There are many things to consider when thinking about bringing multiple sets of data, or software together. Whether you already have some applications in place, or your data is in one big spreadsheet, the processes are much different. As we mentioned in previous posts, relying on a single spreadsheet to house all of your important company data, and then manually mining that spreadsheet to create reports, is just not efficient. More importantly, it’s not reliable.

Data Integration vs. Application Integration

On the surface, these two things may not seem quite similar. They are. However, integrating data is a completely different process than integrating applications. Data integration at its core brings all of your data together in a standard, non-redundant way that doesn’t sacrifice the quality of the data. It’s not an easy process. Application integration is different. Its purpose is to make sure all of the applications you are using can talk to each other in an efficient, easy-to-use way.

How to Integrate Data and Applications

When you’re looking at different integration options, it’s important to take a step back and try to figure out what you really need to integrate. If you’re working with a technology firm, they can certainly take a look at what you have, and what your pain points are, and then develop a solution to integrate your data. They can also help your applications talk to each other in a way that helps your company get access to the data it needs at the touch of a button.

Can it work with our ERP?

Many companies have a custom ERP they are already working with. It may house important information about their customers, prospects, employees, financial information, or other relevant company information. People in each department may manually be pulling data from the ERP. In fact, someone else may be tasked with turning that data into a report. There has to be a better way, right? There is - through integration.

How Aspirant Can Help

Aspirant's Application and Data experts help clients identify and implement the ideal integrations for optimizing their operations. Use the form below to schedule a casual discussion about how we can do the same for you.