Data Syncing: Automated Data Integration
Data Syncing, a crucial aspect of modern data management. It ensures data remains consistent and up-to-date across various sources, applications, and devices. This approach is increasingly significant due to the plethora of data sources and the demand for accurate data.
Properly implemented data synchronisation can lead to improvements in various business areas. Logistics, sales, order management, invoice accuracy, and reputation management are but a few. Synchronisation is crucial not just for operational efficiency but also for good data governance.S
What is Data Synchronisation?
Data syncing is all about maintaining consistency of data across connected systems/stores. As the name implies, it’s an ongoing process, which is equally applicable to new and historical data. Businesses use numerous software tools, dashboards, databases, etc. Synchronisation helps prevent databases from becoming disjointed and disorganised by keeping them in continuous communication.
Data syncing is essential for maintaining accuracy, consistency, and privacy in data management. Especially so when considering that even minor data errors can significantly impact decision-making. So, data syncing involves validation, cleaning and checking data for errors, duplication, and consistency before usage.
Data synchronisation benefits a wide range of stakeholders:
- Customers receive tailored product information and services.
- Business users can interact with updated information in real-time, globally.
- Executives make strategic decisions based on the latest data.
- Stockholders stay informed about their business interests.
- Manufacturers and distributors access up-to-date design, production, and marketing information.
Here’s one use case we worked on recently. This company had five separate systems containing (among other data) customer details. Data in each of them was used for different analytical purposes, likes sales trends, CRM, discounts and billing. If a customer moved house or changed name, only one or two systems would record the update, depending on where the changes to the customer details were picked up. They spent significant time reconciling discrepancies and generally only when surfaced (e.g. unpaid bills). Plenty of customer data was out of date going back years.
Data Synchronisation vs Data Integration
While often used interchangeably with data integration, synchronisation is a specific type of integration. The key difference is maintaining ongoing consistency between datasets. Integration means combining data in general (static and events) for regular and ad-hoc analytics. But synchronisation assumes continuous automated communication between systems/databases.
How Data Synchronisation is Achieved
There are several methods and technologies used to achieve this, including:
Batch Synchronisation: This involves periodically updating data at set intervals. It’s useful for non-time-sensitive data and can reduce the load on networks and systems.
Real-Time Synchronisation: This method keeps data in sync almost instantaneously. It is more complex and resource-intensive but is essential for applications that always require up-to-date information, such as financial trading platforms.
Bidirectional Synchronisation: In this approach, changes made in one database or system are replicated in the other, and vice versa. This is useful for systems where data input and updates occur at multiple points.
Conflict Resolution and Version Control: When data is edited concurrently in different locations, conflicts may arise. Resolving these conflicts requires rules or algorithms to determine which version of the data is kept. Software development uses version control systems for this purpose.
Change Data Capture (CDC): CDC involves identifying and capturing changes made to the data source and then applying these changes to the target data repository. This method is efficient as it only transfers changed data.
API-Based Synchronisation: Using APIs allows for the direct and seamless transfer of data between systems. This method is widely used for integrating web applications and services.
Database Replication: This involves creating copies of a database in different locations to ensure data availability and accessibility. This can be done in real-time or at scheduled intervals.
ETL Processes: This is a three-step process where data is extracted from a source, transformed into the required format, and then loaded into a target database or system.
Cloud-Based Synchronisation: Leveraging cloud services, data can be synced across multiple devices and platforms, providing accessibility and backup. Snowflake or MS Azure are often used here.
Middleware and Integration Platforms: These are software solutions that facilitate the connection and communication between different systems and databases, allowing for efficient data synchronisation.
The choice of synchronisation method depends on various factors like the nature of the data, frequency of updates, the need for real-time information, and the systems involved.
Challenges in Data Synchronisation
Organising business data involves navigating various systems e.g. CRM, employee portals, customer support, HRM, etc. The synchronisation process must address several challenges:
Security: Ensuring data moves through systems in compliance with industry-specific regulatory standards and privacy laws.
Data Quality: Regular updates and validation are required to maintain information integrity within a secure environment.
Data Management: Real-time management and integration are crucial for accuracy and to prevent errors.
Performance: The synchronisation process involves multiple phases, and any lapses can impact the end result.
Data Complexity: As data formats evolve with new vendors, customers, and technology, synchronisation must ensure consistency across systems.
It is still a big challenge for many organisations to apply data syncing effectively – and not only limited by the choice of technologies.
IOblend’s Approach to Data Syncing
IOblend is a very versatile tool, enabling a variety of approaches to data syncing. In our use case above, we helped the client sync their data across all five systems, using Salesforce as the “golden” record. An update in any of the systems triggers a chain of logical events (CDC, SCD, data quality checks, real-time validations, scheduled updates, bidirectional data mirroring, cloud and on-prem syncing, etc) that reconcile and update the customer information automatically.
Data syncing is a vital process in today’s analytics, where accurate data is more critical than ever for dynamic decision-making and operational efficiency. Proper data synchronisation demands careful planning, understanding what data there is, how the changes to it affect downstream analytics and services and what records take precedence. Tech is only a part of the overall puzzle and should not be the driving force behind the implementations.
Understand Your Data Well
Tools like IOblend are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in data syncing, offering solutions that are fast, reliable, and suitable for a wide range of applications. However, if your business does not have a solid grasp on how the data is being used and managed, no tool will be of much help to you.
If you find this blog informative, we got lots more data topics here.
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