Whether an organization is navigating through a complex M&A, or trying to centralize and streamline processes across disparate field offices, seamlessly managing IT system integration is often easier said than done.  

No matter the scale, an integration effort is complicated. Without the right strategy and people to lead the integration, the process can lead to a lot of spinning around in circles, or what we like to call “chair-swiveling.” There must always be a strong focus on the end-state goals, otherwise it can be easy to get lost.

Over time, we’ve taken note of some of the considerations that many organizations often neglect to think about throughout their integrations. Here, we’ve rounded up our findings, and encourage you to take a peek to see exactly what your company might be missing that can turn your well-intentioned integration plans into disarray.

1. Where do your systems sit, and is it the best place for them? 

Are your systems on-premise, in the cloud, or a hybrid of the two? To determine what would be most effective, you’ll need to identify your strategic priorities first. If you’re looking to maximize security, selecting an on-premise solution is your best bet for achieving that goal. If being seen as an “innovative” company is more your cup of tea, consider going with a cloud-based or hybrid solution. Further, take a look at your financial strategy—if you’re going the Capex route, an on-premise server might be best aligned, whereas Opex lends itself better to a cloud solution.

2. Do you have the right technology stack? 

Throughout an integration, a number of redundancies and inefficiencies will emerge. You’ll need to weed out the extraneous software and systems to avoid wasting both time and money. To make key decisions on which systems to keep and which to kick to the curb, it’s important to look at the whole ecosystem. Identify synergies and map out your business processes in tandem with each system. If something isn’t working, it’s time to decommission it and migrate the data to another system.

3. Can you be truly unbiased in your decision-making? 

Difficult decisions will need to be made—can you be agnostic in selecting which platforms you will utilize, and which you will abandon? If there are redundancies in your integrated staff, can you choose the best performer to move forward without regret? It’s important that decision-makers are prepared to put their past experiences and personal preferences aside in order to come to the very best, most objective solutions.

4. Have you considered outsourcing the process to an integration expert? 

Often times, organizations turn to a third party vendor to bring a dedicated focus and fresh perspective to managing the integration process. In fact, in 2017, companies across the globe collectively spent $179.8 billion on strategy and other consulting services. When selecting a vendor, look for a company that is nimble, and can scale up or down quickly depending on your needs. It can be particularly beneficial to partner with an integration partner that also has access to top IT talent, like MSH Talent Solutions.

Sometimes the greatest barrier to a successful integration is simply not knowing what you could be doing better. As you move forward, growing your business, optimizing your processes, and streamlining costs, keep these considerations in your back pocket to ensure that future integrations go off without a hitch.

MSH is an industry-leading talent solutions firm, providing strategic talent acquisition and consulting services to organizations around the world. Established in 2011, MSH aligns people, processes, and technology with overall business objectives.