The integration of business data is a serious and long-standing issue for small and mid-size businesses (SMBs). Typically, an SMB buys a CRM, an operations management system specific to their business model, an accounting system, an invoicing system, and potentially a service management system. Add in their public web site, and a customer self-service portal, and the average SMB starts to feel like they are in the IT business, not their real business.

Yet, trying to buy an integrated system that covers all these bases, matches the specifics of your business model, and is still affordable, is often an impossible task. And even when such a system can be found, migrating to a fully integrated system from today’s multiple applications can be a difficult and risky process.