As more leaders advance their digital transformation journeys, they quickly realize that unless they integrate their systems, most of their valuable data will remain trapped in silos. The decision to embark on a data integration project is a logical one that is quickly understood and supported by C-level executives throughout the organization. But many tech leaders can suffer a moment of inertia before taking that first step. This Fear of Getting Started (FOGS) is a common phenomenon.
To help tech leaders and their teams, we spoke to Sanushin Pillay, VP of Projects at Synatic. He has shared five insights that will shed some light on what to expect before diving head first into an integration project so that clients are better prepared.
Pillay shares that the best way forward is simply to take the first step.
“We have discussed how many clients get sucked into the quagmire of FOGS, but it’s important not to get bogged down in scope paralysis. Because we begin with small wins right from the start, our clients see immediate benefits. This goes a long way to alleviate their fears. We have seen that customers often only really start to understand their data once we are in the build phases, and so getting started is what unearths the real value of the work. Taking the first step is the best way to maximize time to value efforts and our iterative methodology provides consistent rewards. This is guaranteed to win the approval of everyone involved in the process.”
“Synatic is not just a platform or a tool, but it is an enabler that allows you to run your business more efficiently. Customers who invest in Synatic will not only benefit from the iterative approach towards solution building that guarantees rapid time-to-value, but they will also benefit from the holistic value that the platform unlocks. With Synatic smaller wins ultimately lead to tangible results.”
Pillay said it is best to begin all new client engagements by clearly outlining what companies can expect to change once they have successfully integrated their solution stack. By positioning the benefits of the work ahead, not only will there be greater buy in from the client’s teams, but they will also have an end-goal in mind which helps keep everyone on track.
“Before your stack is integrated, your team will be stuck doing manual entries on each system they work on. This results in duplication and capturing errors that are often pervasive throughout your organization. Data integrity is one of the biggest and most obvious tangible benefits of data integration, and often one of the first benefits to look forward to,” he says.
Data processing speeds are also quickly boosted, with data availability seeing significant improvement throughout the organization. Pillay also points out that the reduction of human interventions will translate to cleaner and more reliable data which directly leads to cost benefits.
“Who doesn’t want better efficiencies and lower costs? But there are often other hidden benefits that can be overlooked. For instance, not only does Synatic offer you the ability to securely store your data in its built-in data warehousing facility, should you choose to, but the improved data visibility is also a clear win,” he adds.
As every tech leader will tell you, the number one challenge in any new tech project is scoping. In many instances, new clients know they need to get their systems talking to one another, but they often don’t know exactly what data sets need to be integrated.
“Our team spends a good deal of time determining what a client’s major pain points are and then work with them to define their end-goals. Every business has different processes and unique requirements. By properly isolating what is needed most immediately, and then building a roadmap that delivers on these first, we can deliver quick wins before moving on to the many other benefits offered by the system,” he explains.
Pillay says a client who has very clear goals allows him and his delivery team to easily build out a tailored process. This will deliver speedy results. He encourages clients to spend the appropriate amount of time determining what their pain points are and what the ideal solution looks like.
“Understanding your data is the very first step. Breaking down what you have and where you need it to be, on a granular level, will ensure a good outcome. The volume of data also affects the solution design and so predefining this, boosts how efficiently we can deliver,” he says.
Pillay warns that small mistakes made while focusing on the big issues often lead to obvious considerations falling off the radar.
It is always convenient when clients consider the volume and frequency of data integration requirements before or during the solution design phase. Although this is not a strict requirement as we are able to nimbly build solutions and make adjustments as changes occur, it does make integration easier and faster. It’s surprising how often small processes are uncovered during the build, and these can result in delays and complications that could easily have been avoided,” he says.
Pillay also advises that before a project begins, it is always helpful when leaders ensure they allocate enough resources to the project.
“It’s critical to have the right skills assigned to the project. Synatic prides itself on the caliber of our teams, but only the people working on your systems on a daily basis can truly understand where the bottlenecks and trip wires lie. Having the right people involved from the start means we can cross the finish line in time.”
Pillay says when clients understand the purpose of the integration project, they can better prepare for the project in its entirety.
These will be:
Pillay ends by sharing that there are numerous time and cost-saving benefits that integrating business systems can offer, but first businesses need to bring their siloed data from multiple sources into a unified view. Managing that entire process without an idea of what to expect and how to prepare for such a project can leave businesses paralyzed.
“By leveraging Synatic’s wealth of experience and knowledge along with our unique iterative approach to data integration, businesses can easily begin to automate and operationalize data to get the right data, to the right person, at the right time.”
To learn more about Synatic and how we can help you navigate your integration journey contact Synatic today.
