You're navigating third-party data integration for ERP. How can you maintain data consistency seamlessly?

Couple of thoughts: - Have the objectives for the value chain been determined? - Have the required business capabilities been identified and segmented? - Has the mapping of business capabilities to IT systems been carried out? - Have the activities to be carried out in different systems been laid out? - Have data needs for those activities at the lowest level been captured? - Have required master and transactional data elements been listed? - Have owning and consuming systems for listed data been identified? It is after these key steps that one might look at the table, field level mapping exercise. Tool selection, availability of pre-built connectors are other aspects to bear in mind.

Data mapping is the cart, but put the horse ie (business mapping) before it. Majority of integration projects (especially with 3rd parties) fail not because data or technology, but due to mismatched business process. A text book example is the integration of Chrysler with Daimler. On the face of it, both manufactured cars so integration should have been easy. But mismatched business processes (Daimler‘ structured design & production vs. Chryslers flexible autonomy ) resulted in breakdowns. Ultimately, integration had to be called off & Chrysler was sold to another entity. At a 75% loss, in a decade. How to avoid? A good framework to use is TOGAF, which outlines the sequence needed: Business-> Information ->Technology Use it.

Thorough Planning: Understand the data structures of both the ERP system and the third-party system. Map data fields accurately to ensure seamless transfer and avoid errors. ? Data Cleansing: Implement data cleansing processes to eliminate duplicates, inconsistencies, and errors before integration. Data Transformation: Convert data formats as needed to ensure compatibility between the systems.

Master Data Governance is very much needed at the enterprise level. Meta data definitions of the critical data and a centralized location (hub and spoke) so that the data can be distributed to the satellite / consumer applications need a very good governance, management and stewardship. Data creation and maintenance should be in the system or record from which it can be distributed along with standard operating procedures will surely improve the quality and make the organization preventive than reactive. Master data integrity issues can cost an organization excessively in terms of its resources (men, material and money) to react and fix the downstream transactions especially when there are multiple business partners are consuming the data.

Application programming interfaces, middleware and enterprise application integration platforms are the three types of integration tools which may be provided by ERP vendors who want their clients to have seamless business processes across their ERP and third-party systems like a best-of-breed Customer Relationship Management software. This is how the most appropriate on-premise and cloud-based applications are integrated to compose the best-fit enterprise system for an organization.

Minimize Lag Time: Choose integration methods that offer real-time or near-real-time data transfer to reduce the window for discrepancies. Event-Driven Architecture: Trigger updates in the ERP whenever relevant changes occur in the third-party system.

Choosing the right integration tools is crucial for maintaining seamless data consistency across your ERP system. Tools like Boomi stand out because they don't just facilitate data transfer—they ensure that data is processed in strict alignment with your ERP’s standards. With features like real-time synchronization, error logging, and rollback capabilities, Boomi enables you to monitor data flows continuously and act swiftly if discrepancies arise. This level of control and precision is invaluable in safeguarding data integrity and ensuring smooth, reliable operations within your ERP environment.

Workflow automation can ensure the real-time integration between the ERP and third-party systems. Any data exchange issue can be alerted or notified as an exception for manual intervention.

Automation is like wine for technology providers: Put in good hands, it is magical. But extreme use, without moderation spells disaster. Take Tesla production-hell case from 2018. They started with goal of complete automation of production, repurposed a factory in California & invested billions for 100% automation. Within few years, the production was short of goals & the leaders called it production-hell. Why? While automation was implemented, they forgot to moderate it with crucial operational element: Human decision making. This was corrected few years later & balanced automation, with humans in the process setup. As they say, rest is history with Tesla rising to one of the largest & one of the most storied company.

Regular Audits: Conduct periodic data audits to identify and rectify inconsistencies. ? Performance Monitoring: Monitor integration performance to detect bottlenecks and identify potential issues before they impact data consistency. System Updates: Regularly update both the ERP and third-party systems to ensure compatibility and address any security vulnerabilities.