There are a couple of different ways that help integration improve different processes. For example, data centers today primarily use Hand code, a very cheap entry into data integration. There are programmers available and so the first reaction of the IT department is to apply some programming languages to the problem. As it turns out, this is the incorrect way of doing it. When you look at the overall cost of integrating information, you also calculate costs of maintaining it over time and the risk associated with programmers doing this job. Though they are writing code for these process, there is however a better solution- integration tools. These are far more productive, easier to maintain, and have a simpler system-so there is tremendous cost saving from an IT perspective. The biggest benefit to data integration is actually on the business side as it adds business value.

""We help customers integrate, access and improve the quality of their information for a variety of business purposes; to improve operational efficiency, assist with mergers and acquisitions, and help with governance and compliance solutions," James Markarian, SVP GM, Data Integration Business Unit"

As an example, one could compare what it means to get a project done in a couple of weeks than a couple of months. Recently, there has been an outbreak of the H1N1 virus and the value of collecting information about the places that are most affected is significant. Also valuable is the information about certain patterns from clinics across the world, and getting this information at regular periods of time is extremely important as well, because it could be life saving. So it's really about the value of the information that adds to the business.

There are many other cases as well, such as accelerating mergers and acquisitions. Today we are facing tough times, in terms of companies buying other companies, and by using our technology, our customers are able to integrate the companies more quickly, that accelerates the time it takes to shift to the new base. In tough economic times, the management wants more visibility, that's exactly where Informatica comes in. We can integrate businesses across business lines, and make customer, supplier or resource allocations efficiently.