Is Enterprise Data Integration an Opportunity or a Threat?

A convergence of external forces is drastically changing the design of enterprise system architectures, including:

• Viability of distributed computing (DCOM, CORBA, Web Services) and associated component-based architectures

• Ubiquity of the internet and world-wide web

• Universal technology standards (e.g. IP, XML, web services, etc).

• Competitive advantages achieved by unbundling the organization’s business processes (i.e. following a horizontal integration strategy versus being vertically integrated)

• Advantages of object-oriented development / solutions
  - Faster Development
     > Reuse
     > Rapid Prototyping
  - Higher Quality
  - Easier Maintenance
  - Reduced Cost
  - Increased Scalability
  - Better Information Structures
  - Increased Adaptability

• Rapid Adoption of Web Services

The implications from these changes on the enterprise architecture include:

• The scale of a web component architecture provides significant economic advantages both in terms of operating costs and a more efficient investment in the development of new technologies

• Non-strategic business processes and technology are non-core activities that drain focus away from strategic business process expertise

• A web component model provides the flexibility for a business to pick and choose their future strategic direction and competitive advantage

• Increased need for standardized data (EDW, conformed dimensions, MDM, CDI, PIM, etc).

In other words, in addition to developing new applications with object-oriented technology, market-leading companies are currently leveraging web services technology to transform existing legacy applications to a Services Oriented Architecture (SOA). The impact of this change will result in a massive increase in the amount of data being integrated throughout the enterprise and further emphasize the need for an Enterprise Data Integration (EDI) strategy.

How Can Myers-Holum Help?

Myers-Holum can assist you develop your EDI strategy, including:

• Providing a better understanding of the role EDI plays in enterprise information management, information architecture, meta data management and data warehousing

• Addressing critical functional and business requirements through a comprehensive EDI/SOA application framework

• Identifying best practices and practical solutions for implementing an Enterprise Data Integration solution

• Architecture diagram of ‘Future-State’ EDI architecture vision, including:
  - Data Architecture (conceptual, logical and physical data models)
  - Technical Architecture (hardware, software, operating systems, storage, network)
  - Data Integration Architecture (data movement from source to target, with transformations, data quality, data cleansing, balance & controls)

• Organizational Model

• High level initiatives / projects to deliver ‘Future State’ solution

• Defined technology platform

• Roadmap of prioritized projects / timeline

• Business Justification and Range of Magnitude (ROM) budget