What is integration?
When we mention integration in the business and tech world, we mean joining together various pieces of software or technologies, to make one system capable of performing the tasks that each of them could do on their own.
No one piece of software is able to fulfill every requirement for our company since each business has its own distinct needs. There are application packages that organize different workflows into categories, for example, ERP, CRM, BPM, and CMS. What integrations make possible is the combination of them.
Making it possible to link separate systems together gives us the opportunity to save time and resources. Integrations also benefit the progression of the enterprise, as they help adjust the processes accordingly to any needs that may arise. It is beneficial for both the process commissioners and the whole organization as a whole, by increasing productivity and streamlining procedures.
What are integrations useful for?
We can implement integrative measures to improve the efficiency of our company’s processes. We can benefit by connecting two or more programs/tools we are using, which will save time and thereby raise team effectiveness while also leading to economic and personnel savings.
By employing one program that can handle as many tasks as necessary, instead of individual programs for each action, we can cut down on the number of resources used, thus resulting in integration. Faster responsiveness enables businesses to give superior customer service and be more competitive.
Why do I need an integration?
A software integration may be necessary for a company for various reasons:
- When two different companies come together
In this scenario, two companies that originate from either diverse or equivalent areas, yet utilize diverse software to fulfill their operations, should combine their activities to achieve greater efficiency and achieve successful outcomes. Performing an integration, in this case, is extremely important.
- Use of old systems and modern applications
At present, with the advances in technology that our world is experiencing, many organizations are struggling to keep up and find it challenging to update their computer software. It is essential to remember that when attempting to upgrade a system that has been used for numerous years, the task of combining our former software with modern systems must be completed.
- Search for increased functionality
Combining two or more applications will help us optimize our workflow, providing more efficient operations, which will be good for our business.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of building an integration?
Carrying out the integration of applications in your company has a series of advantages that we will mention below:
- Increases the productivity of all the processes that are involved.
- It saves time and financial resources.
- It favors the coordination of tasks between departments.
- It improves the organization and planning of the company.
- It reduces the number of applications and systems that we use, optimizing technological resources.
- It speeds up the execution of tasks.
- It increases the security of our system.
As in all the processes that we implement in our business, the integration of systems has a positive part but it can also present certain disadvantages; this does not mean that we should not implement one if we need it, but there are important points to take into account to avoid disappointments when the process advances:
- It is necessary to invest more in technological security since if all the processes are integrated and one is damaged, everything that is integrated with it will be at risk.
- High initial expense, although it is a long-term investment, initially it is an important expense that must be faced.
- It must be taken into account that the updates are complicated since they adapt to all the systems that we have integrated.
Steps to build an integration
It is essential to complete integration by undergoing a process of organizing, creating, and programming. The steps that we must take into account to achieve it correctly are:
1. Determine requirements
At first, the management division of the business must conduct an investigation regarding the requirements that have yet to be fulfilled and the systems presently in use are inadequate. The IT team and the coders are responsible for implementing the alterations. It is essential to have a visual representation of how the integrated systems would operate to identify areas needing improvement.
2. Plan analysis
The IT department must assess the viability of the proposed plan, what resources are needed to put it into action, and consider if it is possible to execute using the existing technology of the firm. In this situation, the business must get ready to take on added costs as combining usually involves a specific amount of money being put into technology.
3. Software design
Once you have worked out a strategy, made sure it is practical, and accepted it, it is time to begin planning the software.
4. Integration design
This is the most labor-intensive stage, requiring a lot of time as it necessitates a detailed explanation of the process, system tests, approaches, and logistics. It is essential that the earlier measures have been implemented properly since the integration model depends on them. If our prior attempts have been unsuccessful, it will take longer to complete the design.
Popular Integrations
These integrations are divided according to the type of business needs so that you can easily find the ones you need. The majority of these integrations are multi-purpose and can do several different tasks. The listing below classifies them in the area where they are most suitable.
It is essential to be aware that these are merely a few of the currently prevalent integrations – there are numerous more that can be researched and used as your company develops.
Let’s take a look.
Advertising Integrations
Facebook Ads
You can now link up the people who have responded to your ads with the ads themselves. You can also take a look at actual information about which ads have the biggest effect on your finances. This makes it easier to keep track of the outcomes of all your Facebook Ad campaigns.
AdRoll
Different businesses and products have various buyer personas. The AdRoll connection grants you the chance to form customized retargeting postings for varied lead parts.
You have the ability to customize numerous aspects of the ads, including the material and design, that will be the most suitable for your target audience.
This enables you to concentrate on details about your audience, letting you communicate with and reach out to prospective customers — you can get in-depth information about these prospects from your CRM through the link so you can precisely target them again.
Instapage
If you are not an expert in coding, building a homepage for your website could seem daunting. Those who want to craft and customize a landing page can find the Instapage integration to be an easy solution.
Account-Based Marketing (ABM) Integrations
ABM stands for account-based marketing. Integrating ABM into your business allows you to take advantage of the information you have on your accounts and customers so you can customize your messages, calls-to-action, and promotional plans to make sales and bring in patrons.
OrgChartHub
You can generate diagrams that can provide you with information on client contacts, illustrate critical stakeholders, and personalize sales personas without needing to exchange any of the data manually.
CaliberMind
By integrating CaliberMind, you will have the capability to examine your engagement across different channels and establish notifications for your team members regarding which contracts have to be closed in order to reach the target.
Analytics and Data Integrations
Databox
A major plus for remote workers and people who need to manage their duties on the move is the capability to monitor and control their vital performance metrics (KPIs) from any position.
The connection with Databox lets you obtain data from a diverse selection of resources, like Google Analytics, SEMRush, mobile, desktop, Facebook, and more, granting you access to all your analytics info.
Hotjar
In today’s era, people are not always eager to fill out online forms or give away their personal particulars. Hotjar is a handy tool for understanding who your visitors are and the things they are searching for when viewing your webpage. The integration of Hotjar provides you with intelligence regarding your website and mobile visitors, including their requirements.
Klipfolio
Klipfolio lets you observe the most crucial measurements in real time. You can increase the openness of your data and accomplish your goals more quickly with this.
Calling Integrations
Whether you are communicating with coworkers or customers, calling integrations will make phone and video call smooth and effortless. This gives salespeople and customer service personnel the essential information they need to help a potential customer or current customer correctly.
UberConference
Scheduling meetings with your coworkers and potential customers using UberConference is extremely quick and straightforward, so you can focus your energy on other important duties. The incorporation of this system enables you to easily and promptly arrange appointments.
Aircall
Telephone conversations are still one of the best means to stay in contact with possible and existing patrons. The Aircall integration makes it possible to handle telephonic exchanges with leads and customers, regardless of whether they are sales or customer service interactions. It enables you to maintain management of your all call paths and provide professional help.
CallRail
CallRail is a call tracking and analytics system which provides you with the power to design distinctively tailored segments and activities according to the conversations you have with leads and customers.
Connector Integrations
Make
Make integration lets you develop and run workflows without needing the support of a computer programmer.
Zapier
Using Zapier, you can establish a connection between your software and more than a thousand other applications automatically.
Content Integrations
Beacon
If your website has multiple blog posts, Beacon could be a great fit for you. This integration will make sure that your content looks polished and can help you obtain additional leads by maximizing the use of your present content.
Belch.io
Creating unique landing pages, web pages, and emails offers your visitors, leads, and customers an impressive appearance when engaging with your business on the internet. It is a fantastic choice for individuals who don’t have experience in programming or creating web pages who would like to create their website pages and emails to fit with their branding.
Customer Success Integrations
Slack
Slack integration is a modern platform enabling you and your colleagues to communicate and collaborate easily. It provides a digital workspace to keep everyone connected. The integration allows remote teams to collaboratively coordinate tasks from any location.
Zendesk
Zendesk provides a way to document and manage customer inquiries, bringing together all the information about customer contact in one central spot. It enables you to give a consistent level of service to both your colleagues and customers.
LiveChat
The incorporation of LiveChat enables you to converse with possible purchasers instantly when they are searching for assistance or advice while on your website. LiveChat permits you to provide guidance to people inquiring about your product or requesting aid in the checkout procedure. This direction enables you to enhance conversions, as well as to establish positive relationships with potential clients and customers.
Ecommerce Integrations
Magento
The Magento integration allows users to craft and dispatch emails associated with activities such as upsells, cross-sells, and reordering, with the aim of enhancing conversions. It also lets them set up tactics for capturing the interest of any shopping carts that have been left abandoned. This system will transmit all ecommerce data associated with your customers and emails exchanged with them instantaneously.
Email Integrations
Privy
Privy assists you in boosting your sales and transforming potential customers into contented patrons. This integration takes advantage of specific pop-up advertisements, banners, bars, and other methods to help you expand your number of conversions and decrease the number of visitors who leave your page.
Conclusion
Integrating is a vital step that our company can take to improve all our procedures and cut costs. We need to be concise about the operations done by our software applications and our desired ultimate goal when blending them together so that those trained to perform the integration will know what outcome the final application should achieve.
Having integrations in place is an essential part of maximizing efficiency in any business, and getting closer to process optimization targets.
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