Running a business requires many tools and systems—accounting, relationships, workflow management, and so many more. While common, working with different systems can be complicated. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of integrating diverse systems.

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What Are Disparate Systems?

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Simply put, disparate systems, otherwise known as information silos, are data processing systems that work entirely independently from one another. They can’t communicate with other forms of software despite working with similar information and toward the same result.

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Why It Matters

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Similar to hosting workflows in manufacturing, working with varying technologies can impact your business in a number of ways.

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Time Drain: Moving data from one platform to another can be tedious and inefficient, especially when the involved platforms work with different formats.

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Potential for Error: Data is susceptible to human error due to the many steps and factors involved in transferring data between different software.

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Complex Training and Onboarding: Training teams to adopt new technologies and transition processes can be complicated on single systems. Adding different tools further increases the difficulty.

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Reporting Consistency Issues: Working with isolated systems can lead to weaker reporting, damaging the integrity of the data at work and, ultimately, your business’s reputation.

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Wasteful Redundancy: When each disparate system has its own copy of the same data, it can take up space that could be otherwise used for more comprehensive data analysis.

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Security: Managing security protocols across many different platforms can be daunting because each tool may have varying approaches to safety. This adds to the vulnerabilities of data in transit.

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As you have seen, the most impactful risk of working with disparate, unintegrated systems is wasting resources, be it time, clarity, or reliability of your protocols. Using the healthcare industry as our reference, let’s examine what this may look like in daily operations.

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Disparate Systems in Healthcare

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Interoperability is essential in healthcare, as its lack can lead to real complications in terms of patient outcomes and staff support. Healthcare providers collect and handle great amounts of very complex and critical data, and with more complexity, it’s easy to expect more room for error. Working with data silos can complicate the many steps involved in any given patient case.

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According to the State of Patient Matching America Survey in 2019—conducted by eHealthcare Initiative and Next Gate—nearly 38% of healthcare providers faced adverse circumstances as a result of patient matching issues in the past two years. Consistent patient records are essential for any step in healthcare. In the mildest scenario, they may delay treatment, but in worse cases, they can lead to entire procedures performed on the wrong patient.

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Operationally, each data migration between isolated systems will take up a lot of time for nursing staff and doctors, as they have to invest much of their time in ensuring that the right data is added to each system. Claim rework is its own kind of strain on time and resources, and it can further complicate insurance claims and patient satisfaction.

In 2023, the World Health Organization recognized the importance of interoperability and reinforced attention to the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 and its guidelines for implementation. In their perspective, integrated systems enhance communication and continuity of care at all levels.

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Forward-Thinking Perspective

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The best way to adjust to evolving technology is to prioritize efficiency when expanding and diversifying. Connecting isolated systems is essential to making better use of the available technology and laying a strong foundation for future-ready infrastructures.

Additionally, integrating disparate systems can cut maintenance costs in the long run. For one, integrating systems also means integrating operational costs.

It can also reduce data entry errors and the risks associated with moving data from one system to another. This allows your employees to access and make decisions based on complete data, boosting productivity.

Furthermore, training and onboarding for an optimized, well-connected system is much simpler and more cost-efficient than complicated, isolated architectures. Integration also enhances data security through improved reporting.

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Challenges of Integration

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Every change in hardware and software practices is challenging as management and employees navigate and implement the new technology in their everyday practice. Disparate system integration is not the exception.

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• This process demands very clear data governance policies for access, use, and ownership.
• It also insists on reviewing cybersecurity measures regarding authentication and authorization.
• Training is necessary for existing employees, as they will have to re-learn how to use the existing technology under a new paradigm.

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A Step in the Right Direction

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Working with a huge repository of systems is inevitable because they all have very clear goals and workflows that can greatly benefit your organization. To make the most of them, however, it’s crucial to find a common ground and apply integration. It can increase efficiency by cutting corners commonly associated with switching platforms and can prepare your organization for growth and scalability.

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At Advolve Partners, we provide businesses with essential IT solutions. Click here to reach out to us and learn how to implement effective system integration tailored to your company’s needs and capabilities.