Application Integration, two pretty common words, but when put together these two words open an endless world of possibilities. In the world of technology, application integration is the coexistence of two separate processes that are linked together to perform better. Each application feeds information from one platform to the next, creating a dynamic link where expertise is shared.

A business might have 3, 4, or even 20 different software applications that each specialize in a different business function. A CRM or Customer Relationship Manager would keep track of sales leads and customer preferences, a Sales software keeps track of the amount of product sold, expected revenue, and issue invoices, while a Marketing software would create marketing material, launch social media and email campaigns, and track their success. Each of these applications serve a necessary function for the business, but they can become more insightful and helpful when they are linked through application integration.

For example, a marketing campaign deployed by the Marketing software could lead to newly generated sales leads which become a part of the CRM database. Once a product is sold to the new lead, the Marketing software needs to be updated to indicate that the marketing campaign was a success. Additionally, the Sales software would be updated to reflect the increase in revenue, the Inventory Management software needs to be updated to reflect the decrease in inventory, and so on. Essentially one action from one software can have a rippling effect across all the applications the business uses.

Here is another example of how an online shoe business would use integrating applications.

The shoe store has two key processes that they need to monitor and control pretty closely, the first is inventory and the second is sales. Each of these business processes are completely separate and require their own specialized software to work through their processes, one to track how much inventory the business has, and one to track the sale and how much money they have made. However, they must also work together. If a pair of shoes sell, then the inventory level goes down, and the sales revenue goes up.

Long ago, when computers did not exist (yes, there was a time when computers did not exist), the shop owner would write down what pair of shoes sold and for how much. At the end of the day, they would take out their spreadsheets and calculate (in their heads, because calculators did not exist either) how much money they made. They would also use a different spreadsheet to track which pair of shoes sold and calculate how much inventory they have left. Now this would happen for each pair of shoes sold, and the shopkeeper had to be meticulous to not make a mistake.

Today we have computers (hooray!) that do all of these calculations and tracking for us. But this tracking still happens in two separate software applications, much like the spreadsheets. However, with application integration it is possible for the two applications to continue their calculations and tracking processes while sharing information with each other.

In today’s market it is essential for businesses to integrate their software to be as efficient as possible. Applications that lack integration are more prone to errors, as data is manually moved from one application to the next. Data entry by humans as they translate information from one system to the next can lead to typos and missed information. Additionally, data entry takes time and can lead to costly delays.

Application integration solves this problem, by allowing the different business applications to talk to each other and share data. Using our previous example, we can see how the data is shared between the Sales software and the Inventory Management software. When a customer buys a pair of shoes, the sales application records the amount of sale, who the customer is, and where the shoes are being shipped to. This information is sent to the inventory application that removes the pair of shoes from the available inventory list, places an order from the manufacturer to restock the store, and creates a shipping label for the shoes to be mailed to the customer. All of this happens simultaneously and without human intervention.

You may be saying to yourself, “why doesn’t the business just have one application that completes the whole process?” And the truth is that many businesses do. But applications that “do it all” don’t always do it well. Out-of-the-box software and software that tries to complete too many different processes can become complicated and require more human interaction to maintain and control. However, software that is specialized in one aspect of the business is more reliable and consistent. You wouldn’t hire one person to be your accountant, marketing specialist, and lawyer, in much the same way you wouldn’t use a word-processing software to create a spreadsheet.

Software that specializes in one aspect of the business provides the same expertise and dedication that an accountant or lawyer would. Having one application to control each part of the business, exactly how it should be controlled is essential to success. Adding application integration takes this one step further by allowing these applications to talk to each other and share their data. Now, both applications are running at peak performance for their expertise with the same information, making the business even more successful. 

CM2 Software offers fully integrated and customized software solutions that will set your business up for success. Email us (info@cm2software.com) to find out how we can integrate your business applications.

There is no doubt that businesses need software tools to help them compete in today’s marketplace. We need to be faster, smarter, and more efficient in everything we do to compete in this global market.

But software is expensive, and it doesn’t always work the way we want it to. Often times, out-of-the-box software can give us solutions that come really close to being helpful, but they don’t always give us the functionality that we want or need.

However, today there is a new trend, No Code and Low Code software. These platforms offer drag and drop solutions that allow customers to create software applications that perform the way they want them to. They are customized to fit a single business. You can send automated email messages to customers, add new sales data to third party solutions like Quick Books or Salesforce, or track invoices and purchase orders. All of this and so much more can be done with no code and low code software.

The biggest benefit of this new trend is that anyone can do it. You do not need to be a software developer or have any coding experience at all to use these applications. (I might work for a software company, but I have 0 coding experience, and even I was able to use low code software.)

All of this is pretty simple, and something that I would highly recommend to any business that is trying to simplify their processes. Use these platforms to give your business better access and flexibility to your data. It is worth it. On Google, you can find plenty of reviews and commentary on the different no code or low code platforms available, at CM2 Software we use and recommend Zoho.

However, there are limitations, especially if you are not a programmer. If you have never written a line of code in your life, you are limited by the drag and drop capabilities and pre-written workflows of low code or no code platforms. You will be able to create beautiful reports and collect all of your data in one place. But you might be missing out on the added benefits that a software consulting service would be able to offer.

Every time you open your laptop or pick up your smart phone, you have the ability to access a wealth of information. The internet has changed how we live so profoundly that many don’t even consider a library or even a book as a source of information. Instead, the internet is our go-to for answers. How many times have you heard the phrase “just Google it”? Google and other search platforms like Bing or Yahoo, give us unfettered access to the world’s data. We can look up just about anything from popular attractions in Seattle to the effects of catnip on cats. People are even relying on Google for medical information rather than seeking out a doctor or other professional. It’s all there. All the information we could ever need. But what do we do with this data, how do we make it work for us?

Let’s take WebMD as an example of data. On this particular website we can enter in a list of symptoms and search for possible causes and remedies. However, without the context or the expertise of a medical doctor the data we receive in return can be incredibly unhelpful. For example, I used this site to list pretty basic symptoms, a fever, cough, and runny nose – to the average person this would sound like the flu. However, using WebMD I received answers that ranged from influenza to pneumonia and lung cancer. The likelihood that I have lung cancer based solely on these symptoms is pretty low, so how helpful was this information? Not very.

A doctor would give much better results based on these  symptoms by applying them to diagnostic logic. They use their years of schooling and research to better understand our symptoms and give us a more accurate conclusion. Although the information found on WebMD may be technically correct, it lacks value without the context and logic that a doctor would provide.

The world of Big Data works very much the same. Large amounts of information are stored in Data Warehouses where is can be accessed (usually for a fee) and if the inputs match the data will be spit out. However, the amount of data that is stored in these large warehouses is unfathomable. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of terabytes of data is added every day, with no one knowing exactly how much data is being stored every day.

So how do you use this data to your advantage? Data aggregators use functional software to add context to this data and turn it into relevant information. Businesses are then able to observe and make diagnoses and decisions based on this data turning it into something useful. The inputs are attached to business logic to make them make sense for your business, your customers, or your operations. This allows businesses of all sizes to have access to information that is meaningful, and useful.

Once analyzed and parsed using business logic, big data creates limitless possibilities including the ability to automate routine tasks, gain insights into customer preferences, use geo tagging, analyze risk and perform strategic hiring practices. The data becomes information, and information is powerful. This information gives businesses the ability to stand apart from their competition in a myriad of ways. The sky is the limit in how this information can be used.

The most common benefits realized from information gathering include reduced cost, increased productivity, new product development, better decision making, detailed root cause analysis, better risk analysis, detection of fraud, and most importantly, the better understanding of customers.

Partnering with an organization that specializes in software development, implementation, and maintenance gives those with less technical abilities the power to access this valuable information as well. Good software partners will work directly with the business to identify needs, obstacles, and goals, creating a partnership that works together to get the right data, analyze it, and present it in a way that is easy to understand, interpret, and manage. I encourage you to get out there and find a partner that is willing to work alongside you, one that has your business’s best interest at heart.