When a business begins to use Business Process Automation (BPA) software, the goal is most often to improve the efficiency of business operations. While BPA software most definitely does increase efficiency, it can also create its own inefficiencies when there are too many disparate applications in use that do not share information with one another. An example would be having to manually enter data or port silos into multiple systems rather than having that data input shared between them. If you find yourself or your employees dealing with multiple applications, you should consider maximizing their abilities by integrating them.
Common Application Candidates For Integrations
-
Supply Chain Management (SCM)
-
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
-
Business Intelligence
-
Analytics
-
Marketing Communications
-
E-commerce Optimization
-
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Benefits of Integrating BPA Software
Increased Productivity: The more applications your business uses, the more data entry your employees are likely to be doing. Such menial tasks decrease the agility of your business, and this valuable time could be spent more effectively on other activities .
Greater Scalability: Having a tangled web of applications can inhibit the ability for your business to scale. This is particularly true of cases where those working with the software have developed spreadsheets as workarounds. A siloed application system can act as an obstacle when companies are experiencing growth or increased sales volumes. A well-integrated software system makes it easier for new employees to learn how to work with the system, as well as open new locations that will run the same applications.
Bird’s-Eye View: When software systems are not integrated and you’re working with numerous overlapping databases and analytics, it is not easy to get a real-time view of business performance. By integrating your applications and reporting tools, you can have a bird’s-eye view of your software, enabling you to gain important insights and make decisions faster.
Improved Customer Service: An integrated software system ensures that your employees have instantaneous access to the information they need in order to provide optimal customer service.
Better Security: Many of the applications you may be using for your business deal with financial, medical or other sensitive information. By integrating your application systems, you can enhance the overall security of the software by building tools to prevent unwanted access by hackers and unauthorized users.
Time and Cost Savings on IT: Properly integrated software can greatly reduce the amount of time and money spent on maintaining various applications. This allows your IT professionals to spend more time on improving business operations.
Nowadays, nearly every industry is utilizing business software to propel growth. In order to maintain a competitive edge, it is crucial that these applications and BPA software are integrated. By properly integrating your software, you can take your business to the next level while avoiding barriers to growth.