Bring mismatched data together into one consistent version.
Connecting systems only gets them in the same room. They still record the same things in different ways. This step lines them up - and it’s where the real value lives.
Remember the apple: three systems, three answers. Here we agree on one definition that everyone shares, while each system keeps using its own wording behind the scenes. Nobody has to change how they work - we add a shared “translation layer” on top that knows all three answers describe the same apple, and lines up the units automatically.
An everyday example: Think of a shared online document…
From Raw Data Silos to an Integrated Business Model
Data connectivity is only the first step. Raw data extracted from heterogeneous sources such as ERP systems, LIMS, historians, and planning tools speaks different languages, uses inconsistent units, and follows isolated system logic. In this state, data cannot reliably support business decisions or advanced optimisation.
The Model phase of the boTec DataBridge transforms these fragmented inputs into a harmonised Integrated Business Model, creating a unified, enterprise-wide language for data.
Data Storage as a Modelling Decision
Traditional integration approaches often rely on copying large volumes of data into a central layer. This frequently leads to outdated information, synchronisation issues, and reduced trust in corporate KPIs, reporting, and compliance data.
Data remains in its best-in-class source systems and is accessed through real-time references. Thus, boTec follows a different principle: link, don’t copy! Only where it is functionally required - such as for aggregated, calculated, or historised values - data is selectively stored in the integration layer. This decision is made case by case and is an integral part of the modelling logic.
A Two-Step Modelling Approach
We bridge the gap between technical data structures and business logic through a lightweight, scalable two-step modelling process.
- Business Application Models: For each connected application, boTec creates a dedicated Business Application Model. These models represent the structure, semantics, and business logic of individual systems while referencing the underlying data in real time. As a result, new or changed data becomes immediately available without manual transformation or replication. Each application retains full ownership of its data and business logic, resulting in one business model per connector.
- The Integrated Business Model: On top of the individual Business Application Models, boTec builds a comprehensive Integrated Business Model. This global layer combines multiple system models into a unified enterprise-wide view while maintaining the independence of the underlying software landscape.
Functional Foundations of the Integrated Business Model
The Integrated Business Model enables consistent, system-spanning access to business objects and processes without introducing rigid dependencies or large migration projects. It features several semantic and functional foundations :
Result of the Model Phase
By combining selective data storage, Business Application Models, and the Integrated Business Model, the boTec DataBridge establishes a stable, scalable, and trustworthy enterprise data foundation. This modeled layer aligns business and IT, reduces integration complexity, and provides the basis for reliable optimization, analytics, and data-driven decision intelligence.
Jörg Schneider, Senior Solution Architect, boTec GmbH