The Current State of Digital Integration in Hong Kong

Today’s digital architecture is chaotic. After years of growth, many organizations are juggling multiple technology platforms to keep up with business demands. A recent global study indicates that 80% of enterprises report that their diverse technology stacks delay the launch of new products or services. This issue resonates particularly with many businesses in Hong Kong, according to IT leaders at a recent CDOTrends Networking Luncheon organized with IBM.

‘Bridging old-world systems with new-world applications is a real struggle for many Hong Kong businesses,’ said Kelvin Jor, North Asia sales leader for webMethods and StreamSets at IBM. ‘The challenge amplifies when integration needs to be real-time and secure.’

Understanding the Digital Chaos

Hong Kong is recognized as a mature technology market. With a history of IT growth and digitalization, many are encountering vendor sprawl. Jor indicates that the combination of legacy and modern applications connected via complex APIs on hybrid multi-clouds leads to significant digital chaos.

Adding to this chaotic environment are diverse operational geographies, regulatory requirements, and a surge of digital applications fueled by advancements in AI.

‘As we advance in AI technology, research by IDC predicts one billion new applications by 2028,’ stated Jigar Bhansali, field chief technology officer for webMethods and StreamSets at IBM. Bhansali emphasized that this digital chaos is not merely a technical issue; it’s an existential challenge for businesses as increased complexity effects productivity and decision-making. According to the study involving 1,500 global IT leaders, 80% noted that disjointed technologies significantly slow business growth and impair decision-making.

Paths to Clarity

Despite the adverse effects on time-to-market and decision-making, addressing digital chaos proves to be a daunting task. During the Networking Luncheon, Hong Kong IT leaders identified major barriers to effective integration, including data quality and consistency (67%), complex legacy system integration (50%), and the management of numerous integration tools (44%).

To tackle these challenges, Bhansali proposed a unified integration platform approach that can streamline integration tools and unify hybrid platforms. ‘A unified integration platform allows businesses to consolidate different tools into a single platform, providing central control with distributed execution,’ he explained.

Bhansali cautioned against a complete replacement of existing systems, urging organizations to ‘incrementally build a unified integration strategy, enabling quick wins along the way.’ This balanced approach could support long-term success without overwhelming businesses.

Building the Future of Integration

IBM has focused on supporting businesses in achieving seamless integration through strategic acquisitions, including webMethods and StreamSets. This unified platform enables enterprises to integrate various on-premises and SaaS applications, fostering efficient data flow and process automation. Jor remarked, ‘You need a technology partner that comprehends the complexities within enterprises and can innovate alongside you.’ He noted that IBM’s Hybrid Integration Platform boasts over 600 connectors for seamless integration of SaaS, existing applications, and databases.

Furthermore, Bhansali underscored that the platform is designed to connect any application—from SaaS and legacy systems to OT applications and partner ecosystems. This allows for central management of all integrations across diverse environments.

Embracing AI for Future Success

As organizations delve deeper into AI applications, they are likely to face even greater complexities in digital integration. More than half of IT leaders surveyed during the Networking Luncheon are considering AI tools to enhance their integration strategies. Bhansali highlighted that tools, such as automation for API recommendations and intelligent mapping suggestions, will be critical in this transition.

The IBM Hybrid Integration Platform simplifies the integration process, utilizing an intuitive drag-and-drop user interface combined with AI-enhanced mapping, allowing for faster and more accurate integration development.

‘Our goal is to empower everyone to conquer integration chaos, leading to optimized workflows and smarter decision-making,’ Bhansali concluded.

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