Connecting the dots is a popular children’s game: as you connect the dots, a larger picture emerges. Dots that are isolated and meaningless take on a shape, a form, and a story when they’re connected.

In information technology, connecting the dots works the same way. Every individual and every information-processing unit is a dot, isolated on its own. When the dots are connected, through data integration, application integration, social networks, or even just a comment feed, they start to take on meaning, and a larger picture emerges. The relationships add meaning and value to the isolated dots. A connection might represent a relationship, sometimes a transaction, and sometimes a contract.

Google built its algorithm by connecting the dots. The original PageRank algorithm ranked sites by how many external sites were connected to them. Network marketing companies work on a similar premise. Facebook and Twitter couldn’t exist without connections. In today’s world, connectedness is a given. I still remember the late 1990s and early 2000s, when core banking solutions were all the rage, and centralized, networked banking was the future of the banking sector, where I come from.

How does being connected help your organization? The connections might be among your IT systems, your employee network, or even your partner network. Being connected isn’t the future; it’s the present. If you’re exploring social media and networking for your business, or better ways to make your systems talk to each other, feel free to get in “touch” with us at contact@trayix.com.