Data Connection
Connect what you have without buying a new system.
When your systems don’t talk and the numbers don’t match, the usual pitch is a new platform. Often the better answer is to connect what you already have: clean up the data, link the systems, and build reporting you can trust. You get a fixed quote before work starts.
From $7,500, fixed quoteTypically 3–6 weeks
Schedule Our First ChatFree 30-minute conversation. Scope agreed before paid work begins.
What you get
- The design
- Which system is the source of truth for what, how data moves between them, and who owns each piece.
- The build
- Integrations, cleaned and normalized data, a governed data layer, and the reports or dashboards you need.
- The handoff
- Documentation and training so your team can run it, with no lock-in to me or any vendor.
The details
How the engagement works
- Scope. We agree the questions the business needs answered and the systems involved. You get a fixed quote before paid work begins.
- Design. I map where each piece of data lives, where it breaks, and the simplest way to connect it.
- Build. I build and test the connections, data layer, and reporting against real numbers your team already knows.
- Hand off. Your team gets documentation, training, and a clear owner for each piece. Ongoing support is optional and separate.
Timing depends on the number of systems and the state of the data. Many projects start after a Tech Audit or Second Opinion, which makes the scope clear. If any new software is needed, you pay the provider directly; I don’t mark it up.
No software purchase, implementation contract, or continuing engagement is required.
When this is a good fit
- Your data lives in several systems that don’t share it well.
- Reporting takes too much manual work and still isn’t trusted.
- You’d rather get more from what you have than replace it.
- Someone can own the result once it’s running.
When something else would help more
- You need a full custom software application.
- Your core system genuinely can’t do the job. Start with a Second Opinion.
- You want an ongoing outsourced IT department.
- Nobody can give access to the systems and data involved.
Related work: the ERP decision
A PE-backed distributor needed trustworthy financial reporting. The ERP it bought couldn’t represent how the business worked.
Instead of finishing the ERP, I designed an alternative around QuickBooks, the existing operational systems, cleaned and normalized exports, a governed data layer, and analytics.
The ERP license had already been contracted, and about $350K had been paid when implementation stopped. These are projected costs and a design estimate, not a claim of realized savings.
What does it cost?
Projects start at $7,500. After a short scoping conversation, you get a fixed quote tied to specific deliverables, so the price doesn’t grow with the hours.
What systems do you work with?
Common business tools: accounting systems like QuickBooks, CRMs, spreadsheets, operational and industry-specific systems, and the databases and reporting tools between them. If a system has no way to get data out, I’ll tell you early.
Who owns what you build?
You do. Accounts, data, code, and documentation live in your environment, not mine.
Do we need a Tech Audit first?
Not always. If the problem and the systems are clear, we can scope directly. If they aren’t, an audit is often the faster route to a sound quote.
What happens after handoff?
Your team runs it. If you want ongoing support or changes, we can agree that separately. There’s no requirement.
How do you handle sensitive information?
We agree access and handling before work begins, including what can be shared, what should be redacted, and which tools are approved. Do not send confidential business records when booking the introductory call.