About Data Integration And Its Techniques
Data integration is a process where data from several sources is combined and presented as coming from a single one. It can be advantageously applied in a range of fields, including corporate mergers, research and marketing. The methods by which it is implemented are just as varied.
The process has to be business-oriented, instead of being a purely IT initiative. In other words, it has to be a solution to enhance business processes rather than as a better or cheaper way to store and manage information. Many systems based on this principle are already in use and quite common in the corporate world.
One such example is a CRM system, which integrates information from different departments such as customer service, social media and sales/marketing. This enables the sales and marketing people in targeting an existing customer based on previous purchasing history and other contacts with the company that are listed in the profile. Another case where integrating an information storage system becomes essential is when two companies enter into a merger.
This process can be implemented at the middleware layer as well as on the application level. Physical warehouses can be set up as a new system, or users can simply be provided unified views through virtual integration. It might be better to look at these choices individually in order to understand each one and determine which is more suitable for specific situations.
Some applications have the capability to retrieve and combine information from distinct sources. In such cases, there will be no need to create a new and combined source. This is just as true if the integrating logic is built on a middleware layer. It can access all the databases at the back end and provide the applications with any information required from all sources.
Virtual integration doesn't actually involve creating a separate tool or software solution. It merely defines a set of views that can help users pull together information from disparate sources. For instance, if an employee wants to view one customer's profile, the pre-defined query simply calls in all the records for this unique customer ID from every department and presents it together as a single unified view.
Warehousing is a completely new system which can siphon and store information from any number of sources. This is mostly done only at an enterprise level, where vast amounts of data coming in from all of a company's departments and locations can be collected, stored and managed in massive data centers. This centralized system can then be used by applications and users to gain enterprise-wide access, reporting and analysis capability.
The exact data integration techniques to be applied and the project's scope need to be decided very carefully. The business benefits and the type and quantity of sources are all relevant factors. The implementation cost has to be considered, along with backup systems and other security issues. Other aspects that impact the project or may be impacted themselves include synchronization, migration and master data management or MDM.
The process has to be business-oriented, instead of being a purely IT initiative. In other words, it has to be a solution to enhance business processes rather than as a better or cheaper way to store and manage information. Many systems based on this principle are already in use and quite common in the corporate world.
One such example is a CRM system, which integrates information from different departments such as customer service, social media and sales/marketing. This enables the sales and marketing people in targeting an existing customer based on previous purchasing history and other contacts with the company that are listed in the profile. Another case where integrating an information storage system becomes essential is when two companies enter into a merger.
This process can be implemented at the middleware layer as well as on the application level. Physical warehouses can be set up as a new system, or users can simply be provided unified views through virtual integration. It might be better to look at these choices individually in order to understand each one and determine which is more suitable for specific situations.
Some applications have the capability to retrieve and combine information from distinct sources. In such cases, there will be no need to create a new and combined source. This is just as true if the integrating logic is built on a middleware layer. It can access all the databases at the back end and provide the applications with any information required from all sources.
Virtual integration doesn't actually involve creating a separate tool or software solution. It merely defines a set of views that can help users pull together information from disparate sources. For instance, if an employee wants to view one customer's profile, the pre-defined query simply calls in all the records for this unique customer ID from every department and presents it together as a single unified view.
Warehousing is a completely new system which can siphon and store information from any number of sources. This is mostly done only at an enterprise level, where vast amounts of data coming in from all of a company's departments and locations can be collected, stored and managed in massive data centers. This centralized system can then be used by applications and users to gain enterprise-wide access, reporting and analysis capability.
The exact data integration techniques to be applied and the project's scope need to be decided very carefully. The business benefits and the type and quantity of sources are all relevant factors. The implementation cost has to be considered, along with backup systems and other security issues. Other aspects that impact the project or may be impacted themselves include synchronization, migration and master data management or MDM.
About the Author:
Peggie K. Lambert loves working and studying the world of data integration. If you are looking to learn more about data integration solutions then she recommends you check out www.liaison.com.
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