B2B Data Integration and Transformation Blog

EDI and Integration Planning

On Premise Software v Cloud Based Solutions.  What Is Your Preference?

Posted by Scott Hulme on Mar 11, 2016 11:00 AM


A huge topic that we are hearing from our customers is the choice they have to make between implementing an on premise software solution vs. a cloud based solution.  They often are struggling with the decision, and a majority of the time they are very confused about what each brings to the table.  As in everything, there are pros and cons to each choice.  There are many articles that you can research that outline all of the pros and cons associated with each approach.  I am not going to go into that in this blog. 

What I would like to address is the philosophical approach that plays a pivotal role in which solution you choose.  Some companies are much better aligned to one approach over the other based on the philosophical nature of the organization.  This philosophical alignment is rooted deep in each organization from its leadership teams to its employees and from its business model to its focus on the customer.  The on premise vs. cloud decision can significantly alter the company philosophy that you have rooted within your organization if you do not select the appropriate choice that aligns with your company's core beliefs.
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Integration Competency Centers:  Organizing the Complexity and Chaos

Posted by Brad Loetz on Nov 24, 2015 12:11 PM


Often times when helping companies modernize their B2B integration, I get a glimpse of their old systems and gain insight as to why they felt the need to modernize. One of the most common reasons is to get all their integration software onto one comprehensive package. Generally, companies add additional software tools one by one as needs arise in their EDI department for requirements which older existing tools will not accommodate. In the instance of IT backlogs, Line of Business folks will procure integration solutions as a work-around to the capacity limitations of their IT department. Acquisitions frequently result in overlapping systems as well. Over time, more becomes less as complexity and inefficiency rise with each additional integration tool- a typical case of too many cooks.

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The Eisenhower Principle: Are you Using Time Effectively?

Posted by Hilton Vogel-Dellinger on Jul 22, 2015 12:16 PM

 
Time management is all about production and efficiency. We often make decisions on tasks to optimize both while meeting our goals. Our tasks can fall into the categories of important and urgent. Important tasks are ones such as developing a strategy or doing research. These are critical to a company’s success, but have no well-defined deadline. Urgent tasks, however, have a well-defined deadline and are usually used by others to judge production and value for your company. Examples of urgent tasks include reports, meetings, and emergencies.

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Two Quick Thoughts - Integration Ubiquity

Posted by Charley Hughes on May 28, 2015 11:00 AM


If you are a gadget geek like me, this article will be right up your alley. 

This weekend I picked up a gadget called the “Nest”.   Little did I know at the time that it would find its way into my article this week. 

Nest is a learning thermostat for your home HVAC that identifies your heating and cooling patterns and habits and “learns” to program itself.   I thought this would be a neat gadget to have since it would save me money on my heating and cooling bills.  But then I discovered all of the OTHER gadgets that Nest interfaces with.  

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Who Does Your EDI Department Sell To?

Posted by Brad Loetz on May 26, 2015 12:44 PM


While it is not likely your IT group has sales people, it is likely that IT resources and business sponsors are required to sell the cost/benefits of project initiatives (capital projects or otherwise) to the CFO, CEO, COO, or project committee.

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