Connected IT systems
The heart and soul of middleware implementation is the exact definition of business processes - who, when where needs what exactly, in terms of data of course. Therefore these will determine how to set up your middleware. Following that, implementing a middleware is an IT task, which should be - mostly - performed by the vendor. Usually quickly, with low costs and minimal errors.
Middleware is a software solution that enables connecting existing IT systems with each other. However, it does not only "connect the dots", but manages business logic too. Click and learn more!
In case you ever tried to find business data at a different location where it was needed? Ever spent hours with copying data from Excel sheets? Have you ever entered data manually into multiple systems? All these are resolved by middleware - plus more!
If you ever spent hours with entering, copying, settling data or if there are any colleague of yours who does, or even got tired doing so, then you do know already: you need a middleware solution to ease your pain of manual data management. Have you ever calculated the loss occurred at your company because of manual data management? Slow, annoying, human errors, frustrated administrative staff...l
As mentioned previously, middleware is a software tool which is able to make connections among existing IT systems, based on predefined business processes (also called business logic). It is a intermediary software that created the connection between other software, hence supporting business automation. Therefore it saved tons of hours for the company, while performing data management and other tasks quickly and accurately. Furthermore, an appropriately robust middleware solution supports business process management, therefore being an enabler for implementing M2M (machine to machine) automated processes. Thus a number of repetitive, usually administrative, human tasks can be completely automated. It is also important that in case you already have legacy IT systems which not necessarily fit your current needs, it might be avoidable to replace them. Much rather, a middleware might connect these, while the workflow engine - part of most middleware solutions - would manage the business logic and provide a unified interface throughout the whole operative process. Exciting? Contact us to learn more!
Salary related costs are usually the largest part of operative expenses, no matter what sector or industry we consider. Therefore working hours are representing a really measurable value - and cost - for all companies. Administrative and various back-office tasks are not generating revenue - and therefore business value - by themselves, but are necessary to keep your company running. Ever calculated the total cost of back office and administrational workload - for example on a yearly basis? A rather large sum might be spent of these operations every year! Not to mention the understandable frustration of employees assigned with such monotonous and stressful jobs. Especially creative and field operations are suffering from administration - marketing, sales, representatives are usually most frustrated by the administrational tasks they have to perform. Hence, manual administration is not only costly, but also erodes employee loyalty and motivation. Especially in administration-heavy industries, such as transportation, back office jobs can become the ultimate dead weight for your enterprise.
Eliminate all the administrative struggles with middleware, as it will enable the automation of most administrational tasks, even if data is needed from various sources throughout the tasks. Hence, your colleagues can be reassigned for more exciting tasks creating more value and making them more satisfied at the same time. What more? Quicker, better, precise administration - for the fraction of the cost. Give it a try by contacting us!
First, always choose a middleware vendor that already has the necessary resources and experience to perform your middleware implementation! Ideally the vendor of your choice should be local, accessible, selling their own products. Why? For in the future, if there's any problem with the system, or you need support for any reason, your vendor should be there to help you - and be able to provide the help you need. Resellers, distributors and the like are not necessarily able to provide the right support for you or to make all necessary changes in the product - they might not even have the power to make the developing company to do that. Second, make sure that your business processes are in place and well defined before starting your middleware implementation project! These processes will serve as the ground for business automation, so they really have to be in order. But most importantly, always focus on your business challenge - buzzwords and trends will not resolve that - but a system created considering your needs will. After you choose a vendor and your processes are arranged, interfaces (software tools enabling communication among systems) shall be created. More often than not, venders of all your connected systems should be involved in creating these interfaces as the middleware vendor must have access to your other systems' backend, ports, and so on. Vendors tend to cooperate in such situations, however, technical communication is mostly the task of your middleware vendor and the others. In case a system’s vendor cannot or does want to cooperate, the implementation may become lengthy or the system in question should be omitted from the integration project. After all processes are implemented in the middleware's workflow engine and the interfaces are also set, testing and fine tuning may start. When everything is functioning as intended, the system can be delivered. Not a simple project, but not overly complicated either, right?
The advantages of middleware are not questionable - hence is it a widely used tool by leading enterprises around the globe. Companies aiming to increase their operative efficiency are using this tool to cover areas not managed by other applications, to build their own unique processes through various IT systems and so on. In today's digitally enhanced business environment it is crucial to employ technology in ways which support operations by saving costs, manpower and quickening up processes. Another advantage is that there are middleware solutions available from the cloud, thus avoiding surplus work for the IT department - related to implementation or system operations. Therefore, it is easy to calculate the gains delivered by middleware: implementation and system operation costs versus the manpower cost of administrative business processes or employment cost of manual data management through systems. On the other hand, the worktime freed up by automation can be harnessed in many different ways and especially in business operations that deliver value to the organization. Not to mention quick, easy and error-free administration, now done automatically - at least partly - by the new middleware and workflow solution. Employee satisfaction is also increased by the implementation: less repetitive tasks, more time to work on what really matters.
