As soon as a company has been around for a while, more and more different applications run independently from each other. If you want business processes to work broadly across your organization, then those separate systems are not able to support that entire process, but together they are. However, how do you connect all these applications to a functioning whole? Through a well thought-out integration between your systems. We give you five useful tips to ensure an integral infrastructure with systems that work seamlessly together.
CREATE AN INTEGRATION LAYER
Provide flexibility by disconnecting systems in a separate layer of integration. You can think of an integration layer as a power strip: all your systems are connected to it via a plug. Instead of soldering a clutch, to ensure that it is securely attached, you facilitate looser couplings. A big advantage is that when you want to modify or phase out one of the systems, you just pull the plug, without having a big impact on your other systems. Furthermore, an integration layer allows scaling up, simplified management and fast migrations.
MAP YOUR BUSINESS PROCESSES
Don't be guided by the back-end applications you use, but design the architecture around your business operations. New tools and techniques often seem fantastic, but it is not the intention to look for problems that fit that solution. So describe your business processes and see which applications and functionalities are actually needed for your business operations. This process gives you insights into what is expected of the new system and gives you the opportunity to clean up 'clutter'.
STRUCTURE YOUR DATASTREAMS
In addition to the needs from your business processes, you need to think carefully about the data to be unlocked. Your applications may already be linked together, but it's a big jumble of hundreds of custom APIs. Map out which dates should go where and why. When you then put your business processes and applications together, you quickly discover gaps and duplications in your data flows.
THINK ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Once you have linked your applications together, you naturally want your solution to continue to work properly. But is your new system easy to manage? Can you see at a glance where the bottleneck is that causes problems? And can you solve it yourself or does it require a technician every time? Maintenance and management are also essential parts of an integration project.
Download the free e-book: 'The 10 principles of system integration applied' by integration specialist WeAreFrank!
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
It may sound a little depressing, but today's new system is tomorrow's legacy. Can this new solution grow with you? How flexible and open is your integration solution? Determine your long-term vision and goals in advance and translate them into a flexible infrastructure that is ready for the future.
GET OFF TO A GOOD START WITH YOUR SYSTEM INTEGRATION
A clear, stable and manageable infrastructure, that's where you want to go with a system integration. This result is achieved with a flexible integration layer, insight into the needs of your business and data flows and by already thinking about what needs to be done after the integration. Don't underestimate system integration, turn it into a separate project and let us techies and your business work together
