integration cannot handle large volumes; according to the API page, there is a limitation of 500 records or 500 MB.
The AI integrated into the Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services solution is called Application Integration, where we still face challenges when dealing with huge volumes, as previously explained.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services for the last 8 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I do not face any major issues regarding the stability or reliability of Informatica. We are good without any significant challenges; in my opinion, it is a very wonderful tool.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I find Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services to be very scalable. The scalability provided by Informatica is commendable, and I don't feel any challenges regarding this aspect.
How are customer service and support?
Regarding tech support, I find it time-consuming. Whenever we create a support ticket, it typically takes 1 to 2 days to get resolved. It depends on how the Informatica support team responds. Most of the time, whatever we explore, they provide the same statements as feedback. We expect more responsive assistance because they have the expertise since Informatica is their tool, but I don't see enough expertise on the Informatica support side. Most of the time, they share the same information that we have already dug into and found ourselves.
How would you rate customer service and support?
How was the initial setup?
I find the initial setup to be simple, actually. It is not even medium complex; it is straightforward. When comparing it to other tools, especially Informatica PowerCenter, which is an on-premise tool, the cloud version provides a significant advantage, allowing even those without core technical knowledge to follow guidance and complete the installation and setup.
The time frame for setup depends on the individual. If someone has expertise, they can set it up in about 2 to 3 hours maximum.
What was our ROI?
Regarding return on investment, I find that sometimes leadership prefers to utilize third-party tools, such as Snowflake, which has both storage and ELT features. Thus, there are projects where cost-cutting leads to a preference for Snowflake over Informatica because of its existing ELT facility.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Regarding pricing, compared to other tools I have worked with, Informatica offers competitive pricing, which I find not high in terms of starting strategy.
What other advice do I have?
This is a very beautiful tool compared to other tools on the market. I recommend Informatica because anyone with a bit of knowledge, even a beginner or intern, can explore, learn, and accomplish development tasks without much difficulty. For those considering any integration tool, Informatica is one of the best available options in the market.
I still see that they are working aggressively to introduce new features. They are continuously adding improvements to our services. They keep on enhancing the tool based on the information they receive.
Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services can handle huge volumes of data effectively; it is highly scalable and manages security well by playing with metadata instead of directly dealing with data. This aspect allows us to build our code without exposing client information, which are significant pros. However, there are still areas requiring improvement, especially on the API side, as it can't handle large volumes. There is much more need to be built regarding images, merging, and other features related to application integration tools within Informatica.
Once everything is set up, the team can easily manage the system because there are not major challenges once the setup is done correctly. I don't believe we face any challenges, except for instances when the server is down, which is a different use case altogether.
On a scale of 1-10, I rate Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services a 9.5.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Connectors streamline data processes and optimize cloud-based operations
What is our primary use case?
I use Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services predominantly for data integration. I utilize it for building data pipelines, which is a critical aspect of my job.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services for me is the availability of connectors. A connector is a piece of software that allows access to specific solutions such as D365, Snowflake, and various databases. The connectors serve as the main functionality, making data integration processes more efficient by saving time and effort that would otherwise be spent accessing data via other methods like APIs.
What needs improvement?
The tool is quite good overall, but sometimes the number of modules can be overwhelming. If the development interface could be optimized to have fewer modules, it would be greatly beneficial.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services for a year. Before that, I operated in a different environment, and I am now fully in the cloud.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability of Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services as seven or eight. At the moment, everything seems fine and I don't have any issues with its stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the scalability of Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services as eight. There are many options available, and the licensing model is quite good, supporting our needs effectively. It's quite important to maintain its current licensing model.
How are customer service and support?
The customer service and support for Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services is rated as eight. My impression of their support is positive, and everything is functioning well.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously, my solution was not cloud-based and was hosted in our data center. However, I've now transitioned to a cloud-based approach with Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services due to its suitable licensing model.
How was the initial setup?
For me, the initial setup was very easy because Informatica primarily manages that. I am not responsible for setting up anything since it is provided as Software-as-a-Service.
What about the implementation team?
The developers maintain their own pipelines, job schedules, and so on. I don't require dedicated people solely for maintenance.
What was our ROI?
I haven't observed a return on investment in hard figures yet, but Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services does save me a significant amount of time.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services is affordable for my specific use cases, with the pricing being rated three or four on a scale where one is very cheap. The affordability may vary based on how much data is manipulated.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I evaluated a couple of options before selecting Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services. The most suitable licensing model was the deciding factor in my choice.
What other advice do I have?
The overall solution is rated as eight. I plan to continue using Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services for data integration whenever required.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Advanced cloud services optimize robust data integration
What is our primary use case?
On one of my projects, we used Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services for ingestion purposes. Secondly, we used it as a regular ETL for performing heavy transformations.
How has it helped my organization?
In our current scenario, we are moving our on-premise artifacts, which are on PowerCenter, to the cloud. It was surprisingly quick to get everything working, which has been beneficial for our operations.
What is most valuable?
Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services offers a wide variety of services, including Cloud Data Integration, which is akin to a replica of PowerCenter on the cloud. I particularly like the mass ingestion service.
What needs improvement?
The cloud version of Informatica, although easier and more advanced than PowerCenter, still requires a deep dive to fix bugs. It could be improved by making the process as intuitive and easy to follow as PowerCenter.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have delivered two projects using it, so from my experience, the tool is very good.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
There are some bugs and glitches, which for a beginner, can take time to resolve. This may be because I have spent less time on the tool compared to others.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability doesn't impact Informatica technically, but it does take a lot of money when we keep adding users.
How are customer service and support?
Informatica technical support is excellent. I would rate it a nine. They are top-notch.
How would you rate customer service and support?
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy and not complex.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Pricing is a bit high, similar to a premium version or a high-end product, and requires a budget ready to manage it.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
During POCs, we explored other ETLs like Firetran for ingestion purposes, but Informatica's capabilities are robust.
What other advice do I have?
For a robust use case, especially for large enterprises, Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services is a good tool with good support. However, make sure to have a budget ready.
I would rate it an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
An easy setup with efficient data synchronization that keeps information updated
What is our primary use case?
We utilize Intelligent Cloud Services for various transformations during mapping, applied logic, and data manipulation. We use it to complete tasks such as using joiner, filter, and expression transformation to load data into the target table. It can integrate with any cloud system.
What is most valuable?
There are two things regarding synchronization: one synchronizes the source to the target, which can be incremental, and the other is non-incremental. This functionality keeps the data updated with the latest information.
What needs improvement?
In terms of data volume processing, Intelligent Cloud Services does not match the efficiency of Power Center. The processing speed is slower for large volumes of data. I'm not sure if there have been improvements in the latest versions as my experience is from six or seven months ago. Additionally, not all transformations available in Power Center are present in Intelligent Cloud Services, like the XML parser and normalizer.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Intelligent Cloud Services for around three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Stability is quite good. I've faced no significant difficulties or downtime issues. The services were always available for my projects.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the scalability of Intelligent Cloud Services as quite high. On a scale from one to ten, I would rate it as nine.
How are customer service and support?
Customer service and technical support are excellent. Whenever I raised tickets, I received solutions promptly. I would rate them ten out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
How was the initial setup?
The setup is very simple. The administration is not involved with Intelligent Cloud Services. Informatica handles the setup since it's hosted by them.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Pricing is moderate. I do not recall the exact numbers for the license cost at the moment.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend Intelligent Cloud Services for companies of all sizes, including small and medium enterprises, as administration costs can be saved, and the service offers cloud connectivity and plugins.
I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Good tool, especially if you're using cloud services and an S3 bucket
What is our primary use case?
The main purpose of this tool is for file transfers related to our Python server.
How has it helped my organization?
The data integration and synchronization features in IICS improve the data handling processes.
I haven't had the chance to explore all the features in-depth since we've only been using them for a couple of months.
What is most valuable?
I appreciate that it's a cloud-based solution. With a good internet connection, it works smoothly.
It also offers multiple features.
What needs improvement?
There's definitely room for improvement in terms of user-friendliness.
One example is that you can't search for jobs directly by file name. You can only search by job name. So, if you want to find a job that works with a specific file, you have to go through each job individually to find the right one.
So, I'd like to see a faster search, one where I can search directly by file name.
Moreover, the support team could improve by adding things like file transfer status updates. Also, if someone modifies a job and then leaves the company, that shouldn't disrupt the job for active users. It would be better if the job continued to run smoothly regardless of who modified it.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it for seven to eight months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a pretty stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scaling is easy. It's not overly complex. In our team, we have around 10 to 12 people using it. Additionally, there's a separate IT team dedicated to IICS with over 50 people. Other private projects likely use IICS as well.
How are customer service and support?
We sometimes face challenges when implementing new features. In those cases, we contacted support, and they've been very helpful.
wWe're happy with the support team.
How was the initial setup?
It is a cloud service. We use AWS and Azure Cloud. I'm not fully sure about the installation details, but I know we use AWS and potentially other cloud features as well.
What other advice do I have?
If you have experience with similar tools or a general understanding of IT concepts, it's easier to grasp. Learning the features takes time, but with an IT background, you should be able to figure out the basics.
We all encounter challenges sometimes and need to learn new things. Overall, it's not overly difficult or overly simple. It's manageable if you have the right mindset.
It's definitely a good tool, especially if you're using cloud services and an S3 bucket. It has many features to simplify your work and make your life easy. It's not overly difficult to learn, but proper training is essential to understand and make the most of all the features.
Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
An exceptionally scalable tool with a straightforward initial setup phase
What is our primary use case?
I use Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services since it is a platform that offers cloud data governance or cloud governance policy, making it applicable to what you need. For customers who just want to understand the data better, make better decisions, provide better service, and avoid any sort of legal issues during the vacation period of its users, The product keeps up with some of the standards to adhere to some of the use cases.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of the product is that, as a platform, it helps with data quality, and everything is sort of one console. The on-prem version of the product has different applications and different user interfaces, offering users consistency in the look and feel, which I like about the product.
What needs improvement?
The product's pricing is definitely an area where a bit of improvement is needed. Improvement in the product's pricing can help Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services gain more customers, especially in small and medium enterprises where there is a need to upgrade the solution.
Certain improvements are needed in the product, considering from a feature parity point of view. There needs to be some improvements in the product's upgrade options since it can allow users to see all of the on-premises features from other products that are a part of Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services.
The product's price is an area of concern and needs to be reduced, especially in Africa, where it is considered a huge investment, even if it is used in banks.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services for a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Stability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the solution's scalability a ten out of ten.
Between 100 to 200 people in our organization use the solution.
The solution is extensively used in our company.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I haven't worked with any solutions similar to Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services since I come from a background where I had to deal with workflow and VPN sort of background and robotics, specifically software robotics.
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup phase was a bit straightforward.
The solution is deployed on the cloud.
The deployment phase did not take a long time since the product is a cloud-native solution. Once you have your environment set up by the team to access the product with the signed permissions, the deployment phase doesn't take more than a day to be done, but ultimately it depends on the organization. After considering a lot of things required during the deployment phase, the complete deployment process won't take more than a week to be completed.
A team of technical personnel would be useful to take care of the deployment and maintenance phases of the product, as it is a broad platform.
What about the implementation team?
The product's installation phase was carried out in our company with the help of Informatica's partner. Informatica's partner, who helped our company with the installation phase, works in the same industry as our company's customers, which proved to be extremely beneficial, especially from the resources point of view, since the availability of skilled resources and trained people were made available to help our company's customers on time.
What was our ROI?
Personally, I have not experienced any return on investment from the use of the solution. I have seen and heard about some use cases that fetch some return on investment for the users from the use of the solution. I haven't worked with the solution long enough on any project to see the return on investment that the product can offer.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is expensive.
There is a need to make annual payments towards the license costs attached to the solution, but it is usage-based.
What other advice do I have?
I would ask those who plan to use the solution to go ahead with the proof of concept stage initially and choose a scenario that they want to know more about so that they get a better understanding of the tool.
I rate the overall tool an eight out of ten.