Organizations today realize that it’s inefficient to work with multiple fragmented systems. The market for integration solutions is growing, especially those that link SaaS applications. Through integration, businesses can achieve faster workflows due to faster or real-time transfer of data. Software integration can also help organizations reduce their operating costs. Here are a few ways businesses can achieve more productivity from software integration
1. Enhanced Data Analysis
Companies working with fragmented systems have to download data from the different systems if they want to use for analysis. This is a complex and tedious undertaking especially when large volumes of transactions are taking place every day. It may become too expensive. However, with integrated systems, there is usually a single place where data generated from different applications is automatically gathered. In fact, it will often be represented on a dashboard with tools to filter, adjust, and monitor.
Placing such capabilities in the hands of key decision-makers enables them to make faster and more informed decisions. Data can help reveal trends and patterns the business can use to improve efficiency in resources usage. The organization can also trace opportunities early enough and act on them.
2. Software Integration Powers Innovation and Growth
Working with integrated systems frees a business from having to operate in a rigid manner. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need for businesses to be agile enough to respond quickly to unprecedented events. With integrated systems, it’s easier for people to work away from the office. As long as people from various departments have access to the same ecosystem, they can work on projects together, but from different locations. This means the workflow never stops even when all people can’t be at the office at the same.
Easier collaboration between people in different departments and locations also fuels innovation within the company. As people interact more, it’s easier to bounce ideas off each other and work on passion projects. Innovation within a company is often fuel for growth.
3. Enhanced Data Security
A major risk with a fragmented system is the risk that unauthorized persons may access the data. Data stored in multiple locations is often at risk because there may not be standard security measures across the board. However, with system integration, it’s easier to implement standardized controls. The automated transfer of data also eliminates the need to manually download data from the different systems. Elimination of security risks protects the business from the legal, financial, and reputational risks of security breaches.
4. Making Onboarding and Training Easier
If an organization can integrate all its systems, it will make it possible for people to work from a single system or portal and fulfill all their duties. It will be much easier and faster to train new employees on the new system compared to introducing them to multiple applications. Taking an integrated approach to workflow also eases the introduction of new modules or features. Instead of creating a new separate application, you can integrate it into the existing system. This makes it easier for employees to learn and start using the new feature more quickly.
5. Cost Savings
The cost savings from integrating your business systems can be quite enormous. Automatic synchronization of data between different systems eliminates the need for repetitive manual data entry. Staff previously charged with such menial work can be given more meaningful work. If the organization was using multiple data stores, they will no longer need to pay for all of them.
Integration does not always require rebuilding all your systems from scratch. Instead, when you hire an integration expert, they will advise you on the integration solutions you can rely on to build an integrated workflow. You may have to build APIs for some of your custom apps but it’s cheaper than rebuilding applications from scratch.
6. Customer Service
Your customer service team will have an easier time responding to customer queries when they have a single point of access to all data they need. For instance, when handling an existing customer, the customer service team member should be able to see the customers’ order history, previous queries, outstanding orders, and more. Customers know it when they are dealing with a knowledgeable representative and it reflects well on the company when the company solves issues quickly and thoroughly.
In addition, giving customer representatives a single dashboard of information opens up opportunities for them to suggest new products and services to the people they are serving. They can hear the customers’ pain points and recommend solutions instantly. This makes the customer service team more useful for the company.
7. Software Integration Creates Scalability
Businesses with multiple separate systems may find it extremely difficult to scale their operations when they need to. Managing large volumes of data being created in different locations can get complicated with concerns over storage costs and security. With integration, organizations can use a cloud storage and backup service for all their data. Cloud storage is flexible and automatically allocates more resources when the business needs grow. This way, the organization stays ready to expand its operations.
Getting Ready for Systems Integration
If your business is looking to integrate the different applications it is currently using, there is a need to realize that it is genuinely a project on its own. It will require you to hire the services of an integration expert to help plan and implement. The first series of meetings will be about requirements gathering and must involve representatives from all departments. The next step will be about determining the operational feasibility of the project given all the requirements and specifications given in the previous step.
Once you determine the feasibility, the systems integration will help come up with an architectural design of what the integrated system will look like. They will also analyze and develop proper measures against any risks that may be inherent in the design. Next, the real integration happens whereby the architectural design gets built. It’s a delicate process and therefore measures must be taken to avoid losing valuable data or experiencing prolonged workflow interruptions. Proper tests and verification must be done prior to the actual integration to detect and fix any bugs.
For a reliable integrations and customizations service provider, contact Transcendent Software. We are an IT services company with over 20 years experiencing in helping companies build up their IT infrastructure. Contact us for consultation on your integration needs.