Integrating systems can be a pivotal strategy for businesses looking to scale their supply chain operations, but not all integration methods are created equal. The most common integration solution is point-to-point, which directly connects two systems to transfer data. While it can solve an array of connectivity, it often creates more manual work with dependencies on IT teams and industry-agnostic workflow you have to customize to your business needs.
Point-to-point integrations are a direct system-to-system connection where two applications communicate to exchange data. For example, an ERP system like NetSuite can be integrated into an eCommerce platform like Shopify, allowing the two systems to share data, such as inventory updates.
While this works for simple setups, it quickly becomes unsustainable as businesses grow. Imagine a scenario where you add another system, like an EDI connection to a retail partner or a marketplace like Amazon. Each additional integration creates a new direct connection, forming a growing web of dependencies. Over time, managing and maintaining this network becomes a logistical nightmare.
Point-to-point integrations often focus solely on moving data between two systems. While this may be sufficient for basic transactions, it fails to support complex workflows.
For example, consider a business that needs to route orders based on customer location or prioritize shipments for high-value clients. Point-to-point integrations lack the flexibility to handle these rules. Instead, employees need to intervene manually to complete these tasks, adding unnecessary effort and increasing the risk of errors. The system itself isn’t smart enough to handle routing rules.
Point-to-point integrations are often rigid and aren’t designed to handle custom workflows or unique business requirements. In a point-to-point setup, supporting niche processes like specialized catalogs or region-specific pricing requires constant coding or workarounds.
Say you’re a distributor working with both big-box retailers and small boutiques. Each of those channels needs a different pricing structure or product catalog. If you’re stuck with point-to-point, every single tweak requires someone to step in and adjust the code.
One of the biggest drawbacks of point-to-point integration is how quickly maintenance becomes unmanageable. Each direct connection must be maintained individually, which becomes more difficult as the number of systems increases.
For example, if your eCommerce platform updates its API or your ERP system introduces new functionality, every single integration that touches those systems must be updated. This is not only time-consuming but also expensive.
When you’re working with point-to-point, your IT team is constantly patching holes. If one system updates, everything connected to it breaks.
Point-to-point integrations often rely on batch processing rather than real-time data synchronization. This creates delays in critical updates, such as inventory levels or order statuses, which can lead to overselling, late shipments, or dissatisfied customers.
Additionally, point-to-point integrations lack transparency. When issues arise—like a failed data transfer—it’s difficult to trace the problem’s origin, leading to wasted time and frustration. With point-to-point, you’re in the dark half the time. If inventory doesn’t sync correctly, you might not notice until a customer complains.
As businesses grow, their operational needs evolve. New sales channels, trading partners, and internal systems often require integration. With point-to-point, scaling becomes exponentially harder because every new system adds multiple new connections.
A business with 10 systems could have 45 individual integrations. Now imagine adding just two more systems—it doesn’t double the complexity; it triples it.
Hub-and-spoke integrations simplify the way systems communicate by centralizing data and workflows through a single hub. Rather than creating individual connections between each system, every system connects to the hub, which manages the flow of data to and from all connected applications.
For example: A business using OrderEase’s hub-and-spoke integrations can integrate their NetSuite ERP, Shopify store, Amazon marketplace, and EDI trading partners to automate orders and manage trading partner workflows, ultimately eliminating the need for manual intervention or coding.
Point-to-point integration may seem like a quick fix for connecting systems, but it introduces more problems than it solves—especially for growing businesses. A hub-and-spoke integration model, like the one offered by OrderEase, eliminates these challenges by centralizing data and workflows.
By adopting a hub-and-spoke approach, businesses can reduce manual work, scale effortlessly, and improve overall operational efficiency.
OrderEase’s hub-and-spoke platform offers a smarter, more scalable alternative. By centralizing workflows and enabling real-time data updates, OrderEase helps businesses eliminate manual work, save time, and stay ahead of the competition.