The notion of self-service data integration has endured the test of time, similar to self-service BI – both primarily coming from the perspective of the power of business users such as data analysts, application managers, etc. But a path also opened for less-technical LOB business users to actively participate in data integration tasks. SaaS as well as cloud services implemented self-service data integration solutions where the providers can execute integrations with wizard-like UIs. This version of self-service technology gained impetus from the salesforce ecosystem of data integration services, a plethora of which targeted “everyday” business users.
Data integration with self-service is reckoned to be a new force for democratization of data. However, when looking at current modern data integration solutions, it seems that technology-focused business users are the primary focus. So, the question is, how can one facilitate everyday business users, those who might not be technically equipped to contribute during data integrations?
Data Access for Everyone
Data democratization has a place in modern data integration, as both conceptual and actual future directions for solutions. Such democratization allows non-specialists garner and analyze data without requiring outside help, connecting more people to the data. Organizations thrive with a better and faster availability of the right data at the right time.
Data democratization encompasses self-service data integration and services like data preparation, that can empower business users with wider access to data, frequently without needing IT to intervene directly. So, while business users can integrate data, IT can focus on control and governance.
Of course, it will take a highly cultivated technology behind the veil to give power to everyday business users with supreme integration competencies such as pre-built application connectors, shared templates, user-friendly dashboards, etc. These capabilities will help business users do the job directly and evade serious missteps that could lead to major discrepancies.
Many modern data integration solutions support self-service, enabling users with access to data sets, ingest it, transform it, integrate it to streamline decision-making.
Data Governance for Everyone
To sustain success, self-service data integration must go hand-in-hand with self-service governance. Organizations must address the risk associated with self-service data integration with the aid of hybridized IT management and governance. This helps them prevent piecemeal and poorly managed efforts across the ecosystem.
Modern self-service-powered hybrid integration solutions are well-positioned for governance that maps into overall organizational data governance practices and policies. However, a point to note here is that data governance is more business than technology-based. Business people play a significant role in implementing successful data governance. Once again, the partnership between IT and business is a core piece of data governance to guarantee that it will work well and align with business needs as well as objectives, and IT management of self-service DI activities.
Self-Service and Modern Data Integration
The current business landscape is witnessing significant changes in integration processes, where data flows from and to anywhere: cloud, on-premises, partner network systems, third-party enrichment, and so on. Modern data integration solutions converge self-service practices to allow all business users handle information with ease and precision. Ultimately for business, it’s all about gaining access to data without difficulty. Not only this increases the speed of integration tasks but also makes organizations easier to do business with.
By allowing more people in the organization gaining faster access to data, jobs are done better – with improved effectiveness and innovation for the business. Through hybrid data integration solutions, with the ability to address organizational cloud-based and in-house integration needs, self-service options can be available to all kinds of roles in an organization.
Certainly, self-service data integration is a crucial goal for organizations, especially in the age of digital transformation. But, not all solutions can provide that same level of access as required. Learn how and why Adeptia can help “everyone” in your organization access data to carry out integrations and drive business forward.