Many organizations think of data integration as simply merging or copying data from one system to another. However, data integration can be the underlying linchpin to a host of critical business processes and applications. Using data integration strategies and specialized functions make the job of accessing fresh data cost-effective, quick to achieve and easy to manage. This paper will describe how Change Data Capture (CDC), a specialized function of data integration, can optimize value in both analytical and operational systems within a data-driven environment.