Data integration enables the seamless processing of information from multiple sources, enhancing data quality and compatibility. This makes it easier to use integrated data in daily operations. However, numerous myths surrounding data integration hinder many companies from adopting these solutions.
Are you considering making your company data-driven but have doubts about implementing data integration? Read on as we debunk 10 common myths about data integration that might be holding back your organization’s potential!
1. Data integration requires an advanced IT department
Many believe that data integration demands a highly advanced and costly IT department, making it feasible only for large corporations. While IT specialists do command high salaries, it’s a misconception that you need an in-house IT team to manage data integration.
Today, you can outsource data integration tasks to specialized external companies. This approach is often more cost-effective and delivers faster results.
Additionally, maintaining and developing your data integration processes doesn’t necessitate constant programming work. Modern applications, like the FME Platform, feature intuitive user interfaces. With minimal training, employees familiar with systems like CRM or ERP can easily navigate and use these tools.
2. You can just outsource data integration and forget about it
This myth is the opposite of the first one. Some managers believe they can outsource data integration tasks and consider the job done. However, data integration must be tailored to specific business needs.
While an external solution provider can assist in making optimal decisions, it’s crucial for company representatives to stay involved in the process. Their focus should be on strategic decisions rather than the technical aspects of integration. They need to provide essential information such as:
For a detailed look at the implementation process, read our article: A Guide to Mastering Data Integration in 10 Steps.
3. Data integration is expensive
Many companies cite high costs as the main barrier to implementing data integration. While the initial investment can be significant, the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs. With data integration:
Your data availability and quality improve, enhancing the effectiveness of your business operations.
Your information becomes more consistent, minimizing errors and leading to more accurate decisions.
You can process data faster, even in real-time. By monitoring your business indicators, you can react to changes more promptly.
4. Implementing data integration takes a long time
Connecting all the applications used by a company can indeed be time-consuming and costly. However, you can implement data integration more effectively in stages, starting with the most critical business areas. This phased approach allows you to quickly achieve benefits and minimize initial costs and disruptions to your daily operations.
Additionally, you can scale up your integration at any time by adding further tools and features.
5. Only large companies need data integration
Data integration is beneficial for businesses of all sizes, including small and medium-sized enterprises. Today, even small companies use multiple applications and process vast amounts of information. Data integration helps them better understand client needs, predict market trends, and make informed decisions to foster growth.
Moreover, implementing data integration in the early years of a company’s existence is simpler and cheaper than doing so later when data structures become more complex and the number of systems to be integrated increases.
6. Data integration is a one-time project
There’s a common misconception that data integration is a one-time project—implemented once and then forgotten, continuing to work in the background. However, data integration is an evolving process that must adapt to changing business conditions. As companies grow, their data changes as well. New data sources emerge, and existing ones are modified, necessitating ongoing adjustments.
With the increasing volume of data, you can implement new methods of integration and analysis, such as machine learning, to stay ahead.
7. Maintaining data integration is costly and time-consuming
When implementing data integration, concerns often arise about not just the initial costs, but also the ongoing maintenance expenses. In reality, a well-implemented data integration system can be a cost-effective solution that saves both time and money.
A properly designed data integration tool can automatically report errors and anomalies and log ongoing system operations. This makes it easier to detect data inconsistencies across different systems compared to manual digitization.
Alternatives to data integration include manually moving data between systems or forgoing synchronization altogether. The first option is time-consuming and prone to human errors, while the second creates data silos that hinder organizational growth.
Companies often overlook the costs associated with fixing errors and performing tasks that could be automated. These costs are frequently several times higher than the maintenance costs of a data integration system.
Of course, maintaining integration isn’t free. It’s important to analyze costs when choosing your system. Programs are offered in various pricing models, such as perpetual licenses or subscriptions. The subscription model helps save on initial costs, but it’s crucial to monitor your spending in the long term, especially if your data volume is increasing.
We offer FME software in both subscription and perpetual license models, allowing you to tailor the solution to your current needs.
For example, you might start with a subscription and switch to a perpetual license as your data integration needs grow. Since this is all possible within a single system—the FME Platform—you can ensure continuity in your system operations.
8. If data integration stops working, I’ll lose all my data
Software outages are rare, but even if they occur, your data remains safe. Data integration systems manage data processing operations; they don’t store the information. Therefore, if the system stops working, your data will still be in its original sources. You may only experience a temporary interruption in data processing.
9. I have too much or too little data for integration
Many entrepreneurs worry about the quality or quantity of their data. However, data integration can provide significant benefits regardless of your dataset size. In small organizations, data integration focuses on efficiently processing information from various systems, relieving employees from repetitive tasks and simplifying access to high-quality data.
You can enhance your integration with dashboards and interactive interfaces that visualize data and aid in strategic decision-making. For large or unorganized Big Data sets, AI/ML-based solutions can be implemented.
When planning data integration, it’s crucial to tailor solutions to the size and complexity of your company’s datasets and goals. The limitation lies not in the amount of data but in the misalignment of solutions with the company’s needs and resources.
10. Data management slows down business processes
Some believe that data management procedures may slow down business processes due to the need for documentation, checklists, and control procedures. In reality, these steps lead to more efficient operations.
Human errors pose the greatest risk to data quality. By establishing clear procedures, you minimize this risk. During the data integration implementation stage, you can also introduce automations that modify and verify processed information. Automations can perform additional tasks, such as sending email notifications, improving task fulfillment, and accelerating business processes. Many tasks can be handled by scripts, reducing the need for employee involvement.
Summary
There are many myths surrounding data integration. In this article, we debunked the most common ones we encounter when speaking with clients. If you still have doubts about data processing or would like to discuss using the FME Platform for data integration in your company, don’t hesitate to contact us!
