The true value of integration

First you need to assess where you are and then decide where you want to be.

What is integration?

In the words of the Gartner Group, Enterprise Application Integration is the “unrestricted sharing of data and business processes among any connected application or data sources in the enterprise."

Integration is the process of linking together applications within a single organisation in order to simplify and automate business processes greatest extent possible, while at the same time avoiding having to make sweeping changes to the existing applications or data structures.

Defining the value of integration.

Nobody likes to talk about dollar amounts when it comes to integration projects, but we need to push through our dislike because it's an important question for businesses to ask. We have to be able to stick a stake in the ground upfront, knowing what the value of this project will be in the long term.

Going about defining the value, particularly in financial terms, is no easy task. Ultimately, there is no single formula. The value will depend upon your individual circumstance around the inefficiencies you're trying to correct, and the organisation's business goals.

First you need to assess where you are and then decide where you want to be.

What is it going to save your company per hour operationally to remove manual "swivel chair" double entry of data into systems? How much more dynamic will
your business be with reduced capacity for error and greater flexibility, allowing you to scale to increasing demands from customers and end users?

We need to understand the value of information flowing between systems in an automated integrated basis versus the cost of information not flowing between these systems.

The value proposition of a good integration strategy

An integration project needs planning and thought.

Often, like an insurance policy, spending money on an integration project is considered a “grudge purchase.” You've already invested so much time and money in your core line of business systems and then somebody comes along and tells you to invest yet more integrating them.

"This stuff should just work. It's all made by the same company," is often the response. But stop for a minute and consider what you're asking for. It's like taking your petrol sports car, dropping in a diesel truck engine, and a boat gearbox all manufactured by the same company and expecting them to work smoothly.

Integration projects are often an afterthought. If integration is just applied without first having a structured, well thought out and planned approach, point-to-point connections grow across an organisation. Integration points, and therefore tightly coupled dependencies, are added on an impromptu basis which more often than not results in a tangled mess that is difficult to maintain.

Try not to be overwhelmed by the prospect of defining your vision for integration.

Take the time to dream big, and then work together with a trusted partner experienced in integration projects to establish an achievable set of objectives based on your resources, goals and timelines.

The most important thing to remember is that it's good to start by imagining the perfect world, and then scale it back to reflect the world you operate in.

A well thought out integration plan, tailored for your business, will not only save you money but also the most valuable asset of all: time.

At Intergen our team of integration specialists live by the mantra of “use the right tool for the job” and will tailor-make an integration solution for you. Together we will help you realise the full value of the line of business systems you already have.

ryan.crawcour@intergen.co.nz