Integration platforms as a service (iPaaS) provide a centralized console to manage, govern, and integrate cloud-based applications. These tools work by connecting cloud applications and services, and controlling integration flows. They can speed up product development by integrating existing tools, and increase data volume by utilizing external sources. Companies use these tools to scale performance needs, add product functionality, and structure application integrations. Features or data can be added or removed quickly, reducing failover, downtime, and development time. There is some relationship between iPaaS and ESB software, but iPaaS is typically used for customer-facing applications, while ESB is used for internal data transfers and updates.