Integrating software and platforms is increasingly easy. Open-source platforms and the availability of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) make technical integrations a feasible option, even for smaller and medium businesses.
We work as integration partners and often see data efficiency, productivity, and security improvements that all translate into tangible commercial benefits for our clients. In this blog, we will break down how integrations can help your business reach its commercial goals.
Read our tips for managing a great integration project here.
Faster processing, better business
Integrations are often used to pass data from one system to the other with increased efficiency and automation. Data processing can be very expensive and time-consuming, so automating this will help your business move faster and be more agile. Faster processing times often mean less ambiguity, errors, wasted data, and lost deals.
Example: integrate your content licensing platform with your CRM so that a content download is automatically added to your CRM and triggers an email sequence.
Better data processing also means better customer service and an improved customer experience (more on that later).
Improved process control and data integrity
The beauty of an integrated system? When you change your processes, you will be able to make any necessary changes a lot faster. You will also be able to send those changes to more places simultaneously. These two benefits simplify product, service, and territorial launches, improving your chances of success.
Plus, when your data is integrated, you are have less risk of developing data security issues.
Integrations reduce:
- Manual entry errors
- Data overlap
- Outdated data
- Poor quality data.
💡Tip: systems are not always perfect, so have a contingency plan for errors and unexpected systems downtime, e.g. an error-checking script or an email failsafe etc.
Cost efficiency through automation
ROI in integrations is often linked to increased automation (note: quality automation).
Automation leads to efficiency benefits, and as time is money, you can manage business costs through savvy integrations. However, be consistent and thorough in mapping out your automation needs, as poor-quality automation can actually lead to an increase in data problems.
- Integrations are often commercial investments. They are opportunities to level up, refine your services and systems, and improve staff experience.
- Having a more strategic approach, creating a long-term plan for your business, can make your business more cost-efficient. It’s also easier to attract investment when you have a plan and can demonstrate robust systems.
- Infrastructure is another important factor – integrations can help you create a more robust yet lightweight IT system that needs less costly upkeep and maintenance.
Reporting and insights
Integrations are all about joined-up thinking: use integrations to access quality data and discover important insights about your business (and the competition).
- Predictive analytics and the forecasting of sales data can help you manage stock levels, marketing budgets etc. Integrate your analytics with your operations to help manage things more smoothly.
- Real-time data can increase agility and accountability. It’s hard to argue with the numbers!
- Looker Studio or Microsoft Power BI are just some of the business intelligence (BI) tools available to you – they are a great place to visualise and analyse data from different platforms.
Better customer experience (CX) through joined-up thinking
Better customer experiences come from joined-up thinking: knowing more about your customers means providing them a better service.
You can develop your services and products through integrations. Integrations make it easier to do more personalised marketing, create product tie-ins, offer limited edition deals etc.
- Integrate your CRM with your customer service tools to ensure that support conversations are logged and tracked.
- Start benchmarking your customer experience and see how you can use integrations to take it to the next level.
- Remember, managing expectations is one of the key elements of a great customer experience. Don’t promise things you can’t deliver.
Growing and creating your own unique business ecosystem
Integrated systems are easier to scale, and they offer you the chance to create something totally custom and unique.
- With integrations, you can open new locations, add new products and services, train new staff etc. a lot easier than before. You will also find it easier to adopt new technology throughout your business.
- Integrations can also offer you a competitive advantage. By integrating, you are also forming strategic partnerships, moving to the cutting or bleeding edge of tech. Integrations can help you create your own unique business ecosystem that nobody else has, and this can be a big commercial strength.
Boost your information and data security
Another key commercial benefit is the ability to safely manage, secure, and control data. A siloed approach is generally bad for data and information security, and integrations help combat that.
Integrations usually streamline data management and make it easier to keep track of data. It will also improve your ability to meet compliancy standards.
Collaborative culture is a brand boost
Integrations also send a message about the type business you want to run: a joined-up and integrated organisation with plenty of collaboration across teams. The collaborative approach will make your brand more attractive.
Workflows and better project management are other benefits of integrations. Integrations mean that projects can be streamlined and communication standards improved. Pulling reports, discussing changes, finding answers – all these should become easier.
Read our guide to using DevOps principles in business for more inspo on how to run agile teams.
What to consider when selecting an integration partner
Working with a technical partner is often about aligning values with an approach.
- Do they listen to your needs?
- Have they got experience?
- Do they understand your business niche?.
Embracing integrations is all about joined-up thinking, strategic tech, and investing in the long-term value of your brand and its digital ecosystem.
