CIO OPINION
Departments within an enterprise will buy in an IT tool or platform to address a highly specific data problem , without utilising the full functionality of what they have purchased . It ’ s akin to buying a Porsche and only driving it at 30mph .
Zahi Yaari , VP of EMEA at SnapLogic
Why CIOs need to prioritise data integration
Zahi Yaari , VP of EMEA at SnapLogic , discusses the importance and benefits of data integration and why the possibility of fragmented data requires CIOs to ensure that all departments are aligned and the data integration process is followed carefully .
One of the ironies of Big Data is that it has made is more difficult to see the big picture . The sheer volume of enterprise data generated per day has become overwhelming : the average enterprise has over 100 applications in use at any given time . At these volumes , data becomes a double-edged sword . Many organisations are at the point where teams and departments form splinter groups in an attempt to manage the flow of information .
It ’ s now the case that departments within an enterprise will buy in an IT tool or platform to address a highly specific data problem , without utilising the full functionality of what they have purchased . It ’ s akin to buying a Porsche and only driving it at 30mph . In some cases , companies will be buying multiple Porsches – duplicating costs .
CIOs need to regain control when the data situation gets messy and the risk of a shadow IT system rears its head . The way to do this is to prioritise data integration , which in the process will dismantle data siloes and ensure joined-up thinking – and purchasing .
What is data integration ?
Data integration is the process of bringing data together , so different types of data form a unified source to make the data more useful and valuable for the organisation .
Data integration falls into three broad categories ( operational , analytical and hybrid ) and some businesses will need to use all three , depending on how and where their data is stored .
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