B2B Data Integration and Transformation Blog

Several blogs ago I wrote about Lean and eliminating waste in Good...the Enemy of Best! How Can Lean Be Applied To Data Integration?  This article outlined the lean concept, 8 forms of waste, and how the concept might apply to business and data integration for our organizations. 

In eliminating waste we improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our organizations, but how do we identify waste or process improvement opportunities? A recent trip to Europe with my wife and kids provided some interesting insights on ways to identify Lean Integration opportunities.

We've all seen it.  John knows the ins/outs of a particular process.  John boasts his knowledge, skills of that process, John knows it all, John is the man. Everyone goes to John, "John is out today? He’s the only one that can help us, we have a deadline. Did he leave notes on what we should do? He knew this was due today". "What am I supposed to tell the customer?  How do I respond to the customer?"

John is part of a team of eight, a well skilled and knowledgeable team of eight.  Each member of the team brings something different to the table but John, he knows everything, and he’s the “go to guy”.

I'm writing this post while on a wonderful family trip to France and Italy. One of the most important experiences I want my kids to have is traveling to other countries and feeling comfortable doing so.  It is such a learning experience to muddle your way through the language and the transportation.  

How could I use this experience and write a blog post?  Ahh, that's it....muddling. 

I often sit and listen to clients talk about their EDI environments – sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad.  What I find most important during these conversations is ensuring I understand everything they have and the direction they are heading.  

To obtain this key information, you must ask a lot of questions.  It may take several conversations before earning the trust of the client so they may provide you with many details, but evenutally you get there.