Corporate

In 2024, KFA Connect proudly celebrates 35 years of delivering cutting-edge software development and integration services.

In the fast-paced world of technology, longevity is a testament to success and adaptability.

Since its inception in 1989, KFA Connect (Kingfisher Associates) has grown from a small startup to a leading player in the software solutions industry, consistently exceeding customer expectations and staying ahead of technological trends.

Founding Vision

KFA Connect was founded with a clear vision – to empower businesses through the development of innovative and tailored software solutions on the AS/400 (now known as IBM i).

The company’s journey began at a time when technology was just starting to revolutionise industries, and KFA Connect was at the forefront, eager to embrace the opportunities that lay ahead.

Evolution of Services

Over the past three and a half decades, KFA Connect’s services have evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of businesses across various Business to Business and Business to Consumer sectors, including manufacturing, finance, telecoms, and distribution, as well as multi-channel, eCommerce and bricks & mortar trade counters / retail stores.

Initially focused on bespoke software development, we quickly recognised the importance of IBM i integration and IBM i modernisation in a digital landscape.

As technology ecosystems became more complex, KFA Connect have expanded our services to offer additional integration solutions, including courier integration and eCommerce integration. We also offer business process automation as well as our own Sales Order Processing, and Warehouse Management Solution.

Key Achievements

KFA Connect’s success is marked by a series of notable achievements, not least longevity and experience.

Thriving for 35 years in a fast-paced and ever-changing industry like IT requires adaptability and resilience. KFA Connect’s ability to navigate challenges and evolve with the times is a noteworthy achievement in itself.

KFA’s portfolio includes successful projects in verticals including finance, manufacturing, retail, telecoms, distribution and multi-channel sales including eCommerce.

We have consistently delivered software solutions that enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and drive growth for our customers. Our commitment to quality and innovation has earned the KFA Connect team recognition as a trusted partner in the industry.

Our focus on project delivery is backed up with first class support services keeping your systems running smoothly allowing you to focus on driving new business.

The long tenure of employees highlights KFA’s commitment to fostering a supportive and rewarding work environment, where employees are motivated to stay and contribute to the company’s success.

In 2024, we will celebrate Operations Director Juliet Ward‘s 25th year with KFA Connect. Additionally, this year, Hilary Palmer will reach her 30th anniversary as a highly-valued member of the KFA development and test support team.

Our ability to understand the unique challenges of each industry and deliver tailor-made solutions, we believe has set us apart in the competitive software development landscape.

Customer-Centric Approach

One of the cornerstones of KFA Connect’s success is our unwavering commitment to our customers.

We have always prioritised understanding the specific needs and goals of our customers, ensuring that every solution is not just a piece of software but a strategic tool that contributes to their success.

To achieve this, KFA Connect has fostered a culture of collaboration and open communication.

Our dedicated team work closely with customers throughout the requirements-gathering, development, integration, and ultimately the implementation process, fostering long-lasting partnerships built on trust and mutual success.

Technological Expertise

Staying relevant in the fast-evolving tech industry requires constant innovation and expertise. KFA Connect has consistently invested in our team, ensuring they are well-versed in the latest technologies and industry best practices.

From traditional software development languages to the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, KFA Connect’s technical prowess is a key asset that benefits our customers.

Looking to the Future

As KFA Connect celebrates 35 years of success in 2024, the company looks ahead with optimism and determination.

The rapidly evolving technological landscape presents new challenges and opportunities. KFA Connect is well-positioned to continue our legacy of delivering innovative, customer-centric solutions, not just on the IBM i, but on various other platforms.

KFA Connect’s 35th anniversary is a milestone that reflects the company’s impressive history which we are very proud of, and our ongoing commitment to excellence.

With a legacy of successful projects, a customer-centric approach, and a team of dedicated professionals, KFA Connect is poised for a future filled with continued growth and technological innovation.

Cheers to 35 years of shaping the digital future!

Would like to find out more about how KFA Connect can assist with your next IT project?

Sales Manager

Nicki Smith

Managing Your IBM i with a Limited Pool of Resources?

As we approach 2024, finding a new IBM i development and support partner is becoming increasingly critical for businesses that wish to mitigate the risks of having a limited pool of in-house IBM i resources.

For many businesses relying on IBM i systems, the need for specialised expertise has never been greater.

IBM i, formerly known as AS/400 or iSeries, has been a cornerstone of many organisations’ IT operations for decades. However, the challenges of maintaining and developing these systems are growing.

Here are some key reasons why seeking external support for IBM i in 2024 is essential for business success:

Scarce In-House Expertise

The workforce that has extensive experience with IBM i systems is ageing, and many of these experts are retiring. Finding replacements with the necessary skills and knowledge can be challenging and expensive. By partnering with an IBM i development and support specialist, businesses can tap into a broader talent pool.

Avoiding Knowledge Gaps

Relying solely on a limited in-house team can lead to knowledge gaps and dependency on a few individuals. If key personnel leave, it can disrupt operations and result in costly downtime. A dedicated IBM i partner can provide consistent development and support services alongside your existing teams – helping to spread knowledge of your systems.

Continuous Innovation

Technology is evolving at an ever-increasing pace.

The IBM i is no different.

Partnering with an experienced IBM i service provider gives your business opportunities to explore new technological advancements with the IBM i.

Risk Mitigation

In-house teams may struggle to handle complex issues and unexpected crises, potentially jeopardising business continuity. Partnering with an IBM i expert provides a safety net, reducing risks and ensuring that problems are addressed promptly.

Cost-Efficiency

Outsourcing IBM i development and support can often be more cost-effective than hiring and training new in-house team members. It eliminates the need to invest in extensive training and reduces the overhead associated with maintaining an in-house IT department.

Scalability

External IBM i partners can adjust their level of support based on your business’s needs. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for companies with fluctuating demands or those looking to expand their operations.

Focusing on Core Competencies

By entrusting IBM i development and support to specialists, your in-house IT team can concentrate on core business operations and strategic initiatives, improving overall efficiency.

How Can KFA Connect Help?

We have extensive experience in IBM i integrations with numerous systems, including Magento and Shopify eCommerce.

In addition to our expertise in IBM i, KFA’s consultants also bring a wealth of knowledge in other areas of technology.

We help businesses access the opportunities that web, and software development offer, and will provide guidance on how to utilise these in the most effective way.

*Free consulting sessions are subject to availability and the offer is valid for sessions booked and held on or before 29/02/2024.

Sessions can be used to discuss current code, databases, and application interfaces and scope potential projects but do not include implementing any system changes. 

If your intention is to migrate from the IBM i we will also be able to offer the free consultancy services to assist you with the process.

KFA Connect will provide a written quotation on request for any requirements identified during the sessions that you would like us to deliver. There is no obligation to engage in the services of KFA Connect beyond the free consultancy sessions. 

KFA Connect helps French Connection to integrate Shopify POS with SAP ERP using BPA Platform.

Introduction

In the world of information technology, where rapid advancements are the norm, companies relying on IBM i systems often find themselves facing unique challenges when dealing with an increasingly limited pool of in-house resources.

IBM i (formerly known as AS/400), is a reliable and robust platform that has served organisations well for decades. However, as time goes by, a lack of experienced programmers for systems that run on the IBM i can pose difficulties for businesses striving to stay competitive and agile in the modern era.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the key challenges companies face when they have limited or part-time in-house IBM i resources.

Legacy Hardware & Software

One of the primary challenges companies encounter is working with legacy IBM i hardware and software. Many organisations continue to rely on older models that may no longer be supported by IBM, making it increasingly difficult to maintain and upgrade these systems.

As a result, they can experience performance bottlenecks and hardware failures, potentially leading to costly downtime and lost productivity.

Talent Shortage

Another significant obstacle is the scarcity of IBM i expertise in the job market. Skilled professionals who can manage, program, and maintain these systems are becoming increasingly rare, as many experienced programmers are talking of retirement.

Companies may find it challenging to recruit, train, and retain staff with the necessary skills to effectively manage their IBM i resources.

Knowledge of legacy IBM i systems within businesses is often in the capable hands of one individual, but not documented – then when faced with the need to replace or cover that team member without a significant handover period – this becomes a huge undertaking.

Integration

Modern businesses thrive on data integration and the ability to interact seamlessly with various technologies.

In-house IBM i resources, particularly those who have worked on one system for many years may lack the knowledge and experience required to integrate with other modern applications and platforms.

This can lead to data silos, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities for automation and streamlining business processes.

Security Concerns  

Maintaining data security and compliance is a critical aspect of IT management.

Stretched in-house IBM i resources may not have the capacity to complete these critical reviews over and above their day-to-day tasks.

This makes these systems vulnerable to security breaches, data leaks, and non-compliance issues, which can have far-reaching legal and financial consequences for businesses.

Scaleability & Performance

As companies grow and evolve, the demand for scalable, high-performance IT infrastructure becomes increasingly important.

Stretched in-house IBM i resources may struggle to continue to develop the system to meet the performance expectations of modern applications.

This can lead to productivity losses, customer dissatisfaction, and missed business opportunities.

Cost of Maintenance

Maintaining and upgrading ageing IBM i systems can be costly. The expenses associated with hardware replacements, software updates, and ongoing support can strain a company’s budget.

Many businesses must carefully balance the cost of maintaining their IBM i resources against the benefits they provide.

Companies relying on limited or ageing IBM i resources face a unique set of challenges in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven business landscape. While these systems have been the backbone of many organisations for years, it is essential to address the issues of legacy hardware and software, talent shortages, integration problems, security concerns, scalability, and maintenance costs.

To overcome these challenges, businesses can explore strategies such as migrating to newer IBM i hardware and software, investing in training and development for their IT staff, embracing modern integration solutions and ensuring robust security practices as well as bolstering their team with 3^rd party development and support services.  

Companies may consider engaging an external development and support partner to act as an extension of their in-house team. The system can be fully documented and knowledge of the system spread to minimise and mitigate the risk, future-proofing your business.

By addressing these issues proactively, companies can continue to leverage the power of IBM i while staying competitive and agile in the ever-evolving world of technology.

The KFA Connect team are often called upon to assist businesses in this way – to fill the gap between the in-house team’s workload and the demands of the business.

We can take on specific, manageable development projects, support tasks, reporting as well as testing services. KFA have a dedicated development and support team who ensures the smooth running of our customer’s applications and integrations. We can also provide 24/7 support when required.  

Want to know more? Get in touch with our team today.

Nicki Smith

KFA Connect – Sales Manager

11th October 2023

Dan Hammond – Senior Technical Test Analyst

I didn’t set out to be a software tester…

Like many testers of my generation, I didn’t set out to be a software tester.

It’s not something I was even aware of until I came across a job advert in my mid-20s,  but it’s ended up providing me with a good career and an opportunity to moan for a living!

Initially, after taking my A levels I decided to go straight into the big wide world of work and started as a trainee at a large accountancy firm in London in their Insolvency division.  The work was varied and had me working on everything from a small local chain of pubs all the way up to international banking firms. 

Sports & Leisure

After a year I decided a career in accountancy/insolvency was not for me so I decided to go to university to give myself some more time to maybe work out what I wanted to do for a living.  I enrolled in a BA Sport and Leisure Management degree at Staffordshire University, leading to frequent references from my friends to me being the new Mr Brittas. 

It allowed me to keep my options open and study a wide range of areas like physiology, economics, coaching, accountancy, nutrition, sociology, psychology, law, business studies etc. 

Having completed my degree in 1999 I realised that a lot of sports and leisure jobs would probably involve working at weekends which is when I actually liked to play and engage in sports and leisure, who knew?  So it was back to finding a normal job.

Time for a Normal Job…

I had a brief stint as a Pensions Administrator before joining an investment company in 2000 as a Unit Trust Dealer.  It was at this time that I had my first experience of the AS400 (now known as IBM i) as a user.

In 2001 I decided I would have to move sideways within the company before I could continue an upward career progression.  While looking for opportunities I came across an internal job vacancy for a Testing Technician.  Its list of pre-requisite skills matched up perfectly to my skillset e.g. methodical, logical, attention to detail, problem solver and inquisitive.  I applied and got accepted. 

The testing department at that stage was just me and the Senior Tester. This meant right from the start I was directly involved and had responsibilities in all areas of the SDLC, from requirements gathering, design decisions, scheduling, user training, testing, defect tracking and reporting to management.  We were also responsible for all business/product support.  A great introduction to the working of the AS400 and software development.

After only a year into the role, a decision was made by the company to outsource the IT systems to a 3^rd Party.  Fortunately, my role was transferred to the 3^rd party whose core system was also based on the AS400.  The scale of the test teams here was a lot larger, there were numerous test teams across different specialist areas including some offshore teams. 

A whole different ball game to the 2 man band I had started out in. 

The business model for this company at that time was to rapidly grab as much of the market as possible, it would pick up outsourcing contracts and migrate newly acquired client’s databases onto their single core administration system.  It was here I first started to be involved in web testing and writing/running automation test suites.

After the aggressive growth of the company, a period of rationalisation occurred and a number of voluntary redundancies were offered. 

Charity work

I grabbed the chance of a career break as an opportunity to gain some new experiences. 

I used some of my redundancy pay to help fund the building of a school in a remote village in Ghana. 

Ghanaians were known for being one of the happiest African countries which was cemented by the fact that the village we were helping was located in between two towns called Ho and Hohoe!  

The building of the school was led by the villagers, and as a volunteer group, we went out there for a couple of months to physically help and be part of the labour force. 

It was hard and hot work Monday to Friday but at the weekends we got to travel around the local region and mountain roads in rickety battered old mini-vans called tro-tros where half the fun was actually wondering if we were going to make it to our destination in one piece. 

It was a fantastic experience all round.

Contracting

When I came back from Ghana I decided to go contracting. The first opportunity that came along was a 6-month contract based in Dublin for a Life and Pensions firm. 

As I had no commitments and Guinness was already my preferred drink of choice I immediately shipped myself over at the start of 2006 and dived headfirst into the Irish lifestyle and became an accepted regular barfly in the local pub. 

The work was initially mainly on CAPSIL (AS400) and then later split with some work on PAXUS as groups of policies were migrated between the systems. 

I thought the contracting life would mean I would be chopping and changing jobs every 6 months but my first contract ended up lasting 4 years. That’s longer than any permanent job I’d ever had up to that point. 

Along with the migration work I was also involved in testing a new web-based enquiry system which had to retrieve and display data from 6 different legacy systems.

After this contract came to its natural conclusion I realised that contractors are like pack animals, and when work finishes at one firm you quite often all end up moving on and working for the next firm, sitting next to the same people you worked with before. I managed to follow the herd and pick up a new contract for another Life and Pensions firm where I was mainly testing their PAXUS system. 

The main achievements in this role were fully testing a PAXUS upgrade project and taking control and maintaining a large suite of automation tests which were run as part of regression for all major projects.

Adventures on the Water

While living in Dublin there used to be an annual Maritime festival where a handful of tall ships would be moored along the River Liffey. After looking around a few of these ships I found out that you could actually go on voyages on some of these beautiful ships. 

My inner Columbus/Drake/Captain Pugwash perked up, and I booked myself a place in a tall ship race from Kristiansand in Norway to Hartlepool.

The voyage was organised by the Jubilee Sailing Trust which runs the only tall ship in the world designed and built to be sailed by a truly mixed-ability crew, including people with a wide variety of impairments and disabilities. 

When you book on a JST voyage you are not going as a passenger, you are a working member of the crew no matter what your level of ability/disability. 

Split into 4 watches, you are responsible for the daily running of the ship 24/7, under the direction of a handful of experienced permanent crew.  Each day involves setting/stowing the sails, helming, cleaning, maintenance and helping the galley team prepare 3 square meals a day for the 40 hungry crew members. 

I had the time of my life and have now done 8 or 9 more voyages/races both as a paying crew member and others in a volunteer role of Cooks Assistant.

It was on one of these voyages, around the Canary Islands that I met my now wife, Anna, and on another 40-day voyage sailing from Singapore to Australia is where we got engaged during a shellback ceremony while crossing the equator.

Kingfisher Associates (KFA Connect) 

It was after returning from the Singapore to Australia trip in 2013 that I picked up a new contract to work for KFA Connect (Kingfisher Associates), where I have continued to test and expand my AS400 and test automation knowledge – predominantly on Vodafone projects. 

I was enjoying working for KFA so accepted an offer to become a permanent member of staff after a couple of years. 

I have now been at KFA Connect for 10 years. The work can be challenging at times but that can keep things interesting and encourages me to continually progress and learn.

The Adventures Continue…

I still have an adventurous side and have more recently taken part in the Round the Island yacht race and completed a number of long-distance hikes and challenges for charity and some just for fun.

These include the Height of the Isle of Wight and the whole of the South Downs Way a couple of years ago – in aid of AFK.

I completed all of them with my wife who uses a powered wheelchair due to having Friedreich’s Ataxia, which obviously adds a little extra challenge to the adventures.

Dan Hammond

Senior Technical Test Analyst – KFA Connect

Want to know more? Get in touch with our team today.

Empowering the UK Through Digital Literacy

Introduction

National Coding Week is back in the United Kingdom for its 10th annual celebration, and in 2023, the theme is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and it promises to be bigger and better than ever.

This week-long event, which takes place from the 18th – 25th of September, is a nationwide initiative aimed at promoting digital literacy and coding skills among people of all ages and backgrounds.

With the rapid advancement of technology, coding and digital skills have become essential in today’s world. National Coding Week serves as a platform to bridge the digital divide and empower individuals to thrive in the digital age.

The Importance of Digital Literacy

In an increasingly digital world, the ability to code and understand technology is no longer a niche skill; it’s a fundamental literacy that everyone should possess. From children in primary schools to senior citizens looking to upskill, National Coding Week encourages people from all walks of life to engage with technology.

By learning to code and understand how software and hardware work, individuals can better navigate the digital landscape and participate more actively in the 21st-century economy.

Key Activities for National Coding Week 2023

Coding Workshops:

Across the UK, organisations, schools, and community groups will host coding workshops and events. These hands-on sessions cater to various age groups and skill levels, from beginners to advanced coders. Participants can learn programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and Scratch.

Online Resources:

In response to the ongoing pandemic, many activities for National Coding Week will be accessible online. This includes webinars, coding challenges, and virtual coding classes, making it easier for people to participate from the comfort of their homes.

Diversity and Inclusion:

One of the key focuses of National Coding Week 2023 is promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. Initiatives will aim to encourage underrepresented groups, including women and minorities, to pursue careers in technology.

Coding for the Community:

Many events during National Coding Week will emphasize the practical applications of coding. This includes projects that benefit the community, such as developing apps for local charities or creating websites for small businesses.

Networking and Career Opportunities:

National Coding Week also serves as a networking opportunity for tech enthusiasts. Participants can connect with like-minded individuals and explore potential career paths in technology.

Why National Coding Week Matters

National Coding Week plays a crucial role in addressing the digital skills gap in the UK. By providing accessible and engaging opportunities for people to learn coding and digital skills, it empowers individuals to take control of their future and contributes to the nation’s economic growth.

Moreover, it fosters innovation and creativity, which are essential for staying competitive in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Conclusion

As we celebrate National Coding Week 2023, it’s essential to recognise the transformative power of digital literacy and coding skills. This initiative not only equips individuals with the tools they need to succeed in a digital world but also fosters a sense of community and collaboration.

By promoting inclusivity and accessibility, National Coding Week helps ensure that no one is left behind in the digital revolution, ultimately strengthening the UK’s position as a global technology leader.

So, whether you’re a seasoned coder or a complete beginner, there’s never been a better time to get involved and unlock the endless possibilities of the digital age.

In the competitive world of technology solutions, KFA Connect has distinguished itself as a company that consistently delivers excellent customer satisfaction. Our customer-centric approach, deep understanding of customer needs, expertise, innovation, and unwavering commitment to results have made us a trusted partner for businesses across industries.

With a track record of success and a portfolio of satisfied customers, KFA Connect exemplifies what it means to prioritise and exceed customer expectations in today’s business world.

Delivering Excellence in Customer Satisfaction

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, customer satisfaction is the golden standard by which companies are measured. Building strong relationships with customers, delivering exceptional service, and consistently exceeding their expectations are the keys to success.

The Foundation of Success

KFA Connect was founded on the principle of putting the customer first. For over 35 years, the company has committed itself to providing innovative technology solutions that not only meet the needs of our customers but also empower them to thrive in their respective industries. This customer-centric approach has been the foundation of KFA Connect’s success and its ongoing commitment to achieving excellent customer satisfaction.

Understanding Customers’ Needs

One of the cornerstones of KFA Connect’s exceptional customer satisfaction is the dedication to understanding and addressing the unique needs of each customer. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, KFA Connect takes the time to delve deep into the specific challenges and goals of our customers.

This in-depth understanding allows us to create customised solutions that are tailored to meet and exceed expectations.

Expertise & Innovation

KFA Connect’s team of experts is a driving force behind its exceptional customer satisfaction. The company boasts a talented and experienced workforce with a diverse range of skills and expertise in numerous technology platforms. From software development to integration, KFA Connect’s professionals are at the forefront of innovation, consistently delivering cutting-edge solutions.

Not content with resting on its laurels, the company continually invests in research and development to stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies. This commitment to innovation ensures that customers receive the most advanced and relevant solutions, helping them to stay competitive in their markets.

Delivering Results

KFA Connect understands that delivering results is the ultimate measure of customer satisfaction. Over the years, the company has amassed an impressive portfolio of successful IT projects across various industries.

Whether it’s streamlining processes, improving operational efficiency, or enhancing customer experiences, KFA Connect consistently delivers tangible and measurable results that make a difference for its customers.

Responsive Customer Support

Another crucial aspect of KFA Connect’s excellent customer satisfaction is its commitment to providing responsive and reliable customer support.

We understand that technology issues can arise at any time, and when they do, customers need quick and effective solutions. KFA Connect’s dedicated support team is available 24/7 for customers who require that level of support, ensuring that they receive the assistance they need, when they need it.

Communication

At KFA, we welcome the opportunity to receive calls from our customers, should they prefer more personal interaction over digital communication. These calls enable us to build strong relationships, listen attentively to their needs, and provide personalised solutions with a human touch.

Our commitment to exceptional customer service is personified through these conversations, ensuring that every customer feels heard, understood, and truly valued.

So, feel free to pick up the phone and give us a call; we’re ready to react to your requirements.

Customer Testimonials

The true testament to KFA Connect’s commitment to customer satisfaction is the glowing testimonials from our customers. Over the years, KFA’s customers have expressed their appreciation for the company’s professionalism, expertise, and unwavering dedication to their success.

These testimonials highlight the deep trust that KFA Connect has built with its customers, making it a go-to partner for technology solutions.

Trustpilot

KFA sit consistently higher than other software companies on Trustpilot giving you the confidence that we mean business. 

Take a look at our 5* reviews on Trustpilot here:

In the competitive world of technology solutions, KFA Connect has distinguished itself as a company that consistently delivers excellent customer satisfaction. Our customer-centric approach, deep understanding of customer needs, expertise, innovation, and unwavering commitment to results have made us a trusted partner for businesses across industries.

With a track record of success and a portfolio of satisfied customers, KFA Connect exemplifies what it means to prioritise and exceed customer expectations in today’s business world.

Data Integration with BPA Platform

Data integration plays a crucial role in maximising an organisation’s data assets, enhancing operational efficiency, and extracting valuable insights from diverse data sources. It is a vital aspect of an organisation’s operations and strategy.

Although data integration can be a complex endeavour with various challenges throughout the process, these hurdles can be easily overcome by using dedicated software and establishing clear business rules.

This article delves into the most daunting aspects of data integration and presents effective solutions to tackle them.

What is Data Integration?

Data integration refers to the process of merging and combining data from different sources or systems to create a unified and cohesive view of the data. It involves bringing together data stored in various formats, locations, or databases and integrating them into a single consistent format.

The primary goal of data integration is to offer a comprehensive and unified view of the data, empowering organisations to make informed decisions, derive insights, and support various business processes. By integrating data from disparate sources, such as databases, applications, files, and external systems, organisations can eliminate data silos and enable better data analysis, reporting, and data-driven decision-making.

The data integration process typically involves several steps, including data extraction, data transformation, and data loading (often referred to as the ETL process: Extract, Transform, Load). During extraction, data is collected from various sources and consolidated. The extracted data is then transformed to ensure consistency, standardisation, and compatibility across different sources. Finally, the transformed data is loaded into a target system, such as a data warehouse, data lake, or a consolidated database.

To achieve this, dedicated middleware solutions, like BPA Platform, offer the necessary tools to automate the data integration process effectively.

Coordinating and managing collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including IT teams, data owners, business users, and external partners, is another significant challenge that requires effective project management, communication, and alignment of objectives.

Data integration, therefore, requires meticulous planning, data mapping, and data cleansing to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and consistency of the integrated data.

Let’s delve deeper into some of the most challenging aspects of data integration and the solutions to overcome them.

Challenges of Disparate Formats and Data Sources

Dealing with disparate formats and data sources is a common challenge in data integration.

In today’s organisations, multiple applications, business systems, databases, and cloud services are used for various purposes, leading to data silos with inconsistent formats and structures. Overcoming these data silos and achieving seamless integration necessitate the establishment of data governance practices and common data standards.

Integrating data from various sources often involves working with different application programming interfaces (APIs) and protocols. APIs may have different methods, authentication mechanisms, or data retrieval procedures, adding complexity to the integration process.

Data integration also involves working with data in different formats, such as structured data (relational databases, spreadsheets), semi-structured data (XML, JSON), or unstructured data (documents, emails) when integrating with different sources. Integrating these diverse formats requires understanding and transforming data into a common format suitable for integration, which can be complex and time-consuming.

Legacy systems, which are outdated or no longer supported, pose challenges in data integration. These systems often use proprietary formats or lack modern integration capabilities, making it difficult to extract data in a standardised format. Additional effort and specialised tools are usually required to integrate data from legacy systems.

Integrating data from external sources, such as third-party vendors, partners, or public APIs, can also introduce variations in data formats and structures. These external sources may have their own data models or use different terminology, necessitating data mapping and transformation to align with internal data structures.

With the growing adoption of cloud computing, organisations often use cloud-based applications and services that store data in their own formats or databases. Integrating data from these cloud-based sources can be challenging, as they may have different data structures, APIs, or access mechanisms. Integration solutions that support cloud-based integration and provide data connectors to popular cloud platforms can help address this challenge.

Accessing data from various sources with varying data formats, units of measurement, or naming conventions can lead to a lack of standardisation. Without proper standardisation, integrating data becomes error-prone and complex. The data often requires mapping and transforming data elements to align with a common schema or format. Data elements may have different names, structures, or semantics across systems, making it challenging to establish accurate mappings and transformations.

Therefore, implementing data standardisation processes, including data cleansing, normalisation, and data transformation, can help improve data quality and consistency.

Data integration is an ongoing process, and data sources and requirements can change as businesses evolve. New data sources, updates to existing systems, or evolving business needs may require modifications to data integration processes. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial to accommodate changing data landscapes.

Installing a Dedicated Integration Solution

To address these challenges, organisations can employ data integration platforms, such as BPA Platform, that support a wide range of data formats and provide capabilities for data mapping, transformation, and normalisation.

BPA Platform enables effortless connectivity between applications, legacy systems, and web services, whether they’re in the cloud or on-premises, and then automates numerous business processes and tasks. This cutting-edge platform, available in the cloud (iPaaS) or on-premises, includes an intuitive design, graphical user interface, and a wealth of pre-built connectors and business process automation tools to reduce system integration development times and bring all data workflows together in one central location.

Moreover, as businesses evolve and grow, BPA Platform easily scales, adds and integrates new systems and applications as business requirements change, without incurring excessive costs.

Data Quality

Ensuring the quality and reliability of data is a significant challenge in data integration. Data from different sources may contain inconsistencies, errors, or missing values. Implementing data cleansing and validation processes is crucial to address data quality issues and ensure accurate integration.

Data integration involves combining data from various sources, which means that inaccuracies may exist in the original data. Data errors, missing values, duplication, or outdated information can impact the overall quality of integrated data. Identifying and resolving these inaccuracies is essential to maintain data quality.

Missing data, where certain values or attributes are missing, can impact the accuracy and reliability of integrated results, leading to incomplete or misleading insights. Employing data profiling techniques and data validation checks can help identify and address data completeness issues.

Different systems or departments may also use different definitions or interpretations for data elements. This inconsistency in data definitions can lead to confusion and misinterpretation during integration. Harmonising data definitions and establishing clear data dictionaries or metadata repositories can help address this challenge.

Organisations also need to ensure the consistency of the data. Inconsistencies may arise due to manual data entry errors, different data update frequencies, or data synchronisation issues. Data reconciliation processes and data validation rules can, therefore, help maintain data consistency during integration.

Filtering out irrelevant or redundant data and identifying the most relevant data for integration is essential to ensure data quality and optimise system performance.

Validating and cleansing data to eliminate errors, inconsistencies, and duplicates is a critical step in data integration. However, data validation and cleansing processes can be complex and time-consuming, particularly when dealing with large volumes of data. Automating data validation and cleansing tasks and using data integration tools with built-in data quality features can help address these challenges.

Enhancing Data Quality via Middleware

A dedicated integration platform that supports a wide range of data transformation capabilities, such as filtering, sorting, and standardising data, with a user-friendly interface for performing these tasks, is essential for any data integration project to ensure data quality.

For example, BPA Platform can automatically monitor and manipulate data stored in databases and systems, making it usable for other purposes and in other systems. It can then perform data transformation tasks by converting data from one format to another or normalising it according to predefined rules. This ensures that data is consistent, properly structured, and compatible with the target system.

It can also enforce data validation rules, such as data type checks, range checks, or referential integrity checks, to ensure that only valid and reliable data is integrated.

Various tools within BPA Platform can perform data cleansing tasks to identify and rectify inconsistencies, errors, or duplications in the integrated data. It can also be configured to capture exceptions, integration errors, and logging details during the data integration process. This enables proper exceptions management, error handling, and auditing capabilities to identify and resolve issues affecting data quality.

BPA Platform supports real-time or batch-based data synchronisation and replication between different systems or databases, ensuring that data is consistently and accurately updated across multiple systems.

As well as utilising a middleware solution, data integration requires a comprehensive data quality management strategy, including data profiling, data cleansing, data standardisation, and data validation techniques. Investing in dedicated integration tools (such as BPA Platform), establishing data governance frameworks, and promoting data quality best practices across an organisation are essential for ensuring high-quality integrated data.

Data Security and Privacy

Several challenges and considerations arise in maintaining data security and privacy during the integration process. Data security and privacy are paramount concerns in data integration, especially when it may involve sensitive or confidential information. Compliance with data protection regulations, implementing appropriate access controls, and encrypting data are also important considerations.

As data integration involves sharing and transferring data across systems or organisations, it increases the risk of unauthorised individuals gaining access to sensitive information. A data breach during the integration process can expose sensitive information, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, and legal implications.

Data integration may require sharing or integrating data containing personally identifiable information (PII). It is essential to ensure that sensitive data is masked or anonymised to protect individual privacy. Proper data masking techniques, such as tokenisation or encryption, should be applied to prevent the exposure of sensitive information.

Data integration usually involves multiple stakeholders, including administrators, developers, and other individuals who have access to the integrated data. Insider threats, whether intentional or unintentional, pose a risk to data security and privacy.

Additionally, coordinating and aligning data ownership and sharing agreements can be complex, especially when integrating data from external sources or third-party vendors. Establishing clear data ownership frameworks and obtaining necessary permissions and consent for data sharing are fundamental. Maintaining data auditability and accountability is, therefore, crucial in data integration.

Integrated data may contain outdated, irrelevant, or redundant information. Proper data retention and disposal policies need to be established to ensure that data is retained for the necessary duration and disposed of securely when no longer needed. Failure to implement proper data disposal procedures can lead to data exposure and privacy breaches.

Data integration must adhere to data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These regulations impose strict requirements for data handling, storage, and consent. Ensuring compliance with these regulations can be challenging, especially when integrating data from different sources with varying compliance standards.

This is especially valid when transferring data across geographical boundaries, as it can introduce challenges related to data residency and compliance with international data transfer regulations. Organisations need to consider the legal and regulatory requirements regarding cross-border data transfers and implement appropriate safeguards, such as data encryption or contractual agreements with data processors.

Improving Data Security and Privacy

Addressing data security and privacy challenges in data integration requires a comprehensive approach, including the implementation of robust security measures, encryption, access controls, and privacy-enhancing techniques. Adhering to data protection regulations, establishing data governance frameworks, and fostering a privacy-conscious culture within an organisation are vital for ensuring security and privacy.

Organisations should establish proper access controls and put mechanisms in place to track user activities, data access, changes, and transfers during integration to help mitigate all these threats.

Implementing strong authentication mechanisms, access controls, and encryption techniques, such as double encryption using AES256 and support for multi-factor authentication, including OpenID Connect, Azure Active Directory, and OAuth2, can help mitigate these challenges.

Additionally, robust security measures, including firewalls, encryption and intrusion detection systems, as well as robust data transfer protocols, secure file transfers, and monitoring mechanisms, can help prevent data breaches and leakages.

Proper logging, monitoring, and audit trails help identify potential security breaches or privacy incidents and enable timely response and remediation.

Data Governance and Compliance

As mentioned previously, data integration must comply with regulatory requirements and data governance policies. Ensuring data privacy, security, and compliance during integration can be challenging, particularly when dealing with sensitive or confidential data. Implementing appropriate data governance frameworks and security measures helps mitigate these challenges.

Maintaining data governance and compliance across integrated data is vital. Organisations need to establish clear policies, standards, and guidelines for data integration to ensure consistency, data lineage, and adherence to regulatory requirements.

Data governance is the overall management framework that ensures the availability, integrity, security, and usability of data within an organisation. While implementing data governance is essential for effective data integration, organisations may encounter various challenges.

Many struggle with defining a clear data governance strategy. Without a well-defined strategy, data governance initiatives may lack direction, resulting in inconsistencies, data silos, and ineffective data integration.

Achieving alignment across different departments and stakeholders within an organisation can be challenging, as data governance requires collaboration and coordination among various business units, IT teams, data owners, and executive leadership. Overcoming silos, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring clear roles and responsibilities are important to establish effective data governance.

Determining data ownership and assigning data managers ensures accountability and responsibility for data quality, integrity, and compliance. However, identifying the right data owners and data managers and establishing effective communication and decision-making processes can be complex, especially in organisations with decentralised data management.

As mentioned earlier, maintaining data quality is another critical aspect of data governance. However, organisations often struggle with implementing effective data quality management processes.

Inconsistent data definitions, lack of data validation mechanisms, and inadequate data cleansing practices can hinder data quality improvement efforts. Establishing data quality standards, implementing data profiling, data cleansing, and validation processes are essential to overcome this challenge.

Organisations may face challenges in implementing data governance at scale or achieving widespread adoption. Data governance initiatives require time, resources, and cultural change. Building a data-driven culture, providing training and education, and demonstrating the value and benefits of data governance are essential to drive adoption and mature data governance practices.

Data governance is an ongoing effort that requires continuous monitoring, enforcement, and governance oversight. Organisations may struggle with establishing monitoring mechanisms, enforcing data governance policies, and maintaining governance compliance. Regular audits, performance metrics, and governance committees can help ensure ongoing monitoring and enforcement of data governance practices.

Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach, including developing a clear data governance strategy, establishing effective communication channels, defining data ownership and supervision, implementing data quality management processes, ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations, and using the appropriate technology solutions to support data governance initiatives.

Benefits of Data Integration

Despite the challenges that data integration can present, the benefits far outweigh any potential pitfalls.

Bringing data together from diverse sources and enabling a unified view of information provides organisations with a wide range of opportunities to increase efficiency, improve performance, and streamline operations.

The following are some of the main benefits that can be achieved through data integration:

Improved Data Quality:

Data integration allows organisations to consolidate and harmonise data from multiple sources, leading to improved data quality. By removing inconsistencies, redundancies, and errors, organisations can rely on accurate and reliable data for decision-making, analysis, and reporting.

Enhanced Decision-Making:

Integrated data provides a comprehensive and holistic view of business operations, customers, and market trends. This enables organisations to make more informed and data-driven decisions. With integrated data, decision-makers can analyse the relationships and patterns within the data, identify insights, and respond quickly to changing business conditions.

Increased Operational Efficiency:

Data integration eliminates the need to manually gather, reconcile, and consolidate data from multiple sources. By automating the data integration process, organisations can save time, reduce errors, and improve operational efficiency. Integrated data also enables streamlined processes, such as automated workflows and data-driven business intelligence, leading to increased productivity.

360-degree Customer View:

Integrating customer data from various touchpoints, such as sales, marketing, and customer service systems, allows organisations to create a 360-degree view of their customers. This holistic view enables personalised marketing, targeted customer engagement, and improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Improved Business Intelligence and Analytics:

Data integration provides a foundation for effective business intelligence and analytics. By combining data from different sources, organisations can uncover meaningful insights, perform advanced analytics, and gain a deeper understanding of their business performance, market trends, and customer behaviour. Integrated data sets also facilitate accurate and comprehensive reporting and forecasting.

Seamless Cross-Department Collaboration:

Data integration enables different departments within an organisation to access and share data seamlessly. This fosters collaboration and improves communication across departments, breaking down data silos. Integrated data promotes cross-functional analysis, enabling organisations to identify synergies, optimise processes, and drive innovation.

Simplified IT Infrastructure:

Data integration helps organisations streamline their IT infrastructure by reducing the number of disparate systems and databases. By consolidating data into a centralised repository or data warehouse, organisations can simplify their data architecture, reduce maintenance costs, and achieve better data governance and control.

Facilitates Compliance and Risk Management:

Data integration allows organisations to centralise and standardise their data, simplifying compliance with regulatory requirements. By ensuring data consistency, accuracy, and traceability, organisations can effectively manage compliance and mitigate risks associated with data privacy, security, and regulatory obligations.

Agile and Responsive Operations:

Integrated data provides organisations with real-time or near real-time access to information. This enables agile and responsive operations, as organisations can monitor key performance indicators, track market trends, and respond swiftly to changing business conditions. Integrated data also facilitates efficient data-driven processes, such as inventory management, supply chain optimisation, and demand forecasting.

Enables Digital Transformation:

Data integration plays a crucial role in enabling digital transformation initiatives. By integrating data from various sources, organisations can exploit emerging technologies to drive innovation, develop new products and services, and deliver personalised customer experiences.

Data integration empowers organisations with unified, accurate, and actionable data, driving operational efficiency, informed decision-making, and competitive advantage in today’s data-driven business landscape.

Benefits of Data Integration

KFA Connect has a well-documented history of successfully deploying data integration projects, implementing system integration best practices, and optimising business processes to facilitate successful data integration for organisations of all sizes.

With a highly skilled and knowledgeable team, we offer consultancy, professional services, and technical support to our customers. This empowers them with the expertise and flexibility needed to achieve end-to-end data integration efficiency.

We deliver solutions that perfectly align with our customer’s requirements every time, providing direct implementation and expert consulting services for data integration. This is essential for quickly and accurately getting solutions up and running, enabling them to realise enhanced functionality and return on investment (ROI).

At KFA we have a dedicated development and support team who ensure the smooth running of our customers applications and integrations. We can also provide 24/7 support when required.  

To find out how we can help your business, get in touch with our team today.

Nicki Smith

KFA Connect – Sales Manager

26th July 2023

Want to know more? Get in touch with our team today.

The Biggest Frustration for Businesses: IT Systems That Fail to Integrate

In today’s fast-paced and interconnected business world, efficient information technology (IT) systems are critical for the success of any organisation.

However, one of the most significant challenges faced by businesses is the frustration that arises when their IT systems fail to integrate seamlessly. Incompatibility between different software, data silos, and communication gaps between systems can hinder productivity, growth, and increase costs.

In this article, we delve into the biggest frustration for businesses when their IT systems do not integrate and explore the consequences it has on organisations.

Inefficiency and Duplication of Effort

When IT systems do not integrate, businesses often face inefficiencies and duplication of effort.

Employees are forced to enter data multiple times into different systems, resulting in wasted time and increased chances of errors.

For example, a customer’s information may need to be manually entered into both the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system and the accounting software. This duplication of effort not only reduces productivity but also increases the likelihood of inconsistent or inaccurate data, which can have severe consequences for decision-making and customer service.

Lack of Real-Time Insights

Integration issues can also result in a lack of real-time insights for businesses.

In a competitive landscape, quick access to accurate data is crucial for making informed decisions. When systems do not integrate seamlessly, data often becomes siloed, making it difficult to consolidate and analyse information across different departments or business functions.

As a result, decision-makers may not have a comprehensive view of the organisation, impeding their ability to respond promptly to market changes and make data-driven decisions.

Increased IT Costs

Another significant frustration for businesses with non-integrating IT systems is the increased cost burden.

Maintaining and managing multiple standalone systems can be costly, both in terms of initial investments and ongoing maintenance expenses. Additionally, organisations may need to hire specialised IT staff or consultants to address integration challenges, which further adds to the financial burden.

These costs can eat into the company’s budget, limiting resources that could be better allocated to other strategic initiatives.

Limited Scalability and Growth  

The lack of integration between IT systems can also hinder a business’s ability to scale and grow effectively.

As organisations expand, they often need to integrate new software solutions or platforms to accommodate increased demands. However, if existing systems do not integrate seamlessly, the integration process can become complex, time-consuming, and costly.

This can hinder the organisation’s agility and responsiveness to changing market dynamics, preventing it from capitalising on growth opportunities and potentially impacting customer satisfaction.

Security and Data Integrity Risks

Integrating IT systems is not only essential for improving operational efficiency but also for maintaining robust security and data integrity.

When systems do not integrate seamlessly, there is an increased risk of data breaches, as information may need to be transferred manually or through insecure methods.

Furthermore, inconsistent, or incompatible security measures across different systems can create vulnerabilities that malicious actors can exploit. Protecting sensitive customer data and maintaining compliance with data protection regulations becomes a considerable challenge without proper integration.

In an era where businesses rely heavily on technology, the frustration caused by non-integrating IT systems can have severe consequences for organisations.

From decreased efficiency and increased costs to limited scalability and compromised data integrity, the impact of incompatible systems is significant.

To overcome these challenges, businesses must prioritise system integration, ensuring that their IT infrastructure is seamlessly interconnected, allowing for streamlined operations, real-time insights, and enhanced productivity.

Embracing integration not only resolves frustrations but also unlocks the potential for growth, innovation, and competitive advantage in today’s digital landscape.

Why not obtain an impartial view of your current business systems integrations? Talk to our team today.

At KFA we have a dedicated development and support team who ensure the smooth running of our customers applications and integrations. We can also provide 24/7 support when required.  

To find out how we can help your business, get in touch with our team today.

Nicki Smith

KFA Connect – Sales Manager

28th June 2023

Want to know more? Get in touch with our team today.

Integrate Shopify with Sage, using BPA Codeless Platform

There is no doubt that eCommerce has brought an unprecedented ability to connect vendor and customer, with even small companies and startups being able to present a global ‘shop window’ online.  Once things start to get going, this can quickly translate into large numbers of orders and business growth. 

Taking an order and fulfilling it are two very different things, as well as taking payments, entering the details into an accounting system, or having stock on a shelf and running an efficient website.  

Often to cope with this new growth, manual processes are used, taking information from one system; the eCommerce site, and entering it into others; spreadsheets, accounting tools, and warehousing systems.   

This might be viable for a small volume of orders, but very quickly these manual processes impede future growth making for a busy rather than an efficient company. 

Shopify and the closely related Magento are eCommerce frameworks which contain all the functions necessary to create and maintain a superb eCommerce website, however, businesses usually have other systems in place, vital to their smooth running.  One of the most universal is an accounts package or ERP.    

The remainder of this blog piece discusses how a Shopify website can be comprehensively linked to an accounts system commonly found in medium-sized companies; Sage. 

The best solutions have a plan behind them, so rather than focussing on how, let’s understand why it’s important to integrate Shopify with Sage. 

Efficiency & Accuracy 

Integration means that orders, customer records, invoices, and payments (which we’ll refer to as data) can transfer between systems without being re-entered manually.  To better reap the benefits of this integration, it should also be automated, so that no human intervention is required.  

Consequently, delays are minimised, errors are reduced, and staff can be freed up to focus on other tasks within the business. 

Improved Customer Experience 

An integrated eCommerce system and accounts package mean that orders arrive quickly, contain the right items, and go to the right address – all crucial steps for a happy customer experience and positive reviews.  

With stock being updated in real time, 24 hours a day selling items which are out of stock becomes a distant memory. 

For more information on how BPA Platform can be used to automate the flow of information between your business systems and applications to streamline your business processes, contact us to arrange a demonstration.

How Could Shopify be Integrated with Sage? 

There are generally two ways of approaching an integration such as this.  

If an integration is unusual or particularly complex, then it might be that the most effective way of approaching it is with bespoke software development.  Both Shopify and Sage are incredibly customisable so sometimes this will be the most appropriate course of action.   

Many Shopify sites and Sage systems are broadly similar, the same data is being passed between systems so there must be a simpler way to connect them – right? 

Using a tool which can connect the systems in a simple way can pay dividends by enabling much of the software development to be side-stepped so that the focus can be on the business requirements. 

BPA Platform from Codeless Platforms acts like an integration ‘Swiss Army Knife’, it packages together many functions ideally suited to delivering an integration quickly and reliably.  With business processes being designed using a simple drag-and-drop interface designing and maintaining an integration doesn’t necessarily need to involve software developers. 

Using connectors which are available for numerous eCommerce, ERP, and delivery platforms BPA Platform is an ideal way to integrate Shopify and Sage. 

A Typical Integration Using Codeless BPA Platform 

First, the BPA Platform software is installed along with the Sage toolset, and the ‘Shopify connector’. 

Planning What Needs to be Integrated 

Before any development is started a high-level plan needs to be documented, detailing what should be integrated between the Shopify site and the Sage system.   

Typically, this might be the integration of orders coming in from the website into the Sage system and frequently some sort of stock-level functionality.  However, using BPA, it becomes possible to integrate customer information, product data, despatch details and so much more as the specific business requires. 

Building the Integration with BPA 

Next, BPA is used to realise the plan, the exact path taken will vary but typically: 

Connectors will be configured to the Sage and Shopify systems.  Because these connectors are tailored to their specific platforms, they need the minimum of set-up. 

Now tasks are created in BPA which relate to the process that is being designed, an example would be getting new orders from the eCommerce site. 

It will often be necessary to manipulate data from one system to meet the requirements of another, in other cases simply mapping fields from one system to the other will fit the bill.  BPA makes this understandable with a visual system. 

For an integration between Shopify and Sage, it is highly likely that multiple tasks will be required. 

Ensuring that Most Eventualities are Covered 

Before using an integration in production it’s important to check that it matches the plan that was created at the beginning of the process.  Checking that the integration works functionally is vital too and tests should be devised to cover as many potential situations as possible. 

Reaping the Benefits 

Finally, the integration can be moved to production and data will begin to flow between Shopify and Sage.  As new requirements arise, BPA is well positioned to meet them allowing the business to react quickly to an evolving market. 

Bringing in Expert Help 

It’s not essential to bring in expert help to write tasks to integrate Sage and Shopify using BPA Platform (depending on the technical ability of your in-house IT team of course) – although you will need to engage with a BPA Partner to procure the annual licence.   

Whilst BPA removes much of the need for extensive software development, the integration process can be daunting.  Engaging a partner who has a high level of knowledge of BPA, Shopify, and Sage is certainly an option and that expert help can help you get the best ROI from the product. 

Conclusion 

Integrating a Shopify eCommerce site with Sage offers easily demonstrable benefits with regard accuracy of orders, stock levels, customer records and more.  In addition, replacing manual processes with automation means that reactivity increases and orders can flow 24/7. 

Customer satisfaction increases and staff within the business can be deployed doing work which promotes growth and the business’s interests, rather than performing data entry, re-keying information, and other drudge work. 

Using a tool such as BPA Platform can reduce the requirement for investment in bespoke software development but does not mean that development needs to be handled internally; finding a partner who can work to deliver the business requirements can be a great choice. 

KFA Connect are Codeless Platforms Partners – authorised to sell BPA Platform and have in-depth knowledge of developing integration and process automation using the solution.