Better Data Integration Leads to Better Analytics

Posted by Brooke Lester on Jun 22, 2017 9:29 AM

Data integration solutions

There are two sides of the data coin. There is enormous value locked up within your data, but in order to access it, you have to integrate it with other sources. This second edge of the sword can prove quite challenging to companies, and this may cause them to delay implementing data integration solutions. 

Many business leaders believe that data integration solutions are not worth the investment. They think that they will not see an ROI on the time, effort, and money they have expended. However, that is simply not the case. Read on to learn the benefits of analytics that you can reap as a result of better integration.

What Value Can You Gain from Better Analytics?

When you have access to the right data at the right time (thanks to data integration solutions), your decision making capability improves. How so?

Data integration is akin to working on a puzzle. If you do not have all of the puzzle pieces in front of you, you will not be able to complete the puzzle. Data integration solutions make all of the pieces available.

Data integration is akin to working on a puzzle. If you do not have all of the pieces in front of you, you will not be able to complete it.

When you can see all of the pieces of the puzzle, a new picture emerges. Details that were previously invisible pop out clearly before your eyes. For example, you might realize that customers want to see a new feature on a product. It turns out that adding this new feature would be cost-effective, and it would increase your profits because more people would want to buy the product.

Data integration solutions

Real Examples of How Better Data Integration Leads to Better Analytics (and Better Results)

The decision to implement a new technology is challenging, which is why case studies or success stories from other organizations can make the difference between an investment and keeping things as they are. Below are three examples of how real organizations successfully leveraged data integration solutions to achieve greater efficiency, cost savings, and growth.

BC Hydro, a power company in British Columbia serving approximately 1.7 million residential customers, integrated 30 operational and IT systems. Those systems included homegrown and legacy systems. As a result of the integration, BC Hydro was able to make use of IoT analytics to restore power to customers faster. The utility provider not only saved money by becoming more efficient, but it also reported an increase in customer satisfaction. 

The utility provider not only saved money, but it reported an increase in customer satisfaction.

Cascades, a packaging and tissue manufacturer, wanted to make the transition to a just-in-time manufacturing facility. The company has sensors to monitor factory conditions, but they were not integrating properly with Cascades’ legacy systems. A third-party integration expert bridged the gap between the sensors and the legacy systems, enabling Cascades to optimize its manufacturing and become more efficient.

Even public sector agencies can benefit from data integration. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) had data about a number of health threats stored in silos, meaning there was no way to track diseases or share information that would be helpful to treat patients. In response to a green paper from the CDC, the PDPH implemented data integration solutions that enabled it to improve the way it collected data so patients can receive better treatment. 

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health implemented data integration solutions to improve the way it collected data so patients can receive better treatment.

These are just a handful of examples of outcomes that can be achieved via data integration technologies. See some of our recent success stories  to find out what a strong EDI solution can do for your organization.

Data integration solutions create a bridge between valuable data and analytics platforms that allow organizations to derive value from their internally stored information. To learn more about how you can build that bridge, contact us.