Choosing the right middleware for your ecommerce SaaS stack
September 2025
Middleware is what keeps your ecommerce business running smoothly from behind the scenes. Connecting the dots between platforms, syncing data across systems, and enabling seamless experiences for your team and your customers.
If your SaaS stack is starting to creak under the pressure of disconnected tools and manual workarounds, it’s probably time to bring in a middleware solution. But with so many options out there, which one’s right for you?
Let’s break it down.
MuleSoft
MuleSoft, owned by Salesforce, is built for businesses that mean business. It’s an enterprise-level platform that connects your applications, data, and devices through a powerful API ecosystem. With a vast library of pre-built connectors such as Salesforce, SAP, and Magento, it slashes development time and offers serious scalability and security. It supports hybrid and cloud-native deployments, making it a flexible fit for complex environments.
The flipside? It doesn’t come cheap. MuleSoft’s licensing and implementation costs make it better suited to larger enterprises, and it typically requires specialist developers to set up and maintain.
Patchworks
If you’re an ecommerce brand that wants to move fast, Patchworks is the solution for you. It’s an iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) solution designed to make connecting with systems like Shopify, BigCommerce and NetSuite a lot easier.
With a no-code/low-code interface and a huge range of pre-configured connectors, Patchworks gets you up and running quickly. It’s scalable, cloud-based, and delivers real-time data sync between systems. Helping to keep operations running smoothly as you grow.
Bear in mind that customisation is more limited than with bespoke middleware. Subscription costs can increase as transaction volumes and integrations grow. It also relies on Patchworks' ecosystem, meaning businesses may be limited to supported integrations. As your transaction volume scales, so might your subscription costs.
Laravel Bespoke Middleware
Need complete flexibility? A bespoke middleware solution built in Laravel gives you total control. You can develop exactly what your business needs from custom workflows to niche API integrations, without being locked into someone else’s roadmap.
It’s ideal for businesses with unique requirements or those looking to fully own their infrastructure. You’ll pay for development upfront, but there are no ongoing licence fees. And with smart optimisation, it can be optimised for performance, ensuring fast and efficient data processing.
Of course, there is a longer development time compared to ready-made integration platforms. Plus, you’ll need skilled Laravel developers, and a clear roadmap and to get the most out of it.
AWS Lambda
For teams looking for something lean and efficient, AWS Lambda is a serverless alternative. It lets you run small bits of code, known as functions, only when they’re needed. No servers to manage, no infrastructure to maintain, and you only pay for the compute time you use. Lambda connects effortlessly with other AWS services and scales automatically, making it perfect for event-based workflows like updating order statuses, syncing stock, or triggering email flows.
The catch? Each function has a 15-minute cap, so it’s not ideal for long processes. And if a function hasn’t been used in a while, it may experience a “cold start” delay. For more complex tasks, you may need to pair it with other AWS services like Step Functions or Batch.
Other players
Boomi offers a low-code integration with strong cloud and on-premises support, but it comes with a higher price tag.
Zapier is perfect for small teams looking for basic automation across SaaS tools. It’s simple and effective but limited in power.
Celigo focuses on NetSuite users and delivers a decent mix of eCommerce and ERP integrations for mid-sized brands.
So, what’s next?
If you’re scaling fast and need enterprise resilience, MuleSoft might be your match. If you want speed and simplicity, Patchworks offers a smart, ready-made route. Laravel is your best bet if you want full control and custom logic. AWS Lambda is the go-to for lightweight, event-driven workflows that don’t need full stack overhead.
The right middleware doesn’t just make your systems talk, it empowers your business to move faster, run smoother, and scale smarter.
