Horváth: Systems integration can significantly reduce costs and accelerate business decision-making

• Systems and data integration can reduce operating costs by 20–40% and compliance costs by 15–30%.
• The greatest benefits come from eliminating redundant activities, automating processes, and using data more effectively in business decision-making.
• Results are achieved only when digital transformation is supported by a clear strategy, data governance, and end-to-end integrated processes.

For an increasing number of companies, the challenge is no longer whether to invest in digital transformation, but how to turn these investments into measurable financial results. Organizations that successfully connect their systems, processes, and data can reduce operating costs by 20–40% and compliance-related costs by 15–30%, while also speeding up processes and improving decision-making capabilities, according to an analysis by Horváth, an international management consulting firm that has been active in the Romanian market for more than 20 years.

According to Horváth, these savings do not result simply from implementing new technology solutions, but from integrating them into a unified ecosystem in which data flows seamlessly across functions and processes.

This enables companies to eliminate the repeated entry of the same information into different systems, significantly reduce manual data reconciliation and verification activities, and automate complex reporting and compliance processes. At the same time, data integration enables more accurate forecasting, pricing optimization, the identification of cross-selling opportunities, and faster financial closing and reporting processes, giving management quicker access to relevant information for decision-making.

A common example is the integration of ERP and CRM systems with logistics platforms, which allows companies to gain a unified view of orders, inventory, and customer relationships. Without this connectivity, information is duplicated across different systems, processes require manual intervention, and decisions are made based on incomplete or outdated data.

The benefits are felt both at the operational level, through reduced time and resources spent on administrative activities, and at the strategic level, through decisions based on consistent, real-time data. Instead of spending time reconciling information from different systems, teams can focus on analysis, planning, and business development.

According to Horváth’s analysis, the greatest benefits emerge when organizations move beyond isolated digital projects and build integrated platforms in which commercial, financial, and operational applications operate using the same data and business rules. This makes information available in real time and enables processes to be automated end to end.

The importance of integration is growing further as the use of artificial intelligence within organizations accelerates. AI models and intelligent agents can generate value only when they have access to consistent, up-to-date data from across the entire operational ecosystem. Without connected systems and platforms, AI initiatives risk remaining isolated projects with a limited impact on company performance.

“More and more companies are investing in digital transformation, but technology alone does not guarantee results. Value is created when organizations start with a clear digital strategy, establish a robust data governance model, and successfully connect their processes and systems in a coherent way. Integration is not an IT project alone; it transforms how the entire organization operates. Only then can digitalization investments translate into lower costs, more efficient processes, and better business decisions,” says László Pálházi, Principal, Horváth Romania.

Horváth’s analysis shows that organizations achieving the best results treat platform and data integration as part of a business transformation, rather than as a straightforward technology implementation. At the heart of this approach are a clearly defined transformation strategy, a robust data governance model, interconnected digital platforms, and processes designed from an end-to-end perspective.

Without these elements, investments in digitalization risk remaining isolated initiatives with a limited impact on organizational performance. By contrast, companies that build an integrated digital infrastructure turn data into a competitive advantage, reduce costs, accelerate processes, and lay the groundwork for faster, better-informed business decisions.

Horváth is an independent, international management consulting firm with more than 1,300 employees across Europe, the United States, and Asia. For more than 45 years, we have supported companies and public institutions in sustainably improving their performance by combining in-depth functional and industry expertise with technology and artificial intelligence capabilities. We help organizations turn strategies into measurable results. Our global ecosystem of technology partners, software providers, and systems integrators, together with a network of more than 3,000 Senior Advisors and Interim Managers, enables us to support transformation initiatives from strategic definition through sustainable implementation and integration within the organization.

With a presence in Romania spanning more than 20 years, Horváth is a trusted partner to companies and public institutions. The Romanian team has delivered more than 600 projects, with a combined value exceeding EUR 115 million, for companies across industries including energy, banking and financial services, courier and logistics, retail and FMCG, pharmaceuticals, the public sector, and many others.