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The biggest compliment I can receive after having implemented an integration solution is the sound of crickets. No news is good news. Integration solutions should provide a seamless interaction between systems to the greatest degree possible with the least possible amount of human interaction. As it turns out, this can often be a lofty goal.
Business Drivers
The business drivers and benefits possible from an integrated solution must be clearly defined. It is the commitment to these things that will see the project to its fruition. There must also be flexibility and a partnership between the client and the solution provider. Unforeseen issues WILL come up; it is not a matter of IF. Meeting these challenges with a sense of team work and determination is paramount.
Subject matter experts who know how the current processes are carried out must be involved from the beginning. They must also be capable of getting “buy in” from the people who will be using the new systems and processes. It is helpful if they have enough vision to determine what processes should be scrapped and what new ones should be created. A good consultant is instrumental in this process as well. This is where the partnership and team work come in.
Additionally, what existing applications and vendors are the players in the overall integration project? What types of interaction with other software do they support? This brings us to the next point.