Software integrations have become a very hot topic among software developers and users. As digital professionals, we use various tools and platforms to make our work easier. This is nothing new, as probably every job requires software tools, never before have there been so many cloud-based tools. The cloud enables and facilitates data transfers between other cloud systems. According to researchers, these processes are commonly facilitated through mechanisms such as APIs, which are defined as sets of functions and procedures that allow applications to access the functions or data of an operating system by 75%.
In other words, an API is a programmable connection between systems that defines what data can be transferred from one system to another. And the more integrations there are, the more influential the various tools are. No wonder. Integration is about connecting the dots.
Still not convinced if you should integrate software? Let’s look at a few good reasons which are the go-ahead for any business professional.
1) Higher employee productivity:
We all have a productivity problem. The average office worker is distracted every 3 minutes; even worse, it takes 30 minutes after each distraction to regain full focus. In addition, professionals spend 19% of their time searching for resources, documents, and information necessary to perform their work. It also involves jumping around many different tools, manually moving data between them, constantly logging in and out, and often dealing with unnecessary administrators.
On the other hand, it is impossible not to use many different tools. Even the most comprehensive all-in-one platforms have their focuses and cannot meet everyone’s needs. That’s why we need integrations that significantly reduce the time spent juggling separate tools and still allow us to use our favorite or affordable ones.
2) Better data flow:
As previously mentioned, manually moving data between different systems is inefficient, time-consuming, and unproductive. Imagine managing order processing in one tool and invoicing in a completely separate one. Or making sales without immediate access to any CRM that helps manage sales management, customer interactions, marketing campaigns, and more. All this requires a lot of work from professionals who should rather focus on the tasks they specialize in.
However, the lack of real-time data synchronization can even jeopardize the project. If the aforementioned sales team has a separate CRM that is not linked to the call center software integrations they use, there is a significant risk that they will be dealing with a database that is outdated, duplicated, and inaccurate.
Integrations can minimize or even eliminate this risk by enabling smooth data flow and true synchronization. For example, to stick with an example from the sales industry, integrating cloud call center software integration with a well-known CRM like HubSpot makes it possible to have all the fresh information about customers in one place. No more overlapping databases and lack of real-time data.
3) Increased data simplification:
Working with data across unrelated software systems not only leads to overlap and a lack of real-time flow but also means that data is scattered and available in different formats. For example, analyzing data from separate CRM and ERP systems can easily lead to confusion. In the worst case, you may not be able to analyze a lot of valuable data, or you risk getting the wrong insights. Thanks to integrations, data can be collected on one central platform, making analysis easier.
4) Improved data availability:
Getting all the data you need in one place with a unified view can also greatly improve accessibility. If everyone in a company or team can access data at any time without asking for access and spending time familiarizing themselves with unfamiliar systems, it makes their jobs easier and more efficient. This applies to both small businesses and corporations. Small businesses can reduce costs, and large corporations avoid wasting the time of many employees searching for the data they need.
5) Error reduction:
Scattered and asynchronous data can lead not only to lower productivity but also to a lot of errors. Manually moving data between separate systems and company departments is always error-prone and should be avoided at all costs. Again, integrations come to the rescue and enable automatic data movement, minimizing the risk of errors. Thanks to this, the databases are always synchronized, accurate, and complete.
For more information on How to integrate your software and help your business to grow contact us at coding brains.
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