How long you had a legacy integration system in place? Is it five years, ten years, or even longer? For quite long, legacy systems have ruled the mainstream market as unbeaten workhorses, but even workhorses have a limited lifespan.
There is a multitude of reasons why an enterprise might want to use a legacy system for integration purposes, though the rationale for maintaining them does not always stand up to the logic behind B2B modernization. Companies that want to corner the business landscape must modernize their B2B capabilities to reap maximum dividends. A unified integration platform that offers capabilities such as EDI, ESB, API, ETL, and more has a major role to play. It bolsters organizational capability to maximize outcomes through increased operational visibility, greater efficiency, and improved decision-making. Discover how a unified integration platform helps companies embrace the wave of B2B modernization with ease. But before acknowledging the benefits, explore some tips that can come in handy for companies planning to modernize their existing integration system.
Tips for Making B2B Modernization Easier
Just like any other process, B2B modernization also requires a methodical approach that incorporates 6 important steps. They include:
- 1.Brainstorming with the team to optimize B2B processes and support a better customer experience approach.
- 2.Picking one area to pilot like supplier that the company is doing business with.
- 3.Avoiding big bang implementation to eliminate the risks of business interruption.
- 4.Taking care of steps like mapping and measuring the time for each activity to start optimizing the most time-consuming tasks.
- 5.Deploying a modernized B2B integration platform with B2B-EDI, API, workflow automation, and data transformation capabilities to reduce TCO and prepare for future business challenges.
- 6.Keeping a watch on latest innovations trending in B2B landscape.
Role of a Unified Integration Platform in Driving B2B Modernization Initiatives
There are a number of reasons why unified platforms enable companies drive their B2B modernization initiatives. Here are three of them.
Greater Operational Visibility
Newer integration technologies offer a single-pane-of-glass view to all the authorized users. Users cannot only view all the information they need but also see it all in one place, thus ensuring visibility and centralized access. All the departments are, therefore, aware of each other whereabouts and can access data from one place. This simplifies communication and promotes engagement across the ecosystem.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency
Higher efficiency is must for organizations to survive, sustain, and thrive in this competitive business environment.Modern integration tools help them achieve this goal with ease and precision.
By connecting and integrating data sources across the ecosystem and automating business processes, these tools allow companies get rid of siloes and thus streamline collaboration. Better quality insights and intelligence on the customers and operations are available, and so firms can make better business decisions without difficulty.
Better Decision-Making
Businesses can make better decisions when they have the right information with them. Modern data integration solutions make data access so efficient that firms can easily use data to extract insights. They can make use of this information to identify and capitalize on new sales opportunities.