Overcoming the Challenges of Deployed GRC Systems: Why Integration Matters

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Many organisations invest in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) systems expecting streamlined processes, better risk visibility, and simplified compliance reporting. But once deployed, GRC platforms can quickly run into operational friction, especially when they’re not integrated with the broader ecosystem of enterprise tools.

The result? Fragmented risk data, poor user adoption, and a GRC system that becomes a silo rather than a strategic enabler. Ultimately, leading to poor operational performance, sunk costs (and an unhappy CFO!).

Common Challenges After GRC Deployment

Implementing a Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) system is a significant step toward enhancing organisational oversight. However, post-deployment, many organisations encounter challenges that hinder the system’s effectiveness. According to KPMG’s 2025 Risk Management and ICARA Benchmarking Survey, while 93% of firms have adopted a GRC system, 20% are planning to migrate to a new one, and an additional 12% are exploring such a move in the near future. This indicates that over 30% of organizations are reconsidering their current GRC solutions, often due to issues like poor integration, limited usability, and misalignment with business operations .

Furthermore, PwC’s Global Risk Survey 2023 highlights that 41% of organisations identify poor data integration and management as a significant barrier to achieving a holistic view of risks. Additionally, 39% cite high maintenance costs, and 37% point to an increased risk of operational failure as challenges associated with legacy technologies .

These statistics underscore the importance of not only implementing a GRC system but also ensuring it is well-integrated, user-friendly, and adaptable to the organisation's evolving needs.

Common GRC deployment challenges include:

1. Disconnection from Operational Systems: GRC platforms often sit apart from project management, finance, and business systems. This makes it difficult to incorporate real-time risk data into the enterprise risk view, especially at the programme level.

   
   

2. Redundant Data and Processes: Without integration, teams often duplicate efforts by entering risk information into multiple tools. This leads to inefficiencies and increases the chance of inconsistencies or errors in reporting.

   
   

3. Lack of Visibility into Programme Risks: Project and programme managers may log risks in tools like Microsoft Project, Jira, or custom spreadsheets. If those systems don’t feed into the GRC platform, leadership lacks a full view of emerging risks across active initiatives.

   
   

4. Inconsistent Risk Terminology and Scales: When risk is defined differently across teams and tools, it’s nearly impossible to aggregate or compare risks meaningfully. A fragmented taxonomy leads to blurred insight and misaligned mitigation strategies.

   
   

5. Limited Agility: A rigid GRC system that can’t adapt to fast-changing project conditions or integrate with modern development tools often becomes more of a hindrance than a help.

   
   

6. Poor User Experience (UX/UI): Many legacy GRC platforms are designed for back-office compliance professionals, not for daily operational users. As a result, clunky interfaces, hard-to-navigate forms, and unintuitive dashboards can cause frustration, low adoption, and ultimately lead teams to bypass the system entirely.

   
   

7. Lack of API-Driven Integration: When a GRC system lacks modern APIs, it becomes difficult to automate data flow between platforms. This often forces IT teams to rely on manual imports, static reports, or expensive middleware, making real-time risk intelligence nearly impossible.

   
   

8. Limited or No Use of AI: Many GRC platforms are still rules-based and reactive, with limited ability to process unstructured data, predict risk trends, or identify anomalies. Without AI, organisations miss opportunities for proactive risk management and spend more time manually analysing and reporting on risk data.

Why Programme Risk Integration Is Crucial

Project and programme risk management is where operational risks typically emerge. These early-stage risks can escalate into major issues that affect strategic objectives, regulatory compliance, or financial performance. Without integration between programme risk systems and the broader GRC framework, organisations miss opportunities to act early.

Integrated programme risk management enables organisations to:

• Detect and escalate risks in real time, before they cascade.

• Apply a consistent scoring and taxonomy to risks across the business.

• Link delivery risks directly to strategic risk categories.

• Streamline cross-functional reporting to stakeholders and regulators.

• Drive executive decision-making with a complete, up-to-date view of project-level risks.

Organisations that successfully integrate programme risk into their GRC framework often report measurable improvements in decision speed, risk response effectiveness, and overall project delivery success. According to Deloitte’s Global Risk Management Survey, integrated risk functions are 43% more likely to provide timely insights to executive leadership and 38% more likely to anticipate emerging risks. This enhanced visibility and responsiveness not only improves governance but also builds a stronger foundation for innovation, resilience, and long-term value creation.

How IBM OpenPages Addresses These Challenges

IBM OpenPages with Watson is built to overcome the most common pain points experienced after GRC systems are deployed, especially around integration, usability, and adaptability.

1. Open Integration Framework: OpenPages supports seamless integration with enterprise applications via RESTful APIs. This enables real-time data sharing with systems like Jira, Microsoft Project, SAP, ServiceNow, and more, eliminating manual data entry and enabling automation.

   
   

2. Unified, Modular Architecture: The platform brings together all risk and compliance domains under a consistent data model and taxonomy. It supports integration with programme management tools to ensure that delivery risks are visible at the enterprise level.

   
   

3. AI-Powered Insights with Watson: Unlike traditional GRC tools, OpenPages embeds AI capabilities powered by IBM Watson. It can process unstructured data, identify emerging risks from language patterns, and generate predictive insights. This allows for proactive risk management rather than reactive reporting.

   
   

4. Programme Risk Visibility: OpenPages links project and programme risks directly into enterprise risk registers, creating traceability from operational risk events all the way to board-level concerns. Dashboards and reports provide real-time, contextual risk insights across the portfolio.

   
   

5. Modern UX for All Users: The platform features a clean, customisable interface designed for usability across all roles, from project managers to compliance officers. This improves adoption, reduces training time, and encourages continuous engagement with the system.

   
   

6. API-First Design: OpenPages embraces an API-first architecture, making it easy to integrate into complex IT environments. Whether syncing data with third-party tools or embedding risk controls into digital workflows, OpenPages ensures interoperability and real-time data access.

Final Thoughts

Deploying a GRC platform isn’t a silver bullet, it’s just the beginning. The real value emerges when GRC systems are integrated with operational tools, especially those used for programme and project management. That’s where the risks are first observed, and where the right response can prevent costly escalation.

IBM OpenPages provides a flexible, intelligent, and well-integrated solution that addresses the realities of modern risk and compliance management. By breaking down silos, enabling AI-driven insight, and connecting the dots between delivery and governance, it transforms GRC from a static system into a strategic advantage.