B2B Data Integration and Transformation Blog

Over the next several weeks, I'm going to give an overview of the products that are in the IBM® B2B Integration track and explain how they work together and what they do. 

The image below is my version of the layers of B2B and data integration.  

At the very bottom of the totem pole, is the map.  A map is what identifies which data in the input or source is going to be moved to the output or destination and where it is going to go.  A mapper has the capability to execute instructions based on rules.  For example, if you are receiving a ship notice, you may only want to capture the delivery date and not the ship date and purchase order date.  You would create a rule that would check for the delivery date and only move that one to the output.  A mapper also has the capability to cross-reference data, such as converting a customer SKU to your internal product code.

It’s hard to believe we are approaching the middle of the 1^st Quarter in 2016! By now you have met with your teams on their goals and are well into your annual initiatives. You have laid out your project plans and your directives and everyone is looking forward to executing a successful year.

Jack Welch - former CEO of General Electric - wrote a book entitled “Winning” that became required reading for some of the managers at a Fortune 500 company where I spent a decade of my recruiting and management career.    “Winning” provides some excellent advice on topics such as hiring, firing, leadership, expansion, crisis management, and more.

The book is a quick read, and while you won’t agree with everything Jack offers, perhaps you’ll be able to use one modified suggestion I have found effective when hiring.

Next week is the big game. Its a chance to see the two best teams in the NFL battle for all the glory. The The big game has always been a great excuse to get together with friends and family to watch the game and have a good time. We always have everyone bring an appetizer to our party so there is plenty of junk food to enjoy right in the middle of your New Year’s resolution to lose weight and eat healthy. Its amazing when you think about it how much the game has evolved the last 50 years. Now it seems we get more enjoyment from commercials than the game itself. The price for one 30 second commercial is what some companies devote to their marketing budget for an entire year!

Wow!  That was fast!  2015 and the year end holidays were a blur and are over.  We are now full speed ahead into 2016.  Many organizations spent the end of 2015 wrapping up their initiatives so that they could approach 2016 with a clean slate and start to plan for all of the new projects and challenges that a new year brings.  Many organizations are also evaluating the previous year and taking stock of where they are starting out 2016.