For a long time, we did our best to break down IT silos. Silos created implementation problems, miscommunication, duplicate data (or worse) and problems in the area of Innovation and Digitization. We looked for the solutions in the purchase of large, fully integrated ERP systems, more cloud and especially more agile. So then we must be almost there, right?
In many cases, the implementation of the (saving) ERP system has been so expensive that existing applications that were supposed to connect to the ERP system do not, or do so only sparsely. Therefore, many organizations are still storing a lot of data in duplicate. Instead of multiple silos, there is now often one very large silo (the ERP solution) with a variety of small silos around it.
Agile has transformed the larger silos in many organizations into patchworks. The far-reaching autonomy of Agile teams lacks focus on collaboration with other systems and applications. In recent years, this has led to a patchwork where connecting new applications or new functionality becomes increasingly difficult.
Cloud was going to solve a lot of integration problems. Until we realized that not everything just gets migrated to the cloud, organizations often use multiple cloud environments and Hybrid-IT is the rule rather than the exception.
The common denominator here is integration. An architecture that considered all the data owned by the organization and how to make it “open” so that other applications could easily consume or deliver it would have made the difference everywhere here. An Agile team that can call on a stockpile of ready-made integrations is much more likely to use them. If existing applications can already easily offer data to ERP or Cloud applications, not only implementation, but adoption will be much faster.
For too long it has been thought that technology would solve it all. And of course technology is needed to solve many of the IT problems as we know them today. Digital integration also requires technology. Keep in mind that an IT Architecture where an Integration Strategy has an important place will always be superior to strategies where there is no attention to digital integration.
Our specialists are often involved in drafting Integration Strategy documents. Why not take advantage of their knowledge and experience? Get in touch with us or check out the Enable U Business Integration Consultancy.
