The process for integrating the Ipendo Platform™ with a financial system or document management system encompasses more than technical issues. Ipendo customers are counseled to approach integration initially from a nontechnical perspective: Simply start by analyzing and connecting your relevant business processes to each other. Then map these processes to your integration requirements.
Applying this analysis step doesn’t mean the amount of work has to increase exponentially. It’s normally the other way around. Committing up-front effort to determine how your business processes can efficiently integrate will make it easier to implement a solid and maintenance-friendly solution.
Integrate wisely
Plan to keep information in each system consistent, and avoid creating “hard” dependencies between the Ipendo Platform™ and any linked applications.
Build strategic workflows
Build the right workflows in the right system. Workflows related to your IP business processes should not necessarily be built in the Ipendo Platform™. Business logic related to finance should in most cases reside in your financial system rather than in the Ipendo Platform™. Business logic related to working with documents in general should be embedded in your document management system.
Avoid duplication
Storing the same information in multiple systems is not generally recommended. Evaluate the quality of data and determine which system is the actual owner of which data.
Effectively share data between systems
When sharing data between the Ipendo Platform™ and your other business applications, it’s important to define which system is the data owner for which data. The question of who owns the data may be less prominent but it is key. Data ownership defines where the data is manipulated and where it is used for sharing reasons only. The financial system owns financial data but shares it with the Ipendo Platform™. The Ipendo Platform™ owns case data and shares it with the document management system.
Let Ipendo work for you
With a proven track record in integrating the Ipendo Platform™ with financial systems, document management systems, HR systems, etc., Ipendo has the know-how to help you maximize your company’s critical technical and business processes.
By Charly Nijm