In today’s digital landscape, data is everywhere—and nowhere. It lives in disconnected systems, inaccessible formats, and outdated spreadsheets. For organizations trying to make real-time decisions or automate business workflows, this fragmentation becomes a major obstacle.
That’s where a data fabric comes in.
So... What Is a Data Fabric?
A data fabric is an architecture that connects and unifies data across platforms, systems, and formats. Rather than relying on brittle pipelines or manual exports, it creates a semantic layer over your enterprise data - making it available, understandable, and ready to use without requiring migration or duplication.
Think of it as a live access layer. Whether your data lives in an EHR, CRM, SQL database, or custom app, a data fabric allows you to securely query it in place and use it in real time.
Unlike traditional integration or virtualization tools, a modern data fabric:
- Manages metadata and context
- Automates sensitive data classification
- Enables real-time insights and action
Why Does It Matter Now?
Legacy approaches like ETL and batch jobs can't keep up with the complexity of modern organizations. Today’s teams are dealing with:
- Exploding data volumes
- Dozens of disconnected systems
- Increasing demands for real-time insight
- Tight security and compliance requirements
- Business users who can’t wait on IT or learn SQL
A data fabric solves for these constraints by providing instant, governed access to data - where it lives - so teams can connect, automate, and act without friction.
A data fabric addresses this by creating a semantic layer across all data sources, enabling teams to connect, automate, and act on data faster—without friction.
Why Data Fabric Matters for Workflow Automation
Even the most beautifully designed workflow is only as good as the data that powers it. If that data is out-of-date, out-of-context, or locked away, the workflow fails, or worse, creates more problems than it solves.
Here’s how a data fabric enhances automation:
- Automatic data classification: Sensitive information is identified and tagged in real time.
- Live data orchestration: Systems like CRMs, ERPs, and EHRs are accessed directly - no duplication required.
- Context-aware logic: Clean, connected data enables smarter workflows with conditional routing, branching, and more.
The result? Workflows that are proactive, not reactive. Intelligent, not brittle. Fast, not fragmented.
How Formstack Streamline Uses a Data Fabric
Formstack Streamline is a no-code automation platform powered by a built-in data fabric connectivity architecture. It’s designed specifically for teams in regulated industries who need to automate workflows using data from multiple systems - without moving or storing it.
Here’s what makes Streamline unique:
Real-time access without data migration
Streamline connects to systems like EHRs, CRMs, ERPs, and SQL databases - enabling real-time workflows across platforms without retaining data.
Zero Data Retention by design
Sensitive data flows through Streamline securely and compliantly, making it ideal for healthcare, finance, and other regulated industries.
No-code configurability
Ops, compliance, and frontline teams can build and launch advanced automations on their own - no developers or SQL required.
Smart data activation
Streamline not only accesses data but understands it - applying context, logic, and write-back capabilities to make sure the right data lands in the right place, every time.
In short: Streamline brings together your data and your workflows - without the need for traditional integrations, custom code, or extra vendors.
Let’s Put Your Data to Work
The future of automation isn’t just about connected systems - it’s about activating the data inside them, securely and intelligently.
Formstack Streamline makes that possible - without storing your data, migrating your data, or waiting on IT.
Ready to simplify and secure your workflows with a better data architecture? Let’s talk.
