Why you need an integration solution and what you should expect from it.
Deciding on an integration platform is a strategic decision and no matter how large your company is, it’s also an essential one. While this can feel like an overwhelming decision, it’s one that can’t be ignored especially as a company grows. The reality, however, is that many organizations end up relying on point-to-point integration to solve data synchronization issues because it’s seen as a cost-effective and efficient way to handle data issues. This isn’t the case, and this is a lesson many organizations learn the hard way.
When Data Gets Messy
Data is the most important currency for companies. All actions of a company depend on it. And decision-makers rely on the fact that the data is up-to-date and accessible anytime, anywhere. In many companies, however, this is rarely the case.
Instead, what we see is that data is usually stored inconsistently, in multiple locations. This means that data is stored in different data sources creating unconnected systems or applications. As a result, you might have the same dataset twice – for example in your ERP and in your CRM system. If some information is changed or updated in one of the systems, the corresponding dataset in the other system is not updated automatically, creating inconsistent datasets.
Heterogeneous system landscapes make it almost impossible for companies to homogenize and cleanse their data without extensive effort and time-consuming manual processes.
This fact leads to a growing desire for modernization and digitalization.
Data, Data Everywhere
When it comes to data synchronization, these are often budget and resource-heavy projects. Therefore, most companies look for solutions which offer the maximum benefit with the least effort. Enter point-to-point integration solutions.
The appeal of point-to-point development solutions is that they offer a “quick and dirty” solution for exchanging data between applications. When organizations find that this works well as an integration solution for the first two applications they just keep going. And that’s where the problem comes in.
Over time, all the individual and undocumented point-to-point connections lead to an uncontrollable jungle of self-developed connections. This quickly becomes an unmaintainable time bomb with dependencies on individual persons.
And so what do many companies do? They manage to avert the worst and ensure that their data infrastructure is stable and on a future-proof foundation by introducing a central integration platform.
Say hello to the central integration platform
The introduction of an integration platform is accompanied by a fairly clear objective. I would like to present the four most important goals here:
- During the introduction of a central integration platform one inevitably deals with the business processes, which at the end of the day lead to enormous improvements and optimizations.
- Processes and data structures become more transparent and comprehensible.
- Information becomes available across the boundaries of applications and company divisions.
- Finally, management is able to work with central reports and analyses. Decisions and actions are obtained on a reliable basis and consistently lead to an overriding goal – to increase one’s own competitiveness.
The Most Important Decision Criteria for Managers
Why are more and more companies are turning to a central integration platform like Magic xpi? The decision for an integration platform is a long-term strategic one.
We always have our finger on the pulse of technology. As a company which was founded in 1983, integration is not an add-on, but our core business. If we had not been able to guarantee the future viability of our platform right from the start, we would have disappeared from the market long ago.
Of course, the price point also plays an important role in the decision-making process. Magic xpi grows with the requirements of our customers and can always be adapted to current needs, both functionally and in terms of price.
Magic xpi has been used successfully worldwide for decades. This is an integration platform with a very high degree of maturity, and we have an extremely strong development department.
All this has brought us where we are today. A technologically and financially strong, NASDAQ listed company and a reliable business partner for our customers.
The Most Important Decision Criteria for IT
Of course, the IT department has a completely different set of criteria when it comes to decision-making. The IT department aims to introduce a system that is open and flexible enough to meet future requirements. For example, to integrate systems and applications that may not even be on the agenda today.
When we refer to Magic xpi, we are talking about a platform and not about a tool. And the difference is subtle yet significant. Magic xpi, as a platform, enables complex and event-driven integration processes including implemented business logic. A tool, on the other hand, is only for specific tasks at a specific time. For example, you use a hammer to drive a nail into the wall, but you cannot drill a hole with it at the same time.
So it really makes no sense to compare the tools offered on the market or a point-to-point integration solution with Magic xpi.
Even in the Salesforce environment, there is practically no IT project without the need for integration. Integration platforms are therefore becoming more and more important. They meet the requirements of maximum stability and scalability. The underlying system architecture of Magic xpi is unique because our integration platform can be operated in an active cluster. That guarantees not only stability and scalability but also maximum availability and intelligent load balancing at no extra charge.
The strategic role of Magic xpi
The reality is that neither a point-to-point development solution nor a tool from any other provider can do what Magic xpi does. In fact, only a few other providers have a partially comparable technology – which, however, is usually not included in the standard delivery, but is only available as an expensive additional addon.
Magic xpi can be operated both on-premise and in the cloud , enabling hybrid integration scenarios. Believe it or not: In more than 90% of all customer projects our integration platform is operated on-premise. The IT managers justify this by stating that they want to be able to operate Magic xpi where their ERP system runs as well.
The IT department also focuses on implementation and operation. Magic xpi offers numerous ready-to-use business connectors, which can be used very quickly and easily for the design of integration processes in a graphical interface without programming.
An IT-savvy person can learn Magic xpi in just 4 days after taking one training course. After that they’ll have the necessary knowledge to independently take over the maintenance and operation of our integration platform.
Bottom line: Making Your Data Work for You
Without access to accurate data and insights in real-time, business owners can’t be expected to make the right decisions. And while many businesses have a range of tools and solutions to integrate, manage and synchronize their data most do so poorly or in a way that will cause more damage in the long run. The only way to navigate this data jungle in a meaningful way is to embrace a central integration solution like Magic xpi.
Learn more: https://www.magicsoftware.com/integration-platform/xpi/
