Application Integration: PROs & CONs for Businesses

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Businesses rarely follow a linear development. Different stages require different approaches. Scaling a business today seems impossible without using software applications: from simple websites to complex platforms, from standard to custom software solutions to optimize production, recruitment process, logistics, finance and all other operations in between.

There comes a time in the evolution of a business when using different applications separately is no longer the best approach. That moment when they no longer perform their best without a seamless communication between all the different software apps they use and need help with creating a system that is reliable, faster and secure.

Most aspects of integration are business-related, not technical. But for a business to run smoothly, it needs technical support. As a software development company, we assisted many clients through the process of application integration, as part of their digital transformation. In terms of software, application integration is the process that enables different software applications to function together. It merges and optimizes data and workflows between different software applications so that you don’t have to. It saves TIME.

Can you live without this specialized software service? Yes.

Will your daily business tasks increase in number and complexity? Also yes.

Basically, you must answer this one question: is your business going to perform better with or without leveraging integration for the software applications you currently use (and the ones you are considering in the future)?

When facing a decision, as human beings, we naturally analyze advantages and disadvantages. Or, in short, the PROs and CONs for each situation. Let’s break them down for the software part of integration and what this means for a business.

Application Integration PROs:

  • provide a cheaper, more flexible, and more efficient operating environment for different software to run together
  • an integration professional is often the most valuable asset in difficult times, saving more money than any other kind of IT professional
  • allows businesses to scale
  • enhanced data management and insights sourced from all used apps because integration means unifying data across different platforms, which means better visibility and reporting for management and, in the end, better business decisions

Application Integration CONs:

  • cost: given the holistic approach of application integration, businesses must consider the resources at hand because it involves high experienced IT professionals
  • complexity: it’s true that it is easier to maintain one functioning instance of an application system than two or more. However, long-term thinking will show that there is no work-around it if business operations have reached a certain degree of complexity or if business processes have increased in number and/or volume or it’s expected to do so in the near future. More and more apps will be required to run and connect at the same time.
  • the process of integrating software applications can be lengthy, particularly if the systems are complex. During implementation, your business might face downtime, training needs, or workflow disruptions

Application integration is not a cookie-cutter solution, although the principles are the same. Depending on where your business is and what are your mid-term and long-term business objectives, it can be applied at different levels: data, business process, methods or users. More on this topic here.

It is up to you to decide which level of integration will help your business the most at this moment. Just in case you are not sure if it’s time to level up, you can always ask. We are here to answer all your questions.

Businesses rarely follow a linear development. Different stages require different approaches. Scaling a business today seems impossible without using software applications: from simple websites to complex platforms, from standard to custom software solutions to optimize production, recruitment process, logistics, finance and all other operations in between.

There comes a time in the evolution of a business when using different applications separately is no longer the best approach. That moment when they no longer perform their best without a seamless communication between all the different software apps they use and need help with creating a system that is reliable, faster and secure.

Most aspects of integration are business-related, not technical. But for a business to run smoothly, it needs technical support. As a software development company, we assisted many clients through the process of application integration, as part of their digital transformation. In terms of software, application integration is the process that enables different software applications to function together. It merges and optimizes data and workflows between different software applications so that you don’t have to. It saves TIME.

Can you live without this specialized software service? Yes.

Will your daily business tasks increase in number and complexity? Also yes.

Basically, you must answer this one question: is your business going to perform better with or without leveraging integration for the software applications you currently use (and the ones you are considering in the future)?

When facing a decision, as human beings, we naturally analyze advantages and disadvantages. Or, in short, the PROs and CONs for each situation. Let’s break them down for the software part of integration and what this means for a business.

Application Integration PROs:

  • provide a cheaper, more flexible, and more efficient operating environment for different software to run together
  • an integration professional is often the most valuable asset in difficult times, saving more money than any other kind of IT professional
  • allows businesses to scale
  • enhanced data management and insights sourced from all used apps because integration means unifying data across different platforms, which means better visibility and reporting for management and, in the end, better business decisions

Application Integration CONs:

  • cost: given the holistic approach of application integration, businesses must consider the resources at hand because it involves high experienced IT professionals
  • complexity: it’s true that it is easier to maintain one functioning instance of an application system than two or more. However, long-term thinking will show that there is no work-around it if business operations have reached a certain degree of complexity or if business processes have increased in number and/or volume or it’s expected to do so in the near future. More and more apps will be required to run and connect at the same time.
  • the process of integrating software applications can be lengthy, particularly if the systems are complex. During implementation, your business might face downtime, training needs, or workflow disruptions

Application integration is not a cookie-cutter solution, although the principles are the same. Depending on where your business is and what are your mid-term and long-term business objectives, it can be applied at different levels: data, business process, methods or users. More on this topic here.

It is up to you to decide which level of integration will help your business the most at this moment. Just in case you are not sure if it’s time to level up, you can always ask. We are here to answer all your questions.

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