Azure Integration Services year in review: An exciting, innovative 2023!

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As we bid farewell to another remarkable year for Azure Integration Services, it's a fitting moment to reflect on the pivotal achievements and transformative experiences that we’ve shared with our partners and customers throughout 2023. In this blog, we’ll revisit the highlights that have shaped an exciting year for enabling digital transformation with Azure Integration Services and set the stage for an exciting future. This year-in-review serves not only as a celebration of our shared accomplishments but also as a testament to the resilience, dedication, and spirit that continue to propel our organization forward. 

In addition, we’d like to extend our warmest wishes to you all for a joyous and peaceful holiday season. May this time be filled with happiness, connection, and moments of reflection, as we look ahead to an exciting and innovative 2024. 

New services 

Azure Integration Environment   

This year we introduced a new Azure service that provides unified experience to help customers effectively manage and monitor their integration resources. Azure Integration Environment (in public preview) enables customers to organize their resources logically, providing business context and reducing overall complexity, while also allowing the flexibility to use integration environments in a way that aligns with internal standards and principles.  

Azure Logic Apps workflow assistant   

Bringing the power of AI to Azure Logic Apps for the first time, this workflow assistant (in public preview) answers any questions you have about Azure Logic Apps from directly within the designer. Currently in public preview, this chat interface provides access to Azure Logic Apps documentation and best practices without requiring you to navigate documentation or search online forums. 

Delivering new capabilities for Azure API Management  

We are committed to ongoing investment, and here are a few highlights of our latest features that that will continue to drive impactful business outcomes for our customers worldwide:  

• Microsoft Copilot for Azure: Now in public preview, Microsoft Copilot for Azure introduces policy authoring capabilities for Azure API Management. Easily create policies that match your specific requirements without knowing the syntax or have already configured policies explained to you. Simply instruct Copilot for Azure in the context of API Management policy editor to generate policy definitions, copy the results into the editor, and make any necessary adjustments. Ask questions to gain insights into different options, modify the provided policy, or clarify the policy you already have. Explore more about this new capability here. 

• Centralized API Discovery and Governance: To tame the proliferating and fragmented API landscape, we introduced the Microsoft Azure API Center (in public preview). As part of the Azure API Management platform, customers can now consolidate their APIs in a centralized location for discovery, reuse, and governance. 

• Defender for APIs: With the advent of security-first mindset for all enterprise apps, we have integrated a comprehensive defense-in-depth solution into our API management platform. The introduction of Defender for APIs (GA), seamlessly integrated with Azure API Management, empowers security teams to leverage the Defender for Cloud portal.   

• New Azure API Management v2 pricing tiers: To make API Management accessible to a broader range of customers and offer flexible options for various scenarios, we have introduced a new set of v2 pricing tiers for Azure API Management (in public preview)

…and much more!  

There are even more major announcements for Azure Integration Services from 2023, including the reveal of Logic Apps’ new Data Mapper for Visual Studio Code and additional capabilities for Azure Event Grid, that you can read about in our blog post about Microsoft Ignite. Stay up to date with the latest announcements on new products, services, workshops, and more on our Azure Integration Services Blog.  

Partner assets 

Together with our global ecosystem partners, we work with our customers to drive and scale your successful integration efforts. To help partners like you continue scaling our customer success efforts, we’ve collected workshop assets and other resources from 2023 to help you support new projects.  

Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study 

To provide businesses with a clearer understanding of the potential ROI when implementing Azure Integration Services, Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study for 2023. This comprehensive analysis delves deep into the cost savings and, more importantly, the substantial business advantages that Azure Integration Services can unlock for organizations. Based on a trusted financial model and interviews with business decision makers, the study revealed that Azure Integration Services collectively delivered a substantial 295 percent ROI over a three-year period.    

Partner ecosystem: Azure Integration Services Workshop 

In our ongoing commitment to support partners like you in scaling customer success, we’ve recently launched the Azure Discovery Workshop for Azure Integration Services. This "campaign-in-a-box" collection offers partners seamless access to all the necessary components for conducting workshops centered around Azure Integration Services. everything essential for a successful workshop execution. 

IDC’s “Unleash the Power of APIs” white paper 

Sponsored by Microsoft, International Data Corporation (IDC) released a white paper this year titled Unleash the Power of APIs: Best Practices and Strategies for Innovation that outlines why APIs are essential to digital first strategies, the benefits of API management, and factors to consider when choosing an API management solution.   

Recognition  

We were thrilled this year for Azure Integration Services to be recognized as an industry leader. We believe this is a testament to our deep understanding of customer needs, strong customer engagement and adoption success, and continued investments in customers’ integration needs.  

• Gartner once again recognized Microsoft as a Leader in the 2023 Magic Quadrant for API Management, m... 
• Gartner also positioned Microsoft as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Integration Platf... 

• Forrester Research recognized Microsoft as a Leader in the Forrester Wave™: Integration Platforms As...  

Events 

In addition to successful product and service launches at the three major Microsoft flagship events—Build, Inspire, and Ignite—we held several smaller workshops and informational sessions in 2023:   

In our Unleash the power of APIs: Strategies for innovation webinar, analysts, product leaders, and Microsoft Azure API Management customers discussed how API management can maximize your investments and accelerate your API programs. From security to development, first-hand customer accounts to analyst insights, we discussed why APIs will continue to be important in the future. 

The Unleash the Power of a Modern Integration Platform webinar offered a one-of-a-kind chance to engage in live conversations with Azure experts and network with fellow business leaders and peers who are embarking on the journey to app modernization. If you missed the opportunity to attend, don’t worry! You can now access the recorded session and witness firsthand how Azure Integration Services can bring added efficiencies and cost savings to your company through innovation and enhanced agility..   

Azure Integration Services Day was an opportunity to hear about new product announcements directly from our product team. Experts behind some of your favorite Azure Integration Services—Azure Logic Apps, API Center, API Management, Service Bus, Event Grid, Messaging, and more—fielded questions from participants and shared the latest updates. 

At Integrate 2023, our product team spotlighted our latest announcements and delivered live demos that captivated the global integration community. You can access the session recording here.

Customer success stories 

We shared a host of customer stories in 2023—compelling testimonials that offer real-world evidence of Azure Integration Service’s tangible impact. We’re thrilled to showcase our users’ successful implementations but also provide valuable insights to help potential customers envision the specific benefits and solutions that align with their own unique needs. 

• SPAR NL readies for the future of retail with Azure Integration Services 
• BÜCHI’s customer-centric vision accelerates innovation using Azure Integration Services 
• US LBM speeds up orders, unlocks mobile innovation, using Azure Integration Services 
• Optimal Blue is a leader in the mortgage industry with an API first mindset using Azure API Manageme... 
• KPMG Netherlands streamlines enterprise integration platforms through Azure Integration Services

Take action 

Migrate your Azure Logic Apps Integration Service Environment today to unlock new benefits 

As the clock winds down on 2023, it’s still ticking on Azure Logic Apps Integration Service Environment (ISE)! The fully isolated and dedicated environment for running Azure Logic Apps workloads is set to retire on August 31, 2024. Don’t wait until the last minute to migrate your ISE instances and unlock a world of new benefits.   

Microsoft Azure is fully committed to guiding you through this migration journey. While the creation of new ISE resources has already ceased, existing ISE resources will continue to receive support until the retirement date. For more information and to get started, read our complete blog about Azure Logic Apps Integration Service Environment migration for details.