Onboarding describes the period and process when clients and vendors adjust to the new aspects of a given service provider. In the past, this business phase was seen as a time-consuming, back-end activity that took weeks and sometimes even months to complete. However, there is now a rising trend that is upending the traditional onboarding process, and this process is known as citizen integration.
Traditionally, when managing a company’s data connections with new partners or customers, IT would oversee the entire onboarding process. From start to finish, this process could take several weeks to complete, delaying the opportunity to generate real business value for either party. Lost business opportunities result in lost revenue, and as the pace at which business is conducted only continues to increase, it’s clear that companies cannot afford to wait months to complete onboarding.
However, as business users become adept at performing data connections themselves, the potential exists to significantly reduce the time it takes to complete the onboarding process.
Consider the implications if members of the sales team could quickly and easily perform data onboarding for new customers themselves. Instead of routing each team member’s onboarding request through IT, end users would be able to manage the process, alleviating the burden on IT and significantly reducing the time it takes for the business relationship to begin generating value.
When clients begin receiving service quickly and partners are able to instantaneously collaborate, faster revenue generation is an immediate outcome that ultimately results in more satisfied customers and partners. Additionally, a solution that adapts quickly ensures that companies won’t miss out on timely opportunities for growth and sets up a business with the ability to scale for long term future success.