Challenges faced in the data integration process

In the data integration process, establishing pragmatic prospects can become challenging. For an agency, the main objective is to establish realistic figures and analysis. A unified and complete information will be presented conjuring a perfect coordination of various databases, sources and equipment. There must be an information alliance that works smoothly while operating with data integration solutions.

However, in this field, as data integration progresses, all requirements and challenges can be analyzed at the data requirements stage itself. Some of the common challenges they face are:

1. Heterogeneous data
Coordinating large files of data and information from a varied system can become a chore at some point. The production of legacy systems is completely different from that of conventional databases. Unlike conventional systems, legacy systems keep adding new data to increase value. A system varies to copy data, making it difficult to obtain a unified end result.

2. Negligible data
Quality is yet another concern when it comes to data integration. When collecting data from various sources, there are many misprints and misinformation that can cause serious problems for the agency. Legacy data must be cleaned up before conversion and integration begin. Legacy data impurities tend to have a compounding effect, as they are typically concentrated around high-volume data users.

3. Lack of storage space
While data integration is taking place, an agency faces many problems regarding its storage. If there is not enough space to store data, it can cause problems by offering scalability or elasticity of data. Therefore, the growth of the final data can be hampered due to lack of adequate storage. Adding additional architecture can increase business expenses and can be a costly deal.

4. Unrealistic costs
The cost involved in data integration is largely driven by items that are difficult to quantify. There are labor costs involved, especially as the initial planning, scheduling, and evaluating stage begins. Costs can be a real hit when a sudden and unexpected change occurs, and so can the costs involved in storing and maintaining data.

5. Lack of manpower
With the increasing load per day, managing applications can become a chore for a limited number of employees. There may be a sudden increase in the demand for labor and skilled people to meet the demand. The requirement for qualified personnel depends on the type of project. With the development of advanced databases, the data from the old databases must be brought into a newly built project.

However, with an expert data manager and project leader, the data integration process can be handled smoothly. In a robust and modular environment by choosing well-versed candidates, even a limited number of experts can handle various projects.

For an agency, it is essential to keep in mind that, in reality, a fully functioning data integration system can be much more demanding in terms of maintenance and efforts. Unrealistic cost estimates can sometimes lead to an overly optimistic budget, especially in times of budget deficits. With a greater number of users, there is a greater requirement for analysis and the performances are more challenging.

While the challenges will always be there, but with systematic planning and preparation, even the biggest hurdles can be addressed with ease. Instead of planning bigger goals, keep going while achieving smaller results. Step-by-step achievements make it much easier and easier to deal with the data integration process.