InformationWeek is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC
This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them.Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
Almost every company will say it's customer-focused. But what happens after these businesses have collected and analyzed consumer data? Some are sharing the information with selected members of their supply chain to create greater sales opportunities. Collaborative practices increase customer satisfaction, boost revenue, reduce operating costs, and provide higher profit margins. In a nutshell, information sharing between companies and business partners pays off.
If that's the case, why not take collaboration a step further and hard-wire suppliers to back-end systems? According to a recent InformationWeek Research survey on business-to-business integration, a majority of the 100 IT and business professionals interviewed are doing just that.
For many businesses, the initiative is a foregone conclusion. One in 10 say their company is already reaping collaborative rewards, with back-end systems integration already realized. Two in five report that their employer is in the process of linking with purchasing partners, while half are integrating sales partners' systems. Improved business processes and a reduction in data-entry errors are two of the main benefits these companies expect to receive for their efforts.
While one in five companies are planning or evaluating such connectivity, what's stopping the handful of businesses that aren't ready to integrate? Key reasons for not meshing systems include security concerns and cost implications.
To truly put the customer at the center of business operations, customer demand needs to be hard-wired into the back-end systems that supply these consumers. This means that to be successful, companies should consider connecting all the dots and putting the needs of the customer in front of existing legacy business models and processes.
Who has your company opened its back-end systems to? Let us know at informationweek.com/LP.
Lisa Boomer-Smith
Managing Editor, Research
[email protected]
Target Partners
While integrating back-end systems with those of business partners and customers can be fruitful, it's often riddled with problems. Yet despite difficulties, interconnecting E-business processes and back-end systems is one of many endeavors that's making steady progress in this time of ever-tighter budgets. According to the 100 IT and business professionals surveyed by InformationWeek Research, almost three in five have linked their systems to allow for smooth transactions between manufacturers and customers. Nearly a third of respondents see the merit in integrating with distributors and online industry consortiums. And one in four focus on online private auctions. Value is found in streamlined business processes and cost reductions. However, some companies are still skeptical about the benefits of integration. More than 20% of sites surveyed don't integrate E-business or back-end systems. We welcome your comments on this topic on our social media channels, or [contact us directly] with questions about the site. Comment | Print | More Insights White Papers
More White Papers Reports
More Reports
State of the Cloud
Cloud has drastically changed how IT organizations consume and deploy services in the digital age. This research report will delve into public, private and hybrid cloud adoption trends, with a special focus on infrastructure as a service and its role in the enterprise. Find out the challenges organizations are experiencing, and the technologies and strategies they are using to manage and mitigate those challenges today.
What Becomes of CFOs During Digital Transformation?
Joao-Pierre S. Ruth, Senior Writer,
2/4/2020
Fighting the Coronavirus with Analytics and GIS
Jessica Davis, Senior Editor, Enterprise Apps,
2/3/2020
IT Careers: 10 Job Skills in High Demand This Year
Cynthia Harvey, Freelance Journalist, InformationWeek,
2/3/2020
 Video
 Current Issue
 IT 2020: A Look AheadAre you ready for the critical changes that will occur in 2020? We've compiled editor insights from the best of our network (Dark Reading, Data Center Knowledge, InformationWeek, ITPro Today and Network Computing) to deliver to you a look at the trends, technologies, and threats that are emerging in the coming year. Download it today!
White Papers
Slideshows
Twitter Feed
Everything You've Been Told About Mobility Is Wrong
Attend this video symposium with Sean Wisdom, Global Director of Mobility Solutions, and learn about how you can harness powerful new products to mobilize your business potential.  Sponsored Video
Flash Poll
|
Tweet This