Integration is the Name of the Game

Successful implementation

Convincing potential customers to invest in information system technologies can sometimes be a difficult task. “It is still much easier to convince people to purchase a machine than a system,” says Operon Systems’ VP Mark Nickel. “People can point to the machine, they can paint it, they can add better motors, or change the gears to make it run faster. Information technology tends to be a bit more difficult because there isn’t that physical presence. There’s also doubt about the payback on the investment—a machine, you know that if you fill it with raw materials, do your preventative maintenance, and just turn it on, you can easily calculate the ROI. An information system is not so cut and dry. People still read about information system implementations dragging out for years and years and going over budget by millions of dollars.”