Data integration gets the priority treatment when there's been a merger or acquisition (M&A). In his recent post (M&A and Divestitures Need Effective Data Integration), Don Tirsell captures some of the key data-integration issues that need to be addressed after the M&A dust settles. After all the press releases and analysts' reviews of an acquisition, the companies involved have to roll up their sleeves, settle in, and work towards a successful and profitable M&A.
But I'd like to pose a more fundamental question: Why limit the data-integration focus to M&A activities? Yes, it's obvious that when companies are involved in M&A they need to integrate their application and data silos to increase the top line (revenue), decrease the bottom line (costs), and ultimately increase profits. But, knowing this, and knowing that most (all?) companies have application/data silos, why isn't it obvious that they need to integrate that data to improve business?
The M&A data-integration activities are undertaken with a sense of urgency because it makes business and technical sense to do them – plus, M&A shines a new spotlight on both companies. But meanwhile, other companies sit back and accept their silos, as if that is simply the way it should be.
Do they need the kick-in-the-pants of an M&A to get their data-integration efforts in gear?
>>>Click to read the rest of You Don’t Need M&A to Justify Data Integration
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