Many larger companies have a multitude of stand-alone applications which were not designed to communicate with each other. The challenge in modern times is to integrate these systems because of the inherent synergies possible. EAI - Enterprise Application Integration is the art and craft of connecting such disparate systems.
The whole may of achieving the desired objective relies on certain rules. However, each case must be handled on its merits and sometimes the rules need to be bent. The whole process is a matter of experience and judgement, and not purely rule-based, although these are excellent guidelines.
A multitude of applications such as supply chain, human resources and so on, exist to support the functions of an enterprise. Unless they communicate effectively an untenable situation can quickly arise. Multiple versions of the same data often exist in many different systems, and capturing of such data needs to be systematized and centralized if conflicts in the details recorded are to be avoided successfully.
Potentially there are legal issues involved, especially if the same person ends up with different contact details. Rewriting all the applications to produce one integrated system or implementing an ERP package is a lot of work, although many companies have take this approach. The problem is that no one knows all the functionality built into the older applications, and documentation is usually out of date or non-existent.
Part of the problem of connecting these systems is that some might be legacy mainframe systems while others are PC based. There might be different operating systems, computer languages, and database systems. Even determining what information resides where and what the potential conflicts are, is a mammoth task.
Because it may otherwise prove impossible to integrate functions which cross application boundaries, some sens must be made of the mess. Relying on people to transfer information is just too slow and risky, and much of the communication between the applications takes place required after hours. Without some form of systematic approach to integration, the situation will just get worse until it becomes completely untenable.
Attempting to resolve this dilemma led to a need for EAI - Enterprise Application Integration - which enables communication between applications as best possible. While a complete redesign might be the ultimate solution, this can take a while and while not perfect, EAI is a pragmatic approach to a solution. Any new applications also might need to interface the existing systems, and there needs to be some control to keep systems stable.
The whole may of achieving the desired objective relies on certain rules. However, each case must be handled on its merits and sometimes the rules need to be bent. The whole process is a matter of experience and judgement, and not purely rule-based, although these are excellent guidelines.
A multitude of applications such as supply chain, human resources and so on, exist to support the functions of an enterprise. Unless they communicate effectively an untenable situation can quickly arise. Multiple versions of the same data often exist in many different systems, and capturing of such data needs to be systematized and centralized if conflicts in the details recorded are to be avoided successfully.
Potentially there are legal issues involved, especially if the same person ends up with different contact details. Rewriting all the applications to produce one integrated system or implementing an ERP package is a lot of work, although many companies have take this approach. The problem is that no one knows all the functionality built into the older applications, and documentation is usually out of date or non-existent.
Part of the problem of connecting these systems is that some might be legacy mainframe systems while others are PC based. There might be different operating systems, computer languages, and database systems. Even determining what information resides where and what the potential conflicts are, is a mammoth task.
Because it may otherwise prove impossible to integrate functions which cross application boundaries, some sens must be made of the mess. Relying on people to transfer information is just too slow and risky, and much of the communication between the applications takes place required after hours. Without some form of systematic approach to integration, the situation will just get worse until it becomes completely untenable.
Attempting to resolve this dilemma led to a need for EAI - Enterprise Application Integration - which enables communication between applications as best possible. While a complete redesign might be the ultimate solution, this can take a while and while not perfect, EAI is a pragmatic approach to a solution. Any new applications also might need to interface the existing systems, and there needs to be some control to keep systems stable.
About the Author:
Peggie K. Lambert is an dedicated consultant working in the world of data integration. If you are looking to learn more about eai solutions then she recommends you refer to www.liaison.com.
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