Ditch Data Silos for a Data Ecosystem.
When you hear the word “integration” in a software or IT setting, think data — an integration is a piece of software, website application, mobile app, middleware, or even a single line of code that helps bring together data from two or more siloed systems.
Integrations help connect systems and applications from across your entire organization using data. Imagine your Accounting team uses one application for mailing invoices, and your Marketing team uses an entirely different system for mailing product offers—the two systems have unique purposes; however, they rely on the same set of data. Depending on the types of applications, an off-the-shelf or custom integration can consolidate data, so both teams are working from the same data set, and it only needs to be updated in one place.
Integrations can range from the simple example above to complex, enterprise-sized software integrations that combine hundreds of data sets into a single data warehouse.
For most businesses, integrations translate to cleaner data and streamlined operations. In this article, we’ll explain what integrations are, how businesses discover and implement integrations, and ways to identify where your business can benefit from an integration.
Introduction to Integrations
It’s time to start taking advantage of your data. Many businesses don’t realize how inefficient their operations are until they begin taking inventory of their processes and data. The more systems, databases, and applications you have, the more room for error.
Integrations help coordinate and automate your businesses processes to streamline your operations and boost your bottom line.
Integrations unify your business systems by sharing data.
For example, you have some data here, some data there, a little data that’s been in the same spreadsheet for ten years with no backup. The more distributed your data is, the greater chance you have of introducing human error, having a data disaster, or making uninformed decisions for your business’s future.
Integrations help your data flow between different applications, connecting systems so that they use your data simultaneously. You’re not just making a slight improvement that benefits one team; you’re investing in company-wide efficiencies.
Integrations can help enhance your business functions.
With an integration, you’re serving multiple business functions and teams. It’s all about creating cross-departmental efficiencies. You can create new automatic workflows and cut down on repetitive work.
Common reasons why businesses need integrations
- Migrating from a legacy software system to a new database. If you rely on an old database, it may not play nice with newer applications. A custom integration can help link older data with newer software without having to rewrite the old application from scratch.
- Creating a centralized data system. Integrations are your ticket to a smarter company-wide data ecosystem if you don’t already have a centralized data system.
- Linking different data systems. Maybe you have two systems of record, or you’re trying to incorporate data following an acquisition. An integration can help bring the systems together.
- Bringing in new applications. Do you have your sights on a game-changing application for your business, but don’t know if it’ll play nice with your existing database? An integration could be the answer.
2 Types of Integrations
1. Off-the-shelf integrations
These types of integrations are available “out-of-the-box” by existing software providers. They are easy to use and implement, typically available via an online app database. In most cases, you can implement off-the-shelf integrations quickly. In some cases, you may need help with custom configurations and setting up data flows to meet your specific business needs.
2. Custom integrations
Every business is unique, and in some cases, a readily-made integration may not be available for the specific software applications you use. Custom integrations can be coded from scratch to help create data flows between applications.
While custom integrations take longer to develop, they’ll most likely meet more of your needs. You also get full ownership over the integration, creating the opportunity for more functionality and new efficiencies.
Examples of Integrations
If you have at least two existing application-specific data silos, there’s most likely a way to connect them with an integration. With integrations, specifically custom integrations, the sky’s the limit. We’ve put together a few examples to help you visualize how an integration may be able to benefit your business.
Software Integration
For example, you have all your customer data in one application, but your Communications team just started using new software for emailing customers. A software integration could import your customer data from the original application to the new software instead of manually having to reenter all the data. Then, every time you add a new customer to the central database, the Communications team will automatically be able to send them emails.
Website Integration
What happens to the data when someone visits your website and fills out a form? Is it recorded just by your website, or is the data available company-wide?
An integration could help you expand this data to other systems, so you don’t have to manually copy and paste data from your website to your central company database.
Middleware
Think of middleware like the glue that holds two pieces of software together. You may not be able to see the direct impact via data like a software or website integration, but it can help automate data transformations, translate complicated workflows, or make future integrations possible.
We Make Things Easier.
Whether it’s building a custom integration or implementing an off-the-shelf integration, we can help. Contact us to learn more about software solutions, including integrations, for your business.