22nd March 2023 back to blog

System integration is an effective way to help businesses for many reasons which we will cover in this blog post. This includes looking at how having an integrated system can benefit your business processes to help run them efficiently and seamlessly.

It can reduce operational costs with lowering the need to complete repetitive manual tasks and improve the quality of your data, whilst increasing the security of that data too.

Our blog post will also look at the benefits which help to improve your customer relationship management through offering quicker and increased value for your customers, whilst freeing up time for your team.

What Is System Integration?

First lets look at what we mean by system integration.

This refers to taking the multiple systems a business is currently using across their employees and departments, creating a single system which integrates all of those many systems which the team are using.

In doing this it creates a central point of information, as opposed to needing to refer to different systems or entering information into software solutions but still having remaining subsystems to enter the data into multiple times.

When it comes to system integration projects, there are different types of system integration however, the best system integration methods include detailing from the offset a roadmap of what a business expects and hopes to achieve with an integrated system.

Repetitive Tasks

One of the main benefits to integrated systems is the overarching functionality to reduce the need for staff to enter data across multiple systems. Or for businesses who may have some data in a standard electronic format such as Excel, but storing other data on paper records for their core business functions.

Without system integration then it will likely mean the use of different systems by different departments. Leading to multiple repetitive data entry potentially across multiple staff members for data entry. A systems integrator brings the reduction of repetitive manual time-consuming tasks.

The benefit to this is the free time it provides for your employees to focus on their area of expertise to add value to the business, rather than allocating time to admin heavy tasks which can have their repetition removed through system integration methods.

System integration allows for increased productivity for members of the team across all business processes, giving higher employee satisfaction for the team by being able to focus on their main duties and core capabilities as opposed to repetitive manual data entry.

Accuracy

Integration scenarios to help picture the benefits to the new functionality it will bring, include walking through in your business the journey of a potential customer. Looking at their touch points within the business processes.

Without system integrations depending on the business environment, it is likely whilst using a main system when the first contact is made with a customer. However they may over a period of time be involved with other departments who enter their information on other systems potentially in a different data format or outdated legacy systems.

This can reduce the accuracy of the data being collected, as it is likely being collected in different data format approaches depending on the system used, with data integration occurring manually or repeated into each system. Meaning potential gaps in information and not having real-time information.

If implement system integration this will likely improve the accuracy due to data storage being centralised. With the ability to control the access level for each team member to get the information they need for relevant business processes, ensuring they are using consistent and effective data information.

Real-Time Data

The system integration process allows for accurate, detailed and real-time data which can be viewed in a central dashboard. The integration platform can allow for multiple reporting to cover complex business logic, including forecasting using real time data.

Without system integration typically members of the team would need to pull data from different systems and attempt to manually combine the data to analyse and find meaningful results to use in practice. System integration avoids the risk of data being lost when moved manually, and also means data can be accessed quicker.

A system integrator will provide the ability to improve the level of service given to a customer for multiple reasons. With having a more accurate real-time view of customer data allows for the customer service, marketing and sales teams to identify potential cross selling or up selling opportunities. As well as being able to address any questions or concerns quicker without needing a customer to repeat their information.

Security And Storage

A big benefit to system integration is the increase in data security. Currently businesses could be using various systems which all requiring managing individually to ensure sufficient security for the data being stored. Some of this data might be kept in programs such as Excel.

With using point to point integration which will collate all data into a secure database it removes the worry of needing to manage data security across legacy systems, which may not offer the right level of security needed for handling sensitive information. Legacy system integration allows for a business to feel confident they have most likely improved their data security.

When considering integration costs and integration challenges, a factor to take into account is as the business scales and grows, the system integrators allows for that scale. Typically managed with cloud storage as opposed to requiring different storage solutions for existing systems, it is all stored in one system which the storage can scale with the business as and when required.

Customer Satisfaction

Taking into account the benefits we have covered above, it is clear to see with software integration it benefits both internally with employees but also with customers. Integration systems boost productivity among the team with the reduction of repetitive manual tasks and having access to a central dashboard to view real-time data.

This allows for customer queries to be addressed quicker and felt to be a more personal response. Having customer data easily to hand which is constantly up to date for all departments, provides the opportunity to offer the right cross-selling or up-selling to a customer to suit their needs and preferences.

Business communication internally can be processed quicker too across departments, so the business processes can also be improved in efficiency and accuracy. When evaluate customer reviews if the customer support is a key factor for your customers, utilising the integration method will likely continue to improve customer reviews about the customer support provided.

A single integration engine which uses integration expertise can include a central dashboard and simple to use system regardless of the level of data, meaning as the business expands it also makes it easier and quicker when training any new members joining the team.

How Can We Help?

We hope you found our blog post useful to learn more about how system integration can help to save a business both time and money.

With improving customer service whilst at the same time improving employee satisfaction. Achieved by lowering repetitive manual tasks, providing real-time and accurate data to support with forecasting and analysis for a business among other benefits above.

Our team are experienced with working on integration project across multiple industries. Please feel free to get in touch with one of the team to see how we can help.