What is Data Integration?
As a business grows it may have many different sources of data that are separated into different groups and while this may seem beneficial in terms of keeping organized, it makes it hard to actually use this information analytically. Data integration refers to the process of consolidating information, taking data from multiple sources and creating a more unified system of operations and organization. This is extremely important when actually using the information, both when it comes to analytical and operational use.
The concept of data integration is important because it produces data sets that are able to be used by different factions in an organization, providing meaningful ways of reading and understanding information. When data is separated into different groups and in different ways, it can be hard to use the information in a meaningful way, which can impact the operations of different sectors within a business.
Types of Data Integration
There are different types of data integration that can be used to consolidate information, and the type you use entirely depends on your own processes and how widely distributed your systems are. The following is an example of the three most common types of data integration methods.
- Extract, Transform and Load (ETL): Through the ETL process, data is extracted from multiple systems and then transformed so that the information can be filtered in the same way. Once this data has been transformed it is consolidated in a warehouse that stores information and can be used in different ways by different branches of a business.
- Extract, Load and Transform (ELT): In the ELT process, the last two stages are switched around so that the information is loaded before it is transformed. All data is stored in a data warehouse in its original format and then transformed as needed by different factions of a business. This will ensure data integrity through the transformation process and leave information in its original format until it is needed.
- Data Replication: In this system, data is copied and then transferred from one system into another and then synchronized with certain specifications, as needed within that specific data set. Though this means you would have replicated information, when it comes to backup and disaster management, this system can be beneficial.
Why is Data Integration Important?
In order for a business to be successful, those who work with the information provided need a clear picture of certain elements and a clear picture can only be sustained if you have all the data provided in a clear and concise format. Data integration technologies help to achieve this concise and clear format, with all possible information required located in one place.
To explain this better, let us look at an example. An e-commerce business needs to have all the valuable information for a customer to make a purchase. The online directory will have to know what is in stock, the pricing information as well as data about the client. If this information is not consolidated, it may lead to customers making purchases for items that are out of stock. If this issue comes up, a member of the sales team would have to know what to do to resolve the issue and for this, he/she would require information. This makes advanced data integration services extremely important for the functioning of any business.
What are the Uses of Data Integration?
Now that we know a bit more about this concept, why is it important to maintain data integration? Data integration features are extremely useful as they can help organize information meaningfully and ensure that data can be analyzed. If data is not consolidated in a way that relationships between information can be understood, it is hard to analyze certain aspects of a business. Data integration helps to make information easily comparable, ensuring that a business is able to make informed decisions.
Another use for data integration is the organizational benefits. As data is consolidated and organized together, it makes it far easier for employees to be able to access meaningful information. When data is needed and located in different places and within different systems, accessing it can be a difficult and time-consuming process. This process organizes information and stores it together, making it easier for employees to access it thanks to automated data integration processes.
What Can Data Integration Solve?
While there are both advantages and disadvantages of data integration, there is no doubt that it can solve a number of issues that a business may be facing. When it comes to data integration services and the benefits of these systems, they can help to better organize and construct meaningful information that can be used in many different areas of a business. From customer relations to marketing, having data that has been integrated and is easily accessible will help to improve the way a business functions.
What Are The Benefits of Data Integration?
Data consolidation is extremely beneficial when it comes to the day to day operations of a business. If you are considering using this process to better streamline the systems of your own company, the following benefits explain why data integration is required and should be considered.
- Makes Data Easier to Understand: With data integration comes the ability to better understand information. When relationships between data sets can be easily extracted and information is easy to access, this makes it that much more comprehensible for employees to understand and use.
- Improves the Customer Experience: Data integration software can be used to combine information about customers that is collected in various departments of a business, from sales to customer service. This can help you to understand your audience better and create groups of people that can be marketed to in specific ways. Being able to do this and effectively analyse your customers greatly improves the customer experience and greatly increases the chance of them returning. This information that is collected about customers can be used by your marketing department to better understand your audience and construct strategies using this vital information.
- Adds Value to Your Information: When information is grouped together and consolidated in the same format, it makes it more valuable. Having a bunch of information that is hard to compare against each other is far less valuable than information that can be read and understood together. Data integration approaches in business, therefore, add value to a business and the information that is collected.
How Does Data Integration Work?
Data integration works by consolidating the information that is gathered by a business. As a business grows and more information is recorded and stored, it is important that it can be accessed and used in meaningful ways, otherwise, it is essentially useless. While there are different types of data integration and different ways that data can be stored and accessed, each process has the same goal in mind which is making information organized and easily accessible to different factions of a business. Information that your marketing department needs may be different from what your sales team requires but through the consolidation and storing of this information, each team would be able to access valuable data that can be structured in meaningful and beneficial ways.
Data Integration Tools and Techniques
For many years, digital data integration was a manual process that was completed by writing scripts that were in structured query language. As with many things in the world of IT, this process has quickly become outdated as businesses are looking for more automated approaches to data integration. From this need, data integration tools were designed to streamline the process and make it easier for businesses to consolidate information quickly.
IBM offers scalable, multi-cloud data integration solutions which can be used stand-alone or as managed services on IBM Cloud. Leverage IBM solutions such as IBM Cloud Pak® for Data platform to make the most of your siloed data and accelerate your AI journey. Contact AI – Accuras to schedule a meeting to discuss your business needs.
