Remove Duplicate Data between Systems
Why duplicate data appear
When the same list of customers, products or orders is stored in ERP, CRM, online shop and other applications at the same time, each one stores its own “truth”. Integrating these systems again and again in isolation – adding export scripts, mirror tables or macros – multiplies the copies and, with them, the discrepancies. The typical result is that business teams stop relying on reports and turn to spreadsheets to reconcile data.
Risks of living with inconsistent information
Living with inconsistent information exposes the organisation to several risks: reports no longer fit together and lead to wrong decisions, operational cost overruns are triggered by hours spent reconciling data and duplicate storage, the customer experience suffers when an outdated address or different pricing depending on the system leads to returns or complaints, and every innovation initiative is blocked because the data must first be “fixed” before new value can be generated.
Why point-to-point integrations exacerbate the problem
Connecting ERP with CRM, and then both with the web or the warehouse, creates a network of interfaces that is difficult to maintain: if you have five systems, you need at least ten bi-directional connections. Each bespoke interface duplicates some of the information and creates a new risk of out-of-sync when data models change.
Single source of truth: the alternative
Instead of copying product sheets from one system to another, the modern approach proposes a unified integration layer that acts as a point of access and governance.
This layer exposes the essential data (customers, stock, orders, etc.) and applies common business rules: a single data dictionary to avoid divergent interpretations and the applications consult or publish events in the layer, and no longer exchange files with each other. In this way, changes are propagated in a controlled manner and maintain consistency without overloading transactional systems.
Proven benefits
Achieving a Single Source of Truth does not require endless projects. Simply inventory the master data, normalise and deduplicate records, expose them via APIs or events and synchronise only what is essential. In this way you will be able to achieve:
- Operational agility. A well-known Spanish distributor, it was able to move order synchronisation from a three-hour overnight batch process to selective reloads with no impact on the ERP.
- Better logistics. A large logistics company created a probabilistic address master with more than 100 variables and eliminated inconsistencies that hindered its delivery rate.
- Maintenance savings. Fewer point-to-point interfaces mean fewer incidents and lower evolution costs.
- Confidence in data. Marketing, finance and operations teams access the same version of reality, reducing discussions and accelerating decision making.
- Scalability. Adding a new system no longer means creating thousands of integrations; just connect it to the common layer.
In short: a single source of truth transforms data from a recurring problem into a strategic asset that drives efficiency and growth.
Your next step
Data duplication is not a “lesser evil”; it is a cost that grows as fast as your organisation. Implementing a unified integration layer – with proven methodology and accelerators – eliminates inconsistencies, reduces cost overruns and frees teams to innovate on trusted data.
Want to know how to take your business to a single source of truth? Contact us and our team will show you real cases and tools that can turn your disparate ecosystem into a coherent, scalable data platform ready for your next digital challenge.
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