The success of businesses in the rapidly evolving digital economy is defined by their advancements toward digital transformation. In addition, the use of best-in-class software to connect data points across multiple systems has become essential for businesses to hold a competitive edge in digital markets.
In a recent interview with Jason Lamont, Director of Integrations and Information Systems at VistaVu, he said:
It’s no longer an improvement or a business efficiency. It’s really what you need to do to compete. The diverse types of software integrations currently available on the market include application programming interface (API) which governs protocols for data exchanges, to webhook integrations which enable real-time data transfer between various applications.
Organizations can use software integrations as the mediator between data sets of interest, which has expanded to new horizons with the development of cloud-based systems and access to diversified forms of social media sharing across apps. It has become important for businesses to navigate these data sets simultaneously for streamlined market reporting. For organizational needs within local databases, “integrating your systems combines these data siloes, giving you better access to your data.”
Another type of integration such as the Boomi platform is an enterprise-class and cloud-based digital system. This platform is also known as middleware, which Lamont referred to as “the glue” between different system methodologies because it can facilitate any kind of connection that you need.
It’s clear to see how having essential connections between information systems would not only define an organization’s success in the digital economy but also shape them as an intelligent enterprise. This includes being able to react to external data that is always proliferating, or establishing anticipatory groundwork to track market changes that determine sales forecasting.
Lamont describes through integrations how an organization like WestJet can react instantaneously to Twitter hashtags because they are actively looking for that data feedback. With enhanced software connections, customer engagement through social media enters the data workflow and contributes to real-time information sharing.
Additionally, software integrations are coveted for streamlining monotonous automation tasks. Lamont commented that one of the most common requests for integrations is to sync an organization’s customer records with the CRM, ticketing, and ERP systems that they have in place. These requests can be tailored to specific processual needs.
The key to successful integration is setting the proper goals and expectations based on software and what an organization needs. According to Lamont, these are shaped to correspond with before they go live, during go live, and after go live. While focusing on issues that need to be addressed during go live and then talking about the potential for key improvements and add-ons after go live, the team will be resourced appropriately.
An integration project also offers a glimpse into an organization’s current data operations and creates an opportunity for new solutions to emerge. According to Lamont:
The integration project is your map of where you are and where you want to be.
In conclusion, software integrations are crucial for organizations in the digital economy to succeed. With the help of middleware and other integrations, organizations can effectively connect data points, streamline automation tasks, and react to external data in real time. The key to success lies in setting proper goals and expectations based on what an organization truly needs and continuously shaping integrations to optimize and transform data operations.
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ERP
May 3, 2023
