Why Integration Is the Key to Successful Digitalization

Digitalization is one of today’s most frequently used – and sometimes most misunderstood – buzzwords. Many companies set ambitious digital goals, but many don’t achieve them. A common mistake is that their systems don’t connect. Without proper integration, automation, flexibility, and efficiency simply don’t happen. That’s why I want to be clear: integration is not a technical side issue. It’s a fundamental requirement for digitalization to succeed in practice.

Start in the Right Place – With Integration
Organizations begin their digital journey by identifying which systems they need. This is understandable when the objective is to streamline processes, improve customer value, and increase efficiency. But many businesses start with the wrong strategy. The first question should be: what kind of integration platform best fits our business?

This is about setting the right foundation from the outset. What functionality is required? How scalable should the solution be? What are the demands for security, cost efficiency, and future flexibility? Should it be cloud-based or on-premise? Does it need to handle multiple time zones? By addressing these questions early, the entire digital journey becomes smoother – especially when it comes to choosing the right system.

A Stable Platform Brings Structure and Direction
Once the right integration platform – and the right partner – is in place, the needs analysis becomes far easier. Only then does it make sense to focus on which systems to use, which processes to improve, and how everything should fit together.

Most companies also carry the burden of legacy older systems that remain business-critical. The challenge is to determine whether they can be integrated – and if not, whether they should be replaced with more modern alternatives. An experienced integration partner, familiar with both old and new technologies, is invaluable here.

Design With the Future in Mind
The next step is defining how integrations should be built. Should it be point-to-point connections, or reusable components? Should data flow in real time or at scheduled intervals? How should error handling and logging be structured?

Integration is much more than a technical connection. It’s about creating an architecture that endures over time – scalable, adaptable, and aligned with business evolution.

Technology Choices and Data Mapping
As organizations increasingly adopt digital systems, translating and exchanging data between solutions becomes crucial. Different systems use different structures, so effective data mapping is required to ensure accuracy. This is where outdated technology can create roadblocks.

Many older systems are built on XML, while modern web-based systems usually rely on JSON. An integration platform must support both – otherwise you risk being locked into a solution that quickly becomes obsolete.

Security From End to End
Security must be embedded at every step. What access is granted to different systems? How is data traffic protected – authentication, API keys, encryption, certificates, whitelisting? A solid integration solution ensures sensitive information is managed securely, traceably, and in a controlled way – without creating bottlenecks.

Testing Beyond the Happy Path
Before going live, integrations must be thoroughly tested. Too often, testing is limited to “happy path” scenarios where everything works perfectly. Just as important is testing in conditions where things go wrong.

What if the data is invalid, or the connection drops? Should the platform retry automatically? Can rules be applied to correct faulty data and resend it? Or should an error message go to an appropriate person for manual action? The answers to these questions will determine how stable and resilient the integration is in reality.

Monitoring, Logging, and Smart Deployment
Before launch, you need visibility through logs, alerts, and dashboards to monitor flows in real time. Once in production, it’s critical to verify performance, document accurately, and stay prepared to adjust as needed.

Integration is not something you implement once and then forget. It’s a live function that requires maintenance, oversight, and continuous development.

Choosing the Right Priority
Digitalization isn’t just about choosing modern systems. It’s about creating a seamless whole – where systems interact, data flows, and change can be managed smoothly. A strong integration solution is the engine that makes this possible.

My advice is simple: make integration a top priority from day one. That way, you lay the foundation not only for your first integration, but for your entire digital journey.