Systems Integration Design

For each type of demand, there is an application capable of simplifying the work and enhancing the results of your company. It is very unlikely that today, with the digital transformation, a company is restricted to a single information system. Possibly, the ideal solution for CRM is not the best option for Financial Management, for example. The reality is that companies rely on several tools, which need to operate in an integrated manner to ensure the correct functioning of processes. Therefore, to make all these software options work together and aligned with corporate objectives, it is necessary to pay attention to the integration between systems.

Why should your company care about systems integration?

To reach the maximum of its potential, a company must have all its sectors and collaborators working towards the same objective. And this is equally valid for the systems used in the company: if they are correctly integrated, these tools can provide much more speed and reliability in the organizational processes.

In practice, systems integration enhances an organization’s Business Intelligence, allowing better use of data obtained from different applications. All information collected will be used to achieve the main objectives of the company.

In addition, systems integration eliminates bottlenecks and productivity breakpoints. If it is necessary to enter repeated data into different systems each time a process changes hands between the company’s sectors, communication will lose value and speed — not to mention rework.

What should be the main objectives of a systems integration project?

Cost reduction

Automated processes reduce the time spent performing organizational activities, which generates cost savings.

Performance gain

Internal communication, when reinforced, is capable of optimizing interactions and promoting the establishment of joint strategies, as well as more efficient work routines. All of this translates into greater team productivity.

Process improvement

With good systems integration, frequent process optimization becomes easier. This is because activities and tasks can be changed in a simpler way, since they have technological support.

Reduced rework

In an ecosystem of integrated solutions, greater accessibility to information facilitates consultation and data access, as they are available to all sectors of the company. In addition, rework arising from the repetition of information entries in several systems is eliminated. It is enough to register the data once in an application and all the software and modules that need it will share this data.

Greater integration between departments

This means that the processes of different sectors are aligned, allowing the development of more effective collaborative strategies, in addition to the broad exchange of knowledge among employees. In this way, complex environments will have a more dynamic and unified workflow.

What are the main challenges of systems integration?

There are several complicating factors that can make this process difficult. The first is a technical issue: often, to make one tool communicate with the other, it is necessary to master both the language in which systems were written and also the logic behind the operation and implementation of the software. Not always the same professional will gather all the skills to perform the task. Therefore, it is best to have a team that has experience in the area and understands both the proposal for a technological solution and the company’s problem.

To be successfully implemented, integration also needs to overcome organizational challenges. Often, to effectively connect two very different systems, it is necessary to make significant changes in the way the team works. When modifying the workflow in any sector, the team carrying out the integration may encounter resistance from employees or even coordinators. Therefore, you need to be flexible and present changes intelligently to ensure acceptance by all.