Assignment #7 - 1 Explain integrations and the role they...

1. Explain integrations and the role they play in connecting a corporation.
Integration : Allows separate systems to communicate directly with each other, eliminating
the need for manual entry into multiple systems.
Types of Integrations: 1) Forward integration
2) Backward integration
Forward integration:
 Takes information entered into a given system and sends it automatically to all
downstream systems and processes
 Forward Integration talks about going downstream.
Backward Integration:
 Takes information entered into a given system and sends it automatically to all
upstream systems and processes.
 Backward Interrelation talks about going upstream.
Role integrations play in connecting a corporation
 One of the biggest benefits of integration is that organizations only have to enter
information into the systems once and it is automatically sent to all of the other
systems throughout the organization
 This feature alone creates huge advantages for organizations because it reduces
information redundancy and ensures accuracy and completeness
 Without integrations an organization would have to enter information into every
single system that requires the information from marketing and sales to billing and
customer service
 For example, customer information would have to be manually entered into the
marketing, sales, ordering, inventory, billing, and shipping databases. (Each of
these systems are separate and would have their own database – if the company
doesn’t have a complete ERP installed.)
 Entering the same customer information into multiple systems is redundant, and
chances of making a mistake in one of the systems is high
