If your business struggles to unite valuable data stored across different systems, it can be difficult to understand the needs of the individual customers. Integration unites your independent systems and applications to work together seamlessly. If a user is working in one system and wants to access related information in a different system, integration makes the information easily accessible. This seamless process makes work more efficient and saves lots of time, allowing you to spend more time focusing on delivering five star experiences for your customers. 

Looking to kick off an integration project, but not sure where to get started? Or, in the middle of a digital transformation and struggling with disjointed data? Our integration experts outlined how to prepare in four simple steps. Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Review your Road Map. 

The first step to a successful integration project is understanding how your project fits within your company’s overall integration strategy and roadmap. 

Look at your business: Does your company have a substantial integration roadmap ahead? (If you’re not sure, consider the various systems and applications your business may need to connect.)Does your company have a defined strategy for developing integrations? Do you know integration best practices and have a group that enforces standards around integrations? Answers to these questions will help you know what approach you need to take to develop integrations.

Step 2: Review Existing Integrations.

Be sure you understand your company’s existing integrations technology landscape. What tools are approved within your organization for integrating the systems in question? Does your business use: MuleSoft, Boomi, AWS etc? What tools are recommended for unit integration? Do you have in-house testing staff?

Knowing the answers to these questions ahead of integration will help you determine the technology stack that you need to create your integrations and to staff the appropriate resources for your project. 

Step 3: Understand Standards and Best Practices.

Understand your company’s standards and best practices for integration before you begin.

• Do you have coding styles, unit test coverage, peer reviews or other standards for integration?
• Do you have data classification requirements based on data type/ sensitivity?
• Do you have data control requirements for auditing, encryption, restricted access and data retention? 

Answers to these questions will help you know understand your company’s standards and best practices to develop you integrations and budget time accordingly. 

Note: If your company does not have integration standards in place already, it’s important to do your research and use best practices from the beginning. This will set a solid foundation for future implementations and additional integration work.

Step 4: Get Ready to Integrate.

Select your integration toolset, then identify any existing assets or components to be reused. Staff your development, testing, and project resources. Then, onboard your project resources, including any training on the selected technology stack and existing standards. Finally, set up your tools and start your project.

If your internal teams are over-utilized, have knowledge gaps, or aren’t sure where to begin, Avionos’ integration experts are here to help. From implementation to managed support post-launch, we’re with your team every step of the way. 

Mulesoft-certified architects at Avionos are ready to help solve your digital platform pain points. Start your integration process by contacting us here.