Source of truth

How to achieve a single source of truth for business success

Data inconsistencies can derail even the best business strategies. When critical information exists in silos across systems, teams are left to reconcile fragmented data manually. This slows down decision-making, increases errors, and frustrates collaboration.

The solution? A source of truth – the single, reliable version of your business data. Whether you’re a developer, solution architect, or decision-maker, having a single source of truth (SSOT) is key to driving accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.

This article will explain what an SSOT is, its benefits, and how modern solutions like Enterspeed help you achieve it without overhauling your infrastructure.

What is a single source of truth (SSOT)?

A single source of truth (SSOT) is the definitive, authoritative version of your data. Instead of data being fragmented across various systems like CMS, ERP, or PIM, SSOT consolidates all information into a single, unified repository.

Why does this matter?

When teams work with inconsistent data, errors arise, collaboration breaks down, and time is wasted. By aligning all teams to a single source of truth, businesses ensure clarity, efficiency, and faster decision-making.

Single source of truth: Definition, benefits, tips, and examples

Definition

An SSOT is not just about centralising data – it’s about creating a framework where data flows seamlessly and accurately across systems. The result is reliable, up-to-date data available to every stakeholder.

Benefits of a single source of truth

Improved decision-making

Accurate data empowers leaders to make faster, more informed decisions.

Elimination of silos

Break down barriers between systems, ensuring teams work with consistent, synchronised data.

Faster workflows

Reduced errors and less manual reconciliation save time and resources.

Enhanced collaboration

Teams across departments can trust they’re working from the same accurate information.

Scalability

A unified data source simplifies system integrations as your business grows.

Tips for achieving a single source of truth

Adopt modern middleware: Use solutions like Enterspeed to unify data from CMS, PIM, ERP, and other systems into a single API endpoint.
Leverage real-time synchronisation: APIs ensure updates propagate instantly across your architecture.
Prioritise flexibility: Avoid rigid systems. Use tech-agnostic solutions to integrate legacy and modern tools.

Examples

E-commerce: Unified product data ensures accurate pricing, inventory levels, and faster page loads across customer touchpoints.
Legacy IT transformation: Businesses transitioning from outdated systems maintain consistency by leveraging a source of truth to unify old and new platforms.

👉 For a real-world example, check out our customer story on unifying data across systems.

What is the source of truth, and how does it provide business value?

A source of truth is the central authority for your business data, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and accessibility.

How it provides business value

Faster decisions
Unified data eliminates guesswork, enabling confident and agile decision-making.
Scalable architecture
A centralised data source reduces duplication and ensures systems scale seamlessly.
Improved compliance
Accurate, traceable data makes regulatory compliance simpler and reduces risk.
Optimised performance
Consistent data improves website and app performance, enhancing user experiences.

By maintaining a source of truth, businesses gain operational efficiency while reducing errors and costs.

Challenges of achieving a single source of truth

Implementing an SSOT isn’t without challenges:

Data silos: Legacy systems often create isolated data that’s hard to integrate.
Complex architectures: Fragmented tech stacks make synchronisation difficult.
Performance issues: Consistency shouldn’t come at the cost of speed.

The solution: Enterspeed acts as an intelligent middleware layer, removing these obstacles by connecting systems, transforming data, and delivering it efficiently.

How Enterspeed helps you achieve a single source of truth

Enterspeed simplifies the creation of a source of truth by consolidating, transforming, and delivering data from multiple systems.

Key benefits

Unified APIs
Enterspeed ingests data from various systems (CMS, ERP, PIM) and delivers it via a single API endpoint.
Tech-agnostic flexibility
Connect legacy systems with modern platforms, avoiding costly infrastructure overhauls.
High performance at scale
Data is pre-processed, intelligently cached, and delivered quickly – ensuring speed without sacrificing consistency.
Seamless integration
Modern businesses use multiple tools. Enterspeed enables these tools to coexist while maintaining a unified data layer.

Example: Learn how Enterspeed helped an enterprise unify content from multiple sources by revamping digital presence: A case study.

Real-world example: Unifying data with Enterspeed

A global enterprise needed to unify fragmented product and content data across its CMS and ERP systems. By leveraging Enterspeed as a middleware layer, they achieved:

Real-time updates across all digital platforms.
Faster performance with intelligently cached, unified data.
Simplified workflows without a costly IT overhaul.

👉 Read the full story on how a commerce site gains high speed in a composable architecture.

Why achieving a source of truth is non-negotiable

Businesses that prioritise a source of truth gain a competitive edge through:

Accurate, timely decision-making
Improved user experiences through optimised data delivery.
Operational efficiency with reduced duplication and manual errors.

With Enterspeed, achieving a source of truth doesn’t require costly re-platforming. Instead, you unlock a flexible, high-performing data layer that drives business growth.

🚀 Ready to unify your systems? Discover how Enterspeed can transform your data architecture with our schema designer - Model & combine your data using low-code.

Discover more. Succes stories and insights 🤓

Head over to the blog if you want to dive in further.

Ready to try out Enterspeed? 🚀

Start combining & connecting your services today

Made with ❤️ and ☕ in Denmark.