The data connection dilemma is a problem that all teams who mix several data sources in an online data warehouse are familiar with.
A data connection is required to connect an API from a data source to a cloud database system. To transfer data from point A (the data source) to point B, data connections are necessary (cloud data warehouse). In a single data repository, they combine a variety of marketing data, Tools, analytic platforms, financial information, social metrics, and more.
Teams have two options: use pre-built data connectors or construct their own data connectors. Pre-built data connections, however, are the best option most of the time.
An email marketing tool for online stores and other enterprises is called Klaviyo. To examine your Klaviyo mailing and ad campaign data in Domo, use the Klaviyo data connector. With real-time, interactive dashboards, you can provide managers and stakeholders with transparency once your data is in Domo.
Pre-built data connections are the best choice for the following reasons.
Substantial cost savings
Real developers are needed to create data connections from scratch. Teams who wish to establish their own data connections can either employ additional developers or rely on their own internal developers.
Employing in-house developers has little immediate impact on rising overhead costs. However, opportunity costs exist.
Developers work less on mission-critical projects while focusing on data connections. As a result, crucial strategic objectives like adding new features and updating products are delayed.
There are up-front costs associated with hiring additional developers in the form of higher wages. Due of this, some businesses choose to use cheaper independent contractors. However, if data links fail, a slow internal response may lose you clients because of your bad image.
On the other side, pre-built data connections result in significant cost savings by omitting this pricey creation phase.
Faster outcomes
Data projects are slowed down by the lengthy, laborious process of creating a data connection, which includes development, testing, and deployment.
Teams are still interrupted by maintenance duties like patching faulty connections and versioning changes but after database connectors are live. Naturally, this causes outcomes to be delayed for both clients and internal audiences.
The frictional areas of the construction process are completely eliminated by pre-built data interfaces. API interfaces no longer need to be manually coded.
No more fixing previous iterations. Everything has been constructed and is prepared for usage. This opens the door for initiatives that move more quickly and produce speedier outcomes.
Scalable quickly
The scalability of a corporation might be hampered by creating data interfaces from scratch. Rapid expansion becomes challenging as additional customers and data sources are added because of the onerous development labour involved in creating data connections.
Customers have particular service expectations and failing to grow quickly enough to fulfill their technological demands is never a viable option.
However, pre-built data interfaces provide businesses with the ability to grow very quickly. Using plug-and-play capabilities, customers may launch sizable new projects with only a few mouse clicks.
Some systems can produce pre-built connections on demand and in a short amount of time, enabling users to immediately scale up their data sources.
Strategic Flexibility
Building data connections requires a substantial time and energy commitment and requires a high level of investment. Teams become less agile as a result and are less able to seize new possibilities.
Self-built connection teams are unable to swiftly launch new campaigns or include fresh sources of data at the very last minute. An unexpected shift in tactics or an opportunity that’s too wonderful to pass up can make it difficult to take advantage of them.
Pre-made data connections, on the other hand, are developed for tactical nimbleness. Teams may quickly add or delete data sources. Teams now have the freedom to react quickly to new business possibilities and obstacles.
Improving customer experience
Since the customer is the foundation that generates money, a thorough overview of customers must be gathered and analysed. Utilizing historical data to send the correct message to the right people at the right time can improve customer satisfaction, loyalty, and eventually revenue.
Boosting productivity
Moving between many systems and gathering data from various departments is a taxing activity that reduces productivity and, as a result, increases expenditures. A single perspective will be an invaluable asset to the efficiency process of corporate activities and strategic development with the use of data connections.
WHY INTEGRATIONS OF DATA CONNECTORS ARE IMPORTANT?
We live in an information world where there are an overwhelming amount of channels dispersed across many departments and systems, which makes it difficult to gather, evaluate, share, and make wise business decisions in order to achieve sustainability and profitability. Data silos are among the most frequent problems that businesses encounter. The average company employs up to 13 separate apps, which leads to poor communication between departments, disrupted systems and processes, and an inability to satisfy clients’ expectations and corporate objectives. In company operations and strategy, it is still difficult to have a consolidated approach to data.
You may merge data from many sources into a single, integrated space using data connections. Whether a small firm or a huge corporation, most organisations use a variety of data analysis techniques that are poorly integrated and scattered. Data connection integrations can quickly offer a solution for converting data into useful information and serve as a foundation for producing insightful data. The fragmented approach to information management won’t interfere with analysis anymore; instead, a comprehensive overview will make it possible to break down the silos, less communication, and low-quality insights. Data connections will make it easier to create a successful data story by optimising the information flow required to run the data management smoothly.
Conclusion
Pre-built data connections are superior to self-built connectors in a variety of ways. This does not imply that pre-built connections are always the best option, either.
When teams wish to entirely control the data connection and the source code that goes with it, self-building makes sense. Teams should weigh all available solutions since there are both commercial and security considerations for this.
But when it comes to advantages, the contrast isn’t even close. Pre-built connectors provide rapid scalability, strategic nimbleness, cost savings, and quicker outcomes. And these are just a few of the advantages.
Each business is unique. However, no matter the team or project involved, pre-built connections have a lot to offer.