Enterprise Integration Services: What You Need to Know

Modern enterprises rely on a mix of best-in-class digital assets to carry out critical tasks and manage important data. However, companies don’t realize the total value of these solutions and the investment made in them because the applications don’t work together or talk to each other. That’s why successful digital strategies incorporate enterprise integration services (EIS) to connect systems and applications, streamline business processes, and exchange data seamlessly. 

Imagine a hypothetical enterprise with state-of-the-art marketing, accounting, human resources, customer resource management, ERP, supply chain management, and e-commerce solutions spread across a mixture of on-premises and cloud platforms. Each department uses its toolset effectively, but their cooperation is non-existent or cumbersome. So, a large and frustrated number of employees use spreadsheets and manual reentry to move data between platforms while others slowly march down lengthy checklists to access the multiple platforms they need to get their job done. It is like having a team of individual experts who can’t talk to each other. 

Enterprise integration is the study and practice of connecting different devices, business applications, and processes to make tasks easier and the flow of information more efficient. The goal of data integration in large organizations has always been to deliver the right information and resources to the right place at the right time. This is achieved by integrating the various assets through various software solutions to allow an enterprise’s customers, employees, and partners to work together in real time. 

In this article, we will look at why enterprise integration is so important, the technologies and tools that enable it, and some best practices for successful integration. 

Benefits of Enterprise Integration Services

In some ways, enterprise integration is about having the best of both worlds. Each functional area in a company can purchase or develop applications tuned to meet its business needs. Then, through various processes and technologies that fall under enterprise integration services, each of these separate solutions can be connected. 

Let’s take a look at some specific advantages: 

• Remove the cost in time and money to manually move information around
• Connect legacy systems containing key data that have supported business functions for years with new custom software applications and industry-standard commercial tools. Keep and leverage the old and proven while adding new capabilities. 
• Only train users on one tool that accesses information from multiple systems
• Make timely decisions with real-time information on your customers, market conditions, your supply chain, and more. Read up on how Focused Labs helped one of the big three automakers integrate their digital solutions to deliver information to decision-makers.  
• Automation and optimization of business processes and data transfer
• Improve or replace a single solution without having to re-engineer your entire digital platform
• Using the right tool on the right platform while still sharing data and enabling scalability
• Reduce the cost of application development
• Open access to your data and processes to outside organizations through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)

Commonly Used Enterprise Integration Technologies and Platforms

Before we dig into some best practices, it’s good to have an understanding of the various technologies and platforms used to deliver enterprise integration services. 

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) 

A software component that serves as a connector between two or more programs, often across different systems. The API is a documented library and format standard that tells programmers how to ask for information from or send information to an application. 

A great example is connecting your e-commerce site to your payment processing service. The API of the payment processing tool allows your e-commerce site a standard way to send credit card information for a purchase and then hear back if the transaction was successful and, if not, why it failed. APIs are ideal for enterprise application integration because they give simple, controlled access. 

Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) 

A third-party cloud-based platform that facilitates pre-defined data exchange between commercial applications while also providing access to APIs for custom integration. The service provider manages the connections and transactions. 

Middleware

A program or programs written to connect different programs. Middleware is often referred to as the glue that connects digital assets. The advantage of middleware is that developers do not have to modify every application that connects to it if one program changes. Instead, only the middleware needs to change. Most integration solutions can be considered middleware. 

Microservices

Small software apps designed to carry out a single task or service. In enterprise application integration, microservices are deployed as middleware that provides a single type of data transfer or task. 

Integration or Application Connectors

Protocols designed to make it simple for developers to pass information between applications, avoiding custom software development by establishing a set syntax and set of rules for interaction. An integration connector can provide a way to access a database, enable messaging, or access an API. 

Message Queues

A communication methodology in which a packet of information is published by one application, placed into a queue, and read by the subscribing application. It’s an asynchronous method in which each side of the transfer needs to understand the format of the packages. It is one of the more robust ways to transfer information. 

Data Streams

A data stream is a constant flow of messages from one application to another. Its goal is to provide real-time information that other applications subscribe to as needed. 

Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)

A form of middleware that serves as a service between multiple applications on multiple platforms that provides messaging, monitoring, and control of information flow. ESBs have become the de facto standard for complex enterprise application integration. 

Enterprise Integration Patterns (EIPs)

A technology-independent way to define common integration problems in the abstract. They provide a common language for data architects and developers to map out integrations. 

8 Best Practices for Enterprise Integration Services

Integration projects can be significant efforts. Developing the proper integration strategy requires understanding your entire application ecosystem. Any cross-company initiative will face organizational and technical integration challenges that can be overcome with the right approach and properly structured teams. 

Here are eight best practices that we have developed over many integration projects. 

1. Leverage APIs wherever possible 

Explore and understand each application's API and use what is available before spending time and money developing a custom connection. Remember to create API interfaces that can be easily maintained and updated.

2. Capture the current and ideal customer experience

Map how your end users, inside and outside your organization, experience your digital assets. Then, use interviews and MVPs to gain insight into the ideal customer experience and build that into your dev plans. 

3. Map data sources and document workflows 

Understanding where information comes from, where it is kept, and how it moves in your enterprise is fundamental to creating an application integration strategy. Going back to the analogy of a team of experts who need to talk, to make that communication effective, you need to know what each of them knows and how that information should be shared. 

4. Take a platform approach 

Instead of developing a point-to-point solution for each integration need, acquire or develop a platform to support all your integration needs.

5. Define and track meaningful metrics

Enterprise-level integration is complicated by its very nature, so it can be hard to know what’s working and what’s not. Implementing a strong set of metrics that provide useful feedback to the integration team and management stakeholders will help gain support and guide prioritization for future improvements.

6. Work with partners who understand the abstract and practical sides of enterprise integration

Enterprise integration is a complicated area requiring a certain level of abstraction to understand and plan, as well as practical knowledge on applying well-understood tools and practices. Both are difficult to support in an enterprise focused on its core business. Bringing in outside consultants who get both the theoretical and the real-world side of integration is essential. 

7. Build an Integration Center of Excellence (ICoE)

Communication and coordination across organizational silos in an enterprise can be a significant challenge. Creating an ICoE, also called an Integration Competency Center (ICC), provides a single, coherent service for the entire company responsible for planning, implementing, and maintaining data cloud, data, and system integration.

8. Implement lifecycle management and continuous improvement

Applications, data sources, and the uses of information are constantly changing and evolving, and your enterprise integration services need to keep up with these changes. Put standard lifecycle management and continuous improvement methodologies in place to keep the right data flowing to the right place and ensure long-term success. 

Get Your Digital Assets Working Together With Enterprise Integration Services

Your enterprise already realizes the benefits of having each function within the company use the best SaaS, open source, or custom software to meet its unique needs. The next logical step is to get the people and their data working together in real time with a comprehensive and flexible enterprise integration platform. Doing so can unlock additional value from the investments you have already made and give your organization a competitive edge. 

At Focused Labs, we employ a three-part process to deliver what you need by partnering with you to build great software, deploy solutions that work, and learn through collaboration to enable your team to keep delivering best-in-class technology long after we complete our part of the project. This approach is ideal for building world-class enterprise integration services for your organization. Reach out, and let’s schedule some to explore what that can look like. Let’s build great software together.