# What is Patchworks? ## Introduction Patchworks is an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS). Our secure, [multi-language](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/getting-started/multi-language-support), cloud-based platform automates the flow of data between your company’s business-critical systems/applications in a smart, intuitive way. In today's market, businesses can pick and mix from best-of-breed applications to tackle specific goals...perhaps an eCommerce application for sales order processing; an ERP system for records management; a warehouse management system to maintain inventory and a CRM for relationship management and marketing. On their own, these applications fulfil their requirements perfectly. However, the key to real strategic advantage is integration - establishing a frictionless exchange of data between all of your applications, smartly. ## Video explainer Watch our two-minute explainer video for Patchworks! {% embed url="" %} ## Your centralised systems hub Historically, many businesses have gone down the API route to integrate systems, building and maintaining direct APIs in-house. This can be a costly exercise, carrying an administrative burden and a potential drain on resources (assuming you have the resources in the first place). In contrast, Patchworks provides a cost-efficient way to streamline your operations via one centralised platform - your integrations hub, if you will. Using our intuitive [dashboard](#self-serve-integrations-with-process-flows), you can add, manage and orchestrate your integrations with complete peace of mind when it comes to security and scalability. ## Self-serve integrations with process flows Patchworks is a powerful no-code/low-code platform with everything you need to add and manage your integrations. We know that integration requirements are often highly complex and a real challenge for customers, but we don't think the solution should be. A huge amount of thought has gone into making our no-code/low-code dashboard as smart and user-friendly as possible. Using click-and-drop [process flows](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/about-process-flows) with automated [shapes](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/building-process-flows/process-flow-shapes) and an impressive library of prebuilt [connectors](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/connectors-and-instances/connectors-and-instances-introduction) (in the [Patchworks marketplace](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/marketplace/the-patchworks-marketplace)) and blueprints (from the [Patchworks website](https://www.wearepatchworks.com/collections/blueprint#Landing)), you can create powerful data flows in a matter of minutes. You can adjust default field mappings and transformations as needed, trigger syncs, watch syncs run in real-time, view historical data, and troubleshoot issues - all without a single line of code. ## Virtual environments Virtual environments are a great way for enterprise organisations to manage large-scale sync requirements with minimal process flows and no replication of effort. A [virtual environment](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/virtual-environments/about-virtual-environments) is a collection of overrides (known as [replacements](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/virtual-environments/implementing-virtual-environments/configuring-a-virtual-environment-version/configuring-virtual-environment-replacements)) that can be applied when a 'master' process flow runs, so the specific requirements for each environment can be met without needing to duplicate flows. ## Connector builder With Patchworks, you can configure and connect any of our prebuilt [connectors](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/connectors-and-instances/connectors-and-instances-introduction) in [process flows](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/process-flows/about-process-flows). But what if we don't have a prebuilt [connector](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/connectors-and-instances/connectors-and-instances-introduction) for an application that you need to sync? Perhaps you have a bespoke, in-house system, or maybe you need to integrate an application that's completely outside of the eCommerce arena. No problem - the Patchworks [connector builder](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/developer-hub/connector-builder) is your new best friend! If you have technical knowledge of APIs and working with data structures, you can use the [connector builder](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/developer-hub/connector-builder) to integrate any application with REST or SOAP APIs. ## Developer hub Speaking of technical expertise... 'Out of the box', Patchworks includes everything you need to manipulate and then exchange data securely between different third-party applications, securely and intuitively. However, for users with in-house development expertise and more complex requirements, advanced tools are available that you can use to take your integrations to the next level: * Use the [Patchworks API ](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/developer-hub/patchworks-core-api)to build against Patchworks from third-party systems and interact with your Patchworks process flows or services. * [Custom scripting](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/developer-hub/custom-scripting) can be used at the field level (to build highly complex transformations for mapping individual fields) and at the payload level, so you can manipulate an entire payload before it is sent to the next step in your process flow. ## Certifications Patchworks is proud to be a member of the [MACH Alliance](https://machalliance.org/members/patchworks), and certified for [ISO/IEC 27001:2022](https://www.iso.org/standard/27001). --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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