As enterprise systems expand across geographies and platforms, seamless IT integration is key to ensuring competitive advantage for businesses. Christophe Derdeyn, current Managing Director of Icon Consulting – Services and founding partner of delaware South-East Asia, brings almost three decades of experience in IT innovation and business transformation. His career spans major enterprise implementations, multinational growth, business transformation and a deep understanding of how to align technology with business outcomes. “In integration, the real challenge is not just getting systems to talk to each other, it’s getting people to believe in the change and see how it makes their lives better,” says Derdeyn.
From Unified Suites to Cloud-Driven ModularityDerdeyn’s view on integration is shaped by witnessing the cyclical evolution of enterprise systems. “Once upon a time, everyone had best-of-breed solutions that were kind of coded together,” he explains. “Then came the rise of integrated platforms like SAP or Oracle.” These systems offered consistency and control but often at the cost of flexibility. With the adoption of cloud-based tools, enterprises are returning to modularity. “Companies are again moving towards best-of-breed solutions,” Derdeyn explains. “And from that perspective, it is all about integration.” This shift brings agility but also introduces fragmentation. Systems must be made to work together, even if they were never designed to. “A typical large enterprise may have anywhere between 600 to 700 different applications,” he says. “If these applications share data elements like customer records, vendor profiles, or employee information, the challenge in terms of integration becomes enormous.”
Two Dimensions of Integration: Technical and Human
For Derdeyn, IT integration presents a dual challenge. The technical side is complex, involving middleware, data pipelines, and architecture. But the human side is often more difficult to manage. “Integration is complex because different solutions operate very differently, not just functionally but also technically,” he says. However, focusing only on technical architecture can lead to failure. “I have seen so many failed implementations because companies did not invest in the right areas. Too often, budgets are consumed by configuration and development, while change management is left behind.” Successful integration requires more than software. It demands that people across the organization understand the benefits of the change. “If you cannot convince your people that what you are doing is to their benefit, not just the organization’s, then you will run into resistance,” he explains.
Lead with Process, Engage the People
Derdeyn emphasizes what he calls leading with process. Rather than forcing technology into an organization, the approach begins with understanding business needs and aligning systems to them. “Your organization is your people,” he says. “If you know your stakeholders, you need to understand how each of them benefits. The most important question is, what’s in it for them?”
This mindset is especially critical when introducing automation or AI. Without a clear message that reassures employees, the fear of being replaced can undermine progress. “If you do not have a proper answer and cannot give people a perspective, your organization is going to get stuck,” he says.
Building Project Structures That Enable Success
According to Derdeyn, structuring the right project team is essential. In traditional IT environments, specialists operated in silos. Today, integration calls for leaders who can see across functions and bring stakeholders together. “You need someone with a cross-process view who leads the engagement,” he says. “Whether it is different parts of finance or different parts of the supply chain, someone needs to bridge the gaps.” Success depends not just on technical teams but especially so on business engagement. “You need the right constellation of leadership,” he explains. “The way you deal with different stakeholders, both business and IT, must be carefully designed.”
Achieving Consistency Across Global Operations
Looking ahead, Derdeyn sees the integration challenge growing as global companies adopt increasingly diverse tech stacks. Hybrid infrastructure and cloud services allow rapid deployment, but the underlying complexity must still be managed. “Whatever middleware you use, it must help you manage data flows and ensure consistency,” he says. “That sounds straightforward, but when you have hundreds of applications involved, the effort required is incredibly high.”
Consistency is the reward: Companies that maintain coherence across systems, data, and processes operate with greater efficiency and agility. “Organizations that succeed in keeping their information aligned across all systems are typically more effective and better positioned to execute their global strategy,” says Derdeyn.
Connect with Christophe Derdeyn on LinkedIn or visit his website for more insights.
