Data is essential to success. Making sure you can integrate where data resides is critical

In HFS’s 2H, 2021 Pulse survey of 600 decision-makers across the Global 2000 enterprises, business and technology decision-makers shared how important it is for a SaaS vendor to align with their firm’s data strategy. A full 90% of these indicate that minimal to moderate integrations are preferred. Thus, software vendors and services providers advising on the purchase of SaaS must be prepared to articulate both their ability to integrate with minimal fuss and show an understanding of how the needs of data are quickly evolving.

Data is essential to success. Making sure your applications can integrate with where it resides is critical.

• Nearly half of individuals surveyed indicate a preference for minimal integration requirements as a factor when selecting new software. Best in class is not about dealing with customization or non-standard APIs to get apps to talk to data.
• 43% are willing to accept moderate integration efforts. This insight reflects the need to integrate with legacy data stores, warehouses, or databases. Expect this number to decline as new data solutions, such as NoSQL and cloud databases, are adopted.
• A rare buyer is willing to deal with high integration needs. Only 10% of respondents said they’d accept a solution where they know heavy lifting will be required.

The Bottom Line: It is critical for software firms and services providers to show that investment in new software require minimal integration with core systems. As enterprises seek to be more agile and deploy solution at an accelerated pace to deliver real-time value a trust that their partners are working to support will be a defining factor at project sign off.