SOFTWARE INTEGRATION

Using Integration Services to Build Bridges between Disconnected Systems

Ideally, your business software solution allows you to enter each piece of information once and then share it across all departments. Here’s an example of one way that systems can integrate.

  • You enter a sales order, and the production system immediately sees the demand for the new products ordered.
  • After production, the shipping system sees the finished goods and the open sales order, finds the customer’s shipping instructions, packages the items, and ships them.
  • As soon as the order is shipped, the system creates an invoice.

When systems are integrated, information entered at one end of the process moves smoothly to the other end.

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Disconnected Systems

Unfortunately, here’s a more realistic scenario of how software systems are used in many businesses.

  • Joe buys a great prospect tracking system.
  • Mary invests in a fantastic order entry system.
  • George chooses the best production software on the market.
  • Susan buys her packing and shipping system from the company that manufactures her scale.
  • Frank in accounting selects the same general ledger and invoicing system he used in his old job.

Every department picked a great software tool, so the software can’t be blamed for lower customer ratings and missed product delivery dates – right?

Wrong.

  • Mary’s department has to rekey the same prospect information Joe’s department already entered when a prospect places the first order, so sometimes customer information isn’t entered correctly.
  • George’s department has to enter the same orders as Mary’s department so items can be managed in the production system, so occasionally target delivery dates are entered incorrectly.
  • Susan’s department has to enter all the customers, orders, and products so the shipping system can create packing labels and handle shipping. Occasionally information gets transposed when it’s rekeyed, and orders are shipped to the wrong address.
  • Accounting has to rekey orders, customers, and all other data required to generate invoices.  Sometimes the report from packing doesn’t match the report from order entry, and it can take a couple of days to track down the problem.

In this scenario, you have five great systems that optimize the process internal to a department while creating information silos that don’t share across departmental boundaries.

You may consider integrating systems before buying software, but what if you’re like the company in our example and the disconnected software packages are already in place?

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Software Integration Services May Solve Your Problems

Some of the software integration alternatives that may eliminate your information silos include:

  • Reports that consolidate information from multiple sources.
  • Batch transfers of information from one system to another to eliminate duplicate data entry.
  • Real-time transfer of information from a source system to other systems that need the data.
  • Modification of systems to look for data outside the boundaries of the application.

The best solution will be unique for you, customized to work with your company’s software and achieve your business goals.

It’s best to choose software that shares information across departments and optimizes your company’s overall business process, but if that didn’t happen, consider software integration services that might allow your information silos to start communicating.

DragonPoint Software is a Florida-based software integration services company that has helped many clients eliminate information silos by automating data transfer among applications. Some of the data integration processes we have implemented include:

  • Web services (REST, OData, GraphQL)
  • Web API development (outbound and inbound)
  • DTS (Data Transformation Services)
  • SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services)
  • COM (Component Object Model Technologies)
  • OLE Automation
  • XML/Flat File/CSV
  • SQL triggers

Contact us today to find out how you can enjoy the benefits of software integration services. Call 321-631-0657.

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