Operate more efficiently, reduce complexity, improve EBIDTA, and much more with the purpose-built platform for MSPs.
Protect and defend what matters most to your clients and stakeholders with ConnectWise's best-in-class cybersecurity and BCDR solutions.
Leverage generative AI and RPA workflows to simplify and streamline the most time-consuming parts of IT.
Join fellow IT pros at ConnectWise industry & customer events!
Check out our online learning platform, designed to help IT service providers get the most out of ConnectWise products and services.
Search our resource center for the latest MSP ebooks, white papers, infographics, webinars and more!
Join hundreds of thousands of IT professionals benefiting from and contributing to a legacy of industry leadership when you become a part of the ConnectWise community.
Join hundreds of thousands of IT professionals benefiting from and contributing to a legacy of industry leadership when you become a part of the ConnectWise community.
Cloud computing has given the world to the world: in theory, anyone can retrieve any data at any time — from anywhere.
Amid such a tightly-knit digital ecosystem, some may assume that system integration is redundant, or even a return-on-investment risk.
But that just isn’t true. System integration is a highly worthwhile project that can not only get a company’s system to run more efficiently, but also generate greater income with less waste.
What are integrated systems? We’ll go over that and more, below.
System integration is the bringing together of individual components or subsystems to form a larger, thoroughly cohesive system. This process involves combining hardware, software, and other elements, such as data and communication protocols, in order to create a seamless digital-physical information environment.
Ideally, an integrated system helps a company streamline its objectives; mechanical, electrical, and software systems can communicate as a homogenous unit, rather than a set of disconnected subsystems subject to slowdown or failure.
There are several system integration types; which one a company implements depends on the context and specific requirements of the system being integrated. System integration examples include:
While system integration types vary, the purpose of each is to create a unified whole of once-disparate subsystems.
Some common system integration methods include:
Certain projects may require a combination of any number of the above methods. In almost all cases, however, system integration is possible one way or another. Remaining flexible and being open to creative solutions is key to creating the ideal system.
For a great example of integrating tools in action, read our eBook, The Unparalleled Integration: ConnectWise PSA & ConnectWise CPQ.
The system integrator oversees and manages a system integration project. The system integrator is responsible for coordinating many aspects of the integration project, including the design, development, testing, and deployment of the system.
The specific tasks and responsibilities of a system integrator may include:
The system integrator can also help you create a culture of automation. This means regularizing automated processes — making doing so an expected, accepted part of your team’s operation. Doing so focuses your team on efficiency.
Eventually, you can begin to automate your automation — that is, you can automate the update process across your integrated system, making sure you’re always working with the latest versions of all automated tools.
Automation benefits your overall integrated system, and there are many more benefits to integration.
The official website of the Systems Integration Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) says that the major benefit of system integration is “To promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness in areas of critical national priority… in ways that enhance economic prosperity and improve the quality of life.”
In a more general sense, system integration benefits include:
In short, system integration provides more data, boosts revenue, and improves customer relations.
System integration is a highly sophisticated project. While it yields major benefits, it can be challenging to implement. Some common hurdles include:
In order to overcome these challenges, a company needs to plan thoroughly, communicate closely with stakeholders, and implement integration carefully and effectively. A robust change management plan and a flexible approach that can adapt to changing requirements and unforeseen issues can help to mitigate these and other challenges.
The system integration process looks different from company to company. Generally speaking, system integration is executed as follows:
What exactly the system integration process looks like depends on the scope and complexity of the project. Furthermore, any such process needs to be adaptable: certain issues may arise that, with careful planning, won’t necessarily cause downtime.
Ready to start reaping the benefits of system integration? ConnectWise understands the importance of system integration to ensure smooth business operations. We’ve invested in an award-winning PSA and RMM integration and provide the largest marketplace of third-party integrations in the industry. Check out our on-demand demos to find the products that are right for you.
Optional Eyebrow. Max of 10 words.
System integration is the process of bringing together individual components or subsystems to form a cohesive, larger system.
This process of system integration involves combining hardware, software, and other elements, such as data and communication protocols, in order to achieve a desired level of performance and functionality. The goal of system integration is to ensure that all components work together seamlessly and efficiently to achieve the overall objectives of the system.
System integration is important because it allows multiple systems to work together seamlessly as a single, unified system. This improves efficiency, reduces costs, and increases the overall functionality of the integrated system. Additionally, system integration can help to ensure that data is consistent and accurate across all systems, and it can also make it easier to add new systems or components to the overall system in the future.
Some common types of system integration include:
The type of system integration that is used will depend on the specific requirements of the system being integrated and the goals of the integration project. Some projects may require a combination of different types of integration.
Common benefits of system integration include improved performance and efficiency, enhanced functionality and reliability, increased agility, and a reduction in costs.
The exact process of system integration will depend on the specific context and requirements of the system being integrated, but it typically involves: