In past few years, more and more organizations have come forward seeking integration of their systems. The major factors that have made system integration, the most sought-after solution to deal with inefficiencies and business underperformance, are real-time visibility of the entire data, and automated processes. The integration of disparate systems aligns the processes for a streamlined work-flow between them.Getting the systems integrated, no doubt, can be the wisest decision for any company; however, there are a few things that should be determined before investing time and effort in the process.
Assessing the Existing System
You need to integrate your systems! The moment you realize this, should not be the very moment for you to call the integration expert to get the things done lickety split. You first need to be sure about your requirements, and before that, your existing system and its limitations. Whether you opt for integrating new to your existing systems, or are looking for hybrid integrated solution, you should have every know-how of your old system, related issues and challenges, which you will be required to convey to your expert integrator.
Understanding the Objectives for Complete Process Flow
System integration involves all the systems to connect. There may be single or multiple objectives of the company behind system integration. Whatever the objective may be, to leverage the best of system integration, it will be great if all the departments determine their objectives and get in-line with each other, so that the process-flow is maintained in automated systems, does not get stuck in other systems. This makes it imperative for every system and every department to consider integration as an integral part of this transition, as this helps in meeting the objectives of the growing business in entirety.
Seeking Off-the-Shelf Solutions First
If you are seeking integration of your systems, it will be better if you look out for those that already exist. Custom solutions can be expensive, and may take too much time to develop. In case, the off-the-shelf solutions do not cater to the needs, a custom integrated solution is the answer.
Whatever you opt, a custom infrastructure framework or an off-the-shelf one, it is important to define and identify what all will be required in the newly integrated system, so that it performs the way it is supposed to. This may be any new feature or field required to be added to the new system, so that the automated system is able to function, and present what is expected of it.
Mitigation of Risks Involved
The integration of multiple subsystems provides organizations, a complete view, and a good control over their data resources. It benefits by automating the processes, for improved efficiency. But alongside, the integration process also poses data security challenges.
While identifying these security challenges associated with integration process, it is important that your system integrator is aware about data breaches. You can also reduce the chances of risk by training your employees on some important security tips to be kept in mind, and prevent hackers and viruses from entering the system during the process.
Preparing Data for the New System
Right before integrating the system, the data should be cleaned, defined, and structured in the old system, as structured and manageable data is easily accessible and can be integrated well in systems; and this can be a great value-add to how the business functions.
Data-Mapping in the New System
Once the data is cleaned, well defined, and set in the right structure, it should be entered or mapped into the new system. However, be sure about the fields that are already there in the new system, and the ones that need to be entered specifically. If the required fields do not exist in the new system, then they will be custom-created in the new system.
Standard Nomenclature of the Fields
To prevent any kind of discrepancy arising while data transfer from the old system to new, make sure to follow a standard nomenclature of the fields, both existing and created. This will allow the perfect matching of all the fields.
Data Review for Resolving Issues, If any
After the data is entered in the new system with standardized fields, run a review test to spot or identify any issue, and resolve or eliminate it. This makes the data clean, understandable and usable. It is however, important to make sure that the data is duplicated.
Data Validation Before Movement
Once the data review is over, data validation is required to be done to counter issues that may happen in the future. So, before the data is entered into the new system, these issues need to be sorted.
Inclusion of Flexible Platforms
It is always wiser to involve flexible platforms in the system integration process as they readily communicate with other systems. The software can be modified through the source code easily, so that it can be integrated with other systems around. This certainly unleashes the possibilities from the shackles of limitations led by the constraints of standard software.
Prepare for the Developer’s Query
It is obvious that you will be needing a capable developer, when you choose to go with the custom developed integrated solution. But before that, prepare yourself to answer to their questions associated with your existing old system, and of course, the challenges and requirements. These questions will decide their course of action.
To ensure the smooth integration of systems, that promises to meet all the requirements of a growing business, it is imperative to consider these factors that are though just associated with initiation of the integration process, yet serve the purpose right.
Custom Integration Services by Tarika Technologies
Tarika Technologies offers integration services by consolidating software sub-systems to simple, unified, and coherent system, that caters to the growing operational needs of any organization. Following latest trends and techniques, the integration process is carried out while overcoming numerous challenges that are encountered during the process.
Joe leads the company’s strategy development and team building processes to formulate and enact the mission and goals. His strategic decisions involve the commitment of various resources for the fulfilment of goals and purposes of the organization, with a positive impact on its various aspects of growth.
With over 30 years of leadership experience, Joe has lead transformation projects, new business ventures, and execution of change management strategies.
In his previous role in C/C Financial Corp, a start-up financial technology business, Joe served as President & CEO. The start-up was scaled up and acquired by a large publicly traded company.
Joe started PeakFormance Leadership Consulting, a leadership and strategy advisory firm that specializes in helping busy executives develop high-performing team and organizations. His experience and proven strategies have helped him lead organization development projects with Fortune 500 companies as well as small to medium size start-ups.
With a strong passion for leadership, Joe has demonstrated the ability to develop cohesive teams, aligned and collaborative teams that achieve extraordinary results. Joe’s passion for leadership and team-building and vast experience enable him to connect with executive leaders and partner with them to improve performance.
Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Minnesota State University, and an MBA in Organization Leadership from Walden University. He enjoys spending time traveling, golfing and training for Ironman triathlon competitions.
WILLIAM ANSAH
Head of Africa Operations, Tarika Group
20+ years of professional experience
William Yaw Ansah, Chairman, and CEO, Origin8 Limited in Ghana is an accomplished executive with experience spanning multiple sectors – Publishing, International NGOs, Education, Consultancy, and more.
Most recently, William was appointed as Course Manual Author Monitor for Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana. He was also appointed as a Member of the Management Committee, School of Arts, University of Ghana. He is also a Member of the Institute of Directors Ghana, an Accredited Member of the Institute of Public Relations, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketers, U.K
Over the years, he has been a mentor and advisor to a number of new ventures in Ghana and has trained several organizations such as SSNIT, Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Water Company Limited, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme among others.
William has authored a number of books such as Simple English for Senior High Schools in Ghana, Simple English books for Primary Schools in Ghana, and Simple English books for kindergarten, among others.
William received his Master’s degree in Global Marketing from the University of Liverpool, the U.K, and a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Ghana, Ghana. He started his career in Ghana as an Instructor, Consultant, and later management member of Afram Publications, Sahabia Publications, Comland Ghana, Origin8 Limited to mention a few.
SACHIN AGRAWAL
Founder & CEO, Tarika Group
20+ years of professional experience
Sachin has over twenty years of experience managing innovation and development of solutions and optimizing complex business processes; Business & Technology Architecture and Integrations. His proficient leadership and exceptional communication skills, technical expertise, combined with industry experience have delivered extraordinary results for his firm and clients.
Sachin instituted Tarika Technologies to support businesses by implementing a strong process-oriented system and the virtual CIO model, managing a team of offshore and onsite professionals. He performs complete business and technology assessment, advises on Enterprise Architecture and provides solutions for mid to large companies, globally. Under his leadership, Tarika Technologies has acquired several key accounts, providing Enterprise Solutions, Infrastructure Solutions (PaaS, IaaS, SaaS), Software & Web Solutions and Mobile Applications.
In addition, Tarika Technologies provides technology and communications infrastructure set up and has successfully launched several products in the ERP, Communication, Entertainment & Media domains. Today, Tarika stands as a global company with presence in America, Asia, and Africa.
Sachin is the CIO to a leading firm in Bethesda, Maryland USA that provides acquisition support services; and technical advisor to the Crisis Center Hotline located in the state of Maryland in the United States. During his career, he also served as Director of Information Technology at a prestigious infrastructure management firm in the DC area providing IT consulting, infrastructure design and enterprise solutions for small to large corporations all around the mid-Atlantic region, as well as governmental organizations. His innovation in business process has led to a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Offices for one of his clients.
Sachin’s keen interest in International business has formed key alliances and relationships worldwide apart from just Technology. In recent times, he has partnered with Origin8 Limited, a leading PR & Advertisement firm located in Ghana, extending all the products and services offered by Tarika to the African region. As an integral part of this partnership, Origin8 will be heading the sales and marketing of EBIMS AirWatch in the West African market; a cloud-based ERP solution by Tarika, supporting the needs in the Media industry providing real time strategic planning, monitoring, management of operations, automation of collections and complete digitization of payments through integrations to local payment gateways. He is also the Chief Technology Advisor for Origin8 Limited, driving advanced digital solutions for clients in Ghana; and introducing customized ERP for businesses across West Africa.
His keen interest in international business has formed key alliances and relationships worldwide in areas aside technology. Other areas of his expertise include managing and streamlining business processes, vertically independent Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure Management, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, high-level network and systems architecture, design and development capabilities of secure distributed applications for both private as well as governmental organizations.
Sachin holds a Master of Science in Information Architecture with highest honors; a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Associates in Computer Engineering Technology from Capitol Technology University in Maryland, USA. In his leisure, Mr. Agrawal enjoys playing musical instruments and practices Haidong Gumdo, the Korean swordsmanship, as a senior martial arts practitioner. His personal blog can be found at www.sachinagrawal.com.
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