At some point, nearly every company will need to integrate systems. When teams and processes are scattered, incompatible and difficult for managers to manage, a desire to bring these processes closer together arises. This process is called business integration.
Modern business integration techniques can bring a variety of advantages to businesses who utilize them. It can firstly help increase efficiency by eliminating interruptions between applications and systems. It also helps reduce the number of manual documents to be processed, reducing the chance of errors and the cost associated with handling these documents. Furthermore, it is able to reduce maintenance costs by consolidating services into a single system.
A modern approach to business integration can help to align IT with business by converting IT assets into services. This can help to bridge the gap between IT and business goals by making sure that technology is procured, deployed and controlled in accordance with the company’s objectives.
Before undertaking a business integration project, businesses must establish the most important goals and the method by which they will be achieved. Businesses can achieve the clarity, focus and determination they require to be successful in tackling integration by developing a strategy that is specific, quantifiable and achievable as well as timed and relevant. It is also important to ensure that the process is aligned with the company’s culture and that all stakeholders are involved in the development of the initiative from the beginning. This will increase the likelihood of buy-in and help the project succeed throughout the entire duration.