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To meet the challenge of integrating their existing enterprise software portfolios, organizations will need new strategies and programs. Successfully creating them can help to reduce costs and deploy content and data to address tangible business needs. Yet our research and client surveys have revealed a lack of understanding about how to choose and deploy integration technology.Included in this area of information technology are tools to address applications, data, events, information, messages and processes. However, many executives have educational gaps in understanding the appropriate frequency and types of integration interchange. This exchange can occur in real time through applications or events, in batches for data integration or on demand through information integration. For example, you may need to establish interoperation between ERP and CRM applications and with enterprise databases on a nightly basis. This could be done through application and data integration, but for an environment that moves high volumes of data, it would be accomplished best through data integration.
Various approaches to adopting integration technologies have developed, but these are only beginning to be rationalized and simplified as vendors consolidate and develop new technology. Each of the four major providers of integration technologies takes a different strategic approach. IBM intends to deliver a full integration suite with application, message-event, data and information technologies. Tibco Software focuses on event and process integration with applications. Informatica Corp. will support all forms of data integration, including consolidation, migration, replication and synchronization. Composite Software targets information integration to meet on-demand requests for information from end users. These varying focuses have implications that organizations must consider in deciding what type of integration they need.
Assessment
Integration technologies deliver value by helping enterprises apply their existing IT investments to ongoing business needs. In order for an organization to identify the most appropriate integration technologies, it needs a program and a set of internal processes that can be applied in a repeatable process across the IT organization. To begin down the path toward a complete integration architecture, Ventana Research recommends developing a strategic planning process to ensure that your integration technology will deliver business benefits. This process should begin in the executive suite and be designed to deliver quality and provide repeatability.
Mark is responsible for the overall business and research direction of Ventana Research and drives the global research agenda covering both business and technology areas. He defined the blueprint and methodology for improving business by using benchmark research to provide guidance across people, processes, information and technology. Mark is an expert in enterprise software and business technology innovations including: business analytics, big data, cloud computing, business collaboration, mobile technology and social media. Mark has held CMO, research and product development roles at research and software companies. Mark started Ventana Research more than a decade ago; he has worked in the software industry for 25 years leading innovations in research and technology. Mark was rated the 2011 software industry analyst of the year by The Institute of Industry Analyst Relations (IIAR). Mark will also be ranked as one of the top ten technology influencers in 2012 by Human Resources Executive magazine. Check out Mark's Klout Score or check out his Kred Score. Mark can be found on Twitter at @marksmithvr, on LinkedIn, on Google+ and can be reached via email at mark.smith@ventanaresearch.com and read his blog at http://marksmith.ventanaresearch.com
