Several manufacturers are using multiple cloud vendors for their analytics needs. It makes real-time data integration platforms vital as they connect on-premise and cloud sources and help data flow in real-time. However, this technology offers potential extending beyond cloud integration. Let’s explore some of the most common data integration use cases in manufacturing:
8 Use Cases in Manufacturing
Move On-Premise Data to the Cloud
Moving data from on-premise to the cloud in real-time reduces downtime, averts business disruptions, and helps keep your databases up to date.
A process called Change Data Capture (CDC) enables real-time data integration to record changes in the on-premise system and apply them to the cloud. You can also move data bi-directionally, storing some data in the cloud and some on-premises. You can also migrate data gradually to reduce risk, especially if you’re working with mission-critical data and can’t afford any disruptions.
Support Cloud Data Warehousing
Cloud data warehouses are becoming increasingly popular as they are faster, more secure, enable better integration, and reduce ownership costs. But, real-time analysis of data stored in cloud data warehouses requires real-time data integration platforms. These platforms gather data from multiple on-premise and cloud data sources and move it to a cloud data warehouse without disrupting your business. You can process and enrich this data to gain several benefits, including lower ETL workload, reduced complexity, and greater regulatory compliance.
Adopt a Multi-Cloud Strategy
An effective data integration strategy improves business agility, allowing you to connect applications, data, and infrastructure, across multiple cloud environments. It prevents vendor lock-in, allowing you to combine different cloud solutions that suit your requirements.
Run Real-Time Applications
Data integration in manufacturing helps you run real-time applications irrespective of whether they use on-premise or cloud databases. Real-time integration solutions move data with low latency at near instantaneous speeds. For instance, manufacturers need real-time visibility into orders and inventory to avoid stockouts or surpluses. Real-time data pipelines and applications are designed specifically for cloud environments and can outperform on-premise counterparts but require continuous data processing. You can also enhance operational reporting with up-to-date, real-time data from different sources.
Detect Anomalies and Make Accurate Forecasts
Real-time data pipelines allow manufacturers to run different types of analytics, including anomaly detection and forecasting, which are critical for timely decision-making. Data integration platforms can help manufacturers collect and analyze data from multiple sources to detect anomalies, such as high temperatures or pressure, failing equipment that needs replacement, and send instructions to take action. Data integration is, therefore, critical for predictive maintenance. Data integration also delivers real-time insights into customer data from multiple sources to help you make more accurate forecasts and predictions.
Support Machine Learning Capabilities
Real-time data integration can help businesses run machine learning models more effectively. Data integration reduces the time and effort spent on cleaning, enriching, and organizing data by delivering fully prepared data for running algorithms. Also, real-time data integration ensures that machine learning models use up-to-date data from several sources instead of outdated data, and get real-time results.
Sync Data Across Multiple Systems
Data integration enables you to sync data across multiple systems, ensuring that all departments always have access to real-time information and a single source of truth. Integration platforms can combine data from multiple repositories and siloed systems across functional areas, updating records across the organization. It ensures that all your systems are connected and real-time data is visible to everyone in the organization.
Create a 360-Degree View of Customers
Data integration helps you build dashboards that provide a 360-degree view of your customers. You can combine customer data from multiple systems, such as ERP, CRM, Customer Support, and other applications into a single interface and further enrich the dashboard with external data from social media or third-party data providers. You can use this data to offer personalized product recommendations, design more effective customer loyalty programs, or improve customer satisfaction with better service levels.
