Customer Data Integration: Reaching a Single Version of the Truth

CHAPTER 9

Bootstrapping Your Customer Data Integration Initiative

One must be aware that there is nothing so difficult, more doubtful in its result, and more dangerous to do than to introduce a new state of things. The innovator has bitter enemies among all those who benefit from the old system, while he only has half-hearted defenders among those who expect to benefit from the new system.

 

This half-heartedness has its roots in man’s lack of faith, because he does not really believe in the new state until he has experienced it.

—MACHIAVELLI

 

As we’ve discussed in every chapter throughout this book, from business drivers to functionality, customer data integration (CDI) is different from other technologies. This fact alone can result in confusion and inertia. The most common comment we hear from executives about CDI is: “I think we need it—but I’m not sure where to begin.”

Information technology (IT) managers don’t like surprises. Risk management is essential with any IT initiative, but particularly with one that proposes to be the customer system of record. This chapter discusses how to prepare for CDI and presents some checklists to ensure your success.