Data integration software provider Informatica has released a new study by independent researcher Ovum, which reveals why many enterprises are experiencing declining value from their business application portfolios and how they can reverse the trend.
Ovum surveyed senior IT executives at 146 large enterprises in North America, Australia and the UK.
Titled, ‘Optimising Enterprise Applications: The Data Connection’, the study found that data sprawl and poor quality data are the main reasns for poor application management and performance.
According to Ovum, "All efforts to improve application management and delivery will be in vain if the underlying data and its management strategy are flawed — no matter how well architected the application platform, or how effective the development team."
Ovum principal analyst Tony Baer said that simply put, without sound data, and an even sounder data management strategy, investment in business applications will diminish over time as portfolio grows and expands across the enterprise.
"There is no silver bullet as every enterprise and problem are different. But the common thread remains: effective rationalization and management of data are at the heart of any challenge to optimize the application portfolio," Baer said.
The survey also highlighted issues affecting the sustaining of applications that result from issues with data, such as in: application delivery; application performance; and application data management.
The study also said that over 50% of enterprises do not have a data focus. Respondents highlighted specific data management solutions being considered as ways of solving their issues, including: implementing a consistent Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) strategy; implementing data services to reduce the proliferation of application interfaces; improving data quality and consistency; and implementing master data management to reduce the duplicity of data.
The study found that while fewer than half of respondents currently have these tools, more than half plan to adopt many of the tools within the next 12 months.
Informatica Data Integration general manager Girish Pancha said as enterprise data continues to grow in volume, velocity, variety and variability, implementing a platform for big data integration is imperative for companies looking to leverage transaction and social media data across the extended enterprise.
Pancha added, "This means that organizations must effectively manage every phase of the data lifecycle, using Information Lifecycle Management, data quality, data services, master data management and other disciplines and techniques, in order to optimize the performance and increase the return on investment from their business application portfolio."
