BUSINESS SOFTWARE

INTEGRATED APPLICATION
WHAT IS SOFTWARE INTEGRATED?

• Integrated software is a collection of software especially created to work on

closely related programs. These are used in personal computers where the
most commonly used and most similar programs are grouped together in one
application in the form of a suite.
• Integrated software is also known as an integrated software package.
ADVANTAGES OF SOFTWARE INTEGRATED

• Low cost compared to buying each application separately

• Allow users the option to install all of the programs at the same time or only the
programs the company needs/wants to use
• Offer a consistent interface from one application to another
• Allow users the ability to share information between applications
• Offer future upgrades that can be updated to each application all at the same time
• Deal for personal use, professional use, large or small business
• Each application is the full-featured version
DISADVANTAGES OF SOFTWARE INTEGRATED

• High initial cost

• All applications are from the same manufacturer. Software from different vendors do not
always integrate with one another and you can’t share information from one program to the
other.
• Purchasing more software than actually need – not great for cost savings.
• Installation of the entire suite of applications can take up a large amount of storage space
• Depending on the suite of software, there could be several large manuals to study if you plan
to master each application.
NO INTEGRATED SYSTEM = SILOED DATA

• Traditional software packages function in siloes. That means business

applications store their information in separate databases that require their
own toolsets and interfaces to capture, store and interpret information.
• As a result, data repositories often store duplicate, redundant information.
ISSUES:
• Lack of Employee Productivity: If your employees are bogged down with inefficient
and disjointed processes, it increases errors and takes time away from their more
important core duties and IT department is spend more time on maintenance of all
the different software.
• Lack of Real-time Visibility: multiple overlapping databases, and cannot easily get
a view of business performance in a timely fashion. That leads to countless hours of
wasted time trying to tie unrelated, error-prone, and out of date data together.
• Losing Customers to the Competition: If customers are unable to quickly get
information, can’t resolve issues in a timely manner, or have to frequently deal with
products being out of stock, they are less likely to purchase from you and will go to
another source.
INTEGRATED SOFTWARE SYSTEM = EFFICIENCY

• Single software platform that converges multiple data channels makes it possible to identify
and eliminate redundant data and focus on the more valuable metrics that help businesses
achieve their goals.
• Store the data that is collected and stored in a unified database and managed through a
single application
• Appropriate Rights on access level permissions and built-in security mechanisms
• Ensures that customers have the right information and a positive experience, and your
employees have the instantaneous access to all the customer information they need to service
and sell to your customers.
• IT department no longer has to procure, install, and maintain multiple systems as well as the
various integrations between them.
ACTIVITY 1
• Give one example of an integrated software application
that is being used today and its definition.