The adoption of data integration tools has surged recently as businesses across Australia increasingly recognise their value. According to 2024 market research by IBISWorld, revenue for Australia's data processing and cloud hosting industry is expected to climb 9.3% through the end of 2024-25, reaching $3.8 billion. Data integration has quickly become integral to linking systems, consolidating information, and powering insights for smarter decision-making. So, it begs the question, why would a company ever consider outsourcing this vital function?
While in-house IT departments handle a range of technical responsibilities, data integration is a complex, specialised area that demands more than the general technical knowledge an in-house team may possess. Managing integrated data effectively requires expertise, scalability, and adaptability— qualities often best achieved through professional data integration services. By entrusting integration work to specialists, organisations can avoid the common pitfalls of DIY integration.
Over the coming months, I'll publish a three-part series titled The Three Phases of Systems Integration. This series will break down the framework we've developed over the past 10 years, shaping us into the data integration experts we are today. Through trial and error, we’ve refined our methods, and now we're eager to share this knowledge with you. My hope is that these insights will support your integration journeys. And if you need help, you'll know whom to contact.
Before I deliver this three-part series, I'd like to first address the misconceptions about outsourcing to an external provider and explain why I believe your business could benefit from an experienced data integration provider.
Source: IBISWorld
The common misconception
Over the past few years, several C-suite leaders—friends and potential clients—have asked, 'Why would we outsource integration work to you when we have our own IT department?' This question highlights a common misconception: many C-suite leaders don't fully appreciate the complexity of various IT domains.
I often respond with an analogy: not every doctor can perform every type of surgery. An orthopaedic surgeon wouldn't attempt heart surgery, nor would a personal injury lawyer take on a corporate merger. Each profession has areas of deep, specialised knowledge. The deeper you go, the more you realise how specialised these fields can become. Similarly, data integration demands a level of expertise that goes beyond general IT skills.
When Data Integration Expertise Beyond Your IT Team Matters Most
When Turning Business Challenges into Technical Solutions
Effective data integration is the art of analysis combined with subject matter expertise. Getting this right isn't just about connecting systems—it's about addressing core business challenges. Our data integration solutions start by understanding the business problem, identifying gaps, and designing solutions that meet technical and business needs.
The two biggest blockers to data integration are:
- Accurately articulating the problem to technical people
- Accurately articulating the business benefits to executives
In an effort to address this, we've created a framework that enables us to:
- Extract the high-level business outcomes required
- Review processes that need improvement
- Identify existing gaps
- Pinpoint potential solutions
- Present information clearly for technical teams to understand and resolve
- Propose a project approach that executives can grasp and approve, aligning with strategic initiatives.
When Choosing the Right Platform for Your Business Needs
With multiple data integration platforms available, selecting one requires careful consideration of compatibility, flexibility, and cost. Professional data integration services assess these factors within your business strategy, recommending solutions that support current and future needs without locking you into rigid or unsustainable systems.
Your business may already have an existing platform, which could naturally influence a preference to retain it. However, based on your broader business goals, it's crucial to consider various factors when choosing a platform, including:
- Compatibility: Ensuring seamless integration with your existing systems.
- Flexibility: Allowing for adjustments or pivots in integration as needed.
- Performance: Providing responsive interactions between integrated systems.
- Scalability: Handling occasional peaks in data flow without performance issues.
- Cost: Considering both licensing fees and the resources needed for ongoing maintenance.
These factors can significantly impact how effectively your platform supports your business, making it essential to assess them carefully before deciding on the optimal solution.
When Taking Ownership and Accountability of Your Integrations
You may have someone dedicated to managing your integrations, but what happens when they're unavailable due to leave or unforeseen circumstances? Once integrations are operational, businesses often rely on them for critical functions—such as delivering a weekly report to the CFO. If that report doesn't arrive, it may impact decision-making. This is why redundancy in expertise and systems is essential. (Side note: in the IT world, redundancy is a good thing; it means having the ability to fall back on another service that does the same thing).
For effective integration management, you need redundancy in personnel and the integration infrastructure, including digital asset systems, networks, and configurations. If a critical resource is unavailable or an issue arises, do you have a fallback to ensure business continuity? Automated processes may face delays without accountability measures and backup resources, affecting operational efficiency.
It's worth considering whether your business can afford downtime or the cost of additional staff to maintain consistent integration performance, regardless of team availability.
When Accelerating Iterative Improvements
Data integration is rarely a one-and-done effort. Iterative improvement involves testing, adjusting, and fine-tuning systems over time. With a specialist team handling your integrations, this process is faster, helping your business adapt seamlessly and leverage new technologies as they emerge.
When Avoiding Costly Mistakes
In-house teams unfamiliar with data integration best practices may encounter common pitfalls like configuration errors and compatibility issues. Professional data integration management prevents these missteps, saving time and reducing costly rework. Managed services ensure your integrations are future-ready and resilient to software updates or system changes.
Conclusion
Outsourcing data integration goes beyond simply filling gaps in IT capabilities; it's a strategic decision that enhances growth, resilience, and efficiency across your organisation. By partnering with an experienced team, your business will access specialised knowledge and a framework that aligns integrations with immediate and long-term goals.
With professional data integration management, your team can focus on core objectives, confident that these vital functions and processes are robust and ready to support your evolving needs. Given the benefits a business can gain from outsourcing these services, it's little wonder why the digital integration management sector is experiencing year-on-year growth.
Creative Folks Have the Know-How to Drive Your Data Integration
As Australia's Sitecore Content Hub experts, Creative Folks offers the depth of experience and proven processes to transform your data integrations into a strategic asset. Our team delivers professional data integration services that can benefit your business. Visit our SiPHON Integration page or contact me–I'm here to help you on your journey.
