12 reasons why you should have a data integration plan

Day by day we are confronted with different types of data. There is an exponential growth in the amount of data generated by various digital sources these days. Thus, the quality of information generated and the predictions we can achieve have become more reliable and precise. More data leads to a more comprehensive knowledge. Sounds logical, right? Theoretically, this is true but practically, more data also leads to a higher complexity, which makes it harder to interpret it. Additionally, there is one major problem with different data sources: different formats! So, it is not as simple to collect as much data as possible and use it. Data is only as valuable as the decisions it enables. To be able to make the most out of your data, it needs to be in one place, a database, in a complementary format and approachable for everybody to gain the full picture – data integration is the solution. This leads directly to the first point why you should have an integration plan.

1. Unique data and its strength

Structuring the data into a common format within an integration process helps to combine the data to form a bigger picture. The more unique your data is, the easier it is for you to have a unified view and can make decisions having every aspect in mind. This can not only hone business operations but also facilitates the decision-making process. To achieve this goal, all metadata and strengths of specific data formats need to be kept, otherwise the contained information would get lost.

2. Reduce data complexity

Consistency automatically reduces complexity. Due to a data integration process and consistent data formats, data transfers can be speed-up. Also, connections between applications are simplified, which can entail great time savings and allows a deeper dive into the available information.

3. Universal data access

Companies receive information from different sources and different departments, which makes it difficult to keep an overview and stick to the project timeline. When everything is stored in one place, the data can complement each other. Also, everyone who has access to it can work with the whole database. Collaboration is key! Mostly, these advantages are achieved with a cloud-based solution. This not only is an inevitable tool for the process, but also offers advantages in many other business fields. If you are interested in this topic, we warmly recommend you participate in our Webinar about Cloud Computing, hosted by CELUS’ CTO Alexander Pohl.

4. Specialized applications

Data integration enables users to freely convert between different formats. Due to that, almost every application can be run with the complete data available: All data can be opened and accessed directly from the applications it should be used.

As an example, the CELUS Engineering Platform is able to automatically recognize the required signals and ports of your developed module from your database. The running project can be shared in real-time with the entire organization, which makes collaboration easier than ever. Every IP can also be reused by all your colleagues, which saves lots of repetitive, time-consuming and unnecessary work. This knowledge-reuse is only feasible when all data is saved in one spot as data source and in a format allowing everybody to work with it.

5. Effective collaboration

A data integration solution ensures effective collaboration due to real-time access to the database. This not only avoids doubled work but also helps to keep all data up-to-date – the more people are working with it, the more eyes keep correcting and complementing your integrated database.

6. Error reduction

Besides all benefits of the integration, a well-planned process really is necessary. Good planning can even help to improve your database in terms of errors, duplicates and inconsistency from the beginning. Undoubtedly, you will never be free of duplicates but having all data in one place enables you to keep a well-structured and powerful data set. Due to one format, less errors will appear here.

7. Smart decision-making

A human decision is always based on information, personal experience, emotion and knowledge. The more information is available, the more likely it is to have a favourable outcome. Backing this with data also allows a unified view on all strategic or business processes decisions as well as a higher transparency. The smarter your decisions are, the smarter your enterprise will be.

8. Be up-to-date

Being always up-to-date is a basic requirement of our time, not only in the private but also in the working world. To unfold the potential in your company, blockers should be defined and avoided. A database enabling real-time integration of data can prevent working on an old version or missing deadlines.

9. Data security

Having all data stored in one place allows companies to implement automated algorithms, such as Artificial Intelligence to detect suspicious activities. Due to such early-warning mechanisms, major harms could be avoided and a higher level of security guaranteed. Of course, a secure Cloud environment needs to be chosen - you will hear more about that in our Webinar, too.

10. Be involved in the data revolution

The future is here: Cloud Computing, Big Data and intelligent machines make the difference nowadays. To benefit from this trend, you should think about an integration in your enterprises' workflows to be part of the data revolution. Artificial Intelligence and automated algorithms can not only help with data security, but also to analyse the existing data. For computers, it is possible to recognize patterns or anomalies in your integrated big data, which would be impossible for humans. This is a real game changer and can help to make the right business decisions to achieve your goals.

11. High performance and scalability

Storing everything in one place is not a new idea. The problem people were facing always was the large volumes of information. In the past, converting data and scaling them down often led to a loss of quality, which made it almost impossible to provide access to the full database for everybody. In the future, the amount of data will grow further, which makes it even more important to integrate the data rather sooner than later.

12. Build trust

Humans have a natural disposition to judge trustworthiness, which influences their behaviour enormously. Having trust in your company improves the spirit and motivation, the employees are feeling free in their actions and tend to achieve better results. However, if the trust-level is low, for example, because you are not having access to what you need, the motivation will suffer. But how can you create trust? Giving your best to provide the conditions your employees need is an important factor. Speaking of access to data, knowing the database as the one and only source of information creates reliability and a feeling of security. But the security-question is not only of subjective nature, a central database can make it also harder for external to get valuable information.

Are you convinced about the future integration now?

If those 12 reasons did not convince you to start planning your data integration project with a suitable data integration tool, we do not know what will. But if so, you should learn more about Cloud Computing as basis. The CELUS Engineering Platform stores the data needed for effective electronics development in a secure cloud. This integration allows centralized and parallel access for engineers, which makes collaboration and avoiding repetitive work a lot easier. Our CTO Alexander Pohl will tell you more about effective electronics engineering with the help of Cloud Computing in this Webinar.

If you want to see how the CELUS Engineering Platform makes use of the decentral cloud storage, see the new Case Study with Viessmann and learn about the advantages with CELUS.