What is System Integration? A Guide to Cohesive Systems

What is system integration? How do systems & IT integration services work? Why do integration issues cause so many problems? How can I maximize system integration benefits? How can I mitigate or eliminate IT integration risks? Why is the process of integration so complicated? Is systems integration really as complex, costly, and time-consuming as some technology service providers would have me believe?

What Is System Integration?

System integration is the process of combining two or more systems or components into a single, cohesive system that functions as a unified whole.

This allows them to share data seamlessly, automate workflows, and ultimately improve your business efficiency.

Taking a closer look at the concept, there are two ways to look at the system integration definition:

1. Engineering Perspective:
   • From an engineering standpoint, system integration involves bringing together component subsystems and ensuring they work together seamlessly. These subsystems cooperate to deliver the overarching functionality of the entire system. The goal is to create an aggregated system that functions harmoniously.
   • Imagine assembling a complex puzzle where each piece represents a subsystem. System integration ensures that these pieces fit together to form the complete picture.
2. Information Technology (IT) Perspective:
   • In IT, system integration refers to linking different computing systems and software applications physically or functionally. It’s about making disparate systems work together as a coordinated whole.
   • Techniques used by system integrators include computer networking, enterprise application integration, business process management, and manual programming.

6 Integration Methods: How The Systems Work Together

All system integration solutions are constructed using a combination of relatively simple use cases. Below are the six fundamental types of system integration scenarios:

1. Sharing on Demand: Non-Persistent Data Integration

Data is transferred from a source system to a target system for informational purposes or to be used in real-time analysis or processing.

This integration strategy is often used to show external data within an application’s user interface in a read-only format or to provide a data point that is used within an application’s business logic or workflow.

2. Independent Data Sharing: Orphaned Data Integration

Data is transferred to the target system but not updated to reflect changes in the source or donor system.

This integration method is often useful to augment and enrich a transactional record with relevant information from external systems to enable historical trends to be analyzed using data elements beyond the immediate content of the transactional record.

3. Synchronized Systems: Linked Data and Replication

Data is transferred and subsequently updated in the target system to reflect any changes in the original record within the source or donor system.

This ensures that data integrity across multiple systems is maintained and means that data only needs to be maintained in one place for it to proliferate throughout the application stack.

4. Seamless Data Exchange: Bi-Directional Links

Data is synchronized between two or more systems with updates on either side being reflected in the other. The concept of target and source systems becomes somewhat moot in this integration scenario as any system in the connected network can act as the originator or recipient of changes.

Such integration models sometimes introduce the need to define reconciliation procedures to handle scenarios where changes are being made in all network participants and a hierarchy of trust or data precedence/provenance needs to be implemented.

5. Real-Time Updates: Automated Data Synchronization

A change to data in the target system is triggered remotely without the passing of data. The source system sends an event trigger which is acted upon by the target system and the data within the target system is subsequently updated.

The target system may optionally send a response or confirmation notification to the source system to indicate that the event has been processed.

Often used to communicate status changes or propagate inventory movements where the originating system doesn’t hold the data related to the item being amended.

6. Triggering Actions Across Systems: Remote Action Execution

An action in the target system is triggered remotely. The receipt of the event trigger may be acknowledged and the target system may provide progress confirmations as the resultant actions are performed or completed.

Integrating systems isn’t just about passing data; it’s about facilitating processes and enhancing user experiences. While the integration methods outlined above may seem simple, they can be used to implement various system integration requirements effectively.

The Broader Scope of System Integration

The six methods we’ve discussed—sharing on demand, independent data sharing, synchronized systems, seamless data exchange, real-time updates, and remote action execution—are surprisingly versatile. They act as the fundamental building blocks for virtually any system integration scenario you can imagine.

Real-World Applications

• Connecting User-Facing Applications: By linking these applications, businesses can create a smoother user experience, eliminating the need for repetitive data entry and reducing the risk of human error. This could involve something as simple as a “pop-up” that seamlessly transfers information between applications, saving users valuable time and enhancing productivity.
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA): RPA tools automate tasks by simulating human actions across various applications, even those with outdated technology. While techniques like screen scraping and macro recording might not be the most elegant, they’ve allowed businesses to integrate legacy systems with newer solutions, postponing costly migrations. However, it’s important to note that RPA has its limitations and isn’t always the optimal solution.

Common Challenges in IT Systems Integration

The simplicity of basic integration methods can be deceiving. Crafting an enterprise-grade integration solution involves orchestrating numerous actions simultaneously or in sequence.

To achieve a stable, and adaptable solution, integration architects and developers must meticulously dissect the business requirements and determine the most suitable integration strategies.

This can be particularly challenging due to:

• Evolving Technology: The constant evolution of technology means new systems and applications emerge regularly, making integration a moving target. Staying ahead of the curve requires ongoing adaptation and a flexible approach.
• Data Compatibility: Different systems often use different data formats, structures, and protocols, leading to compatibility issues. Resolving these discrepancies demands careful planning and data transformation expertise.
• Security Concerns: Integrating systems introduces new security risks, as sensitive data moves between various platforms. Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data is paramount.
• Scalability: As businesses grow, their integration needs evolve. Designing scalable solutions that can accommodate future expansion is crucial.
• Cost and Resource Constraints: System integration projects can be resource-intensive, requiring significant investments in time, money, and specialized skills. Balancing these constraints with the desired outcomes is a constant challenge.

Planning for IT Systems Integration Success: Avoiding the “How” Before the “What”

People often get hung up on how an integration is going to be implemented before they have a real grasp as to what it is that the integration is trying to achieve. This is a fundamental mistake.

Overly focusing on the integration methodology to be used often leads to inefficient or overly expensive integrations. The four integration architectures we see most often include:

• File transfer/ingestion (i.e. Extract Transfer Load (ETL) or the use of intermediary database tables / XML structures)
• Point-to-Point (via API calls or SOA services etc)
• Hub and spoke models that leverage an intermediary platform i.e. Middleware, Enterprise Service Bus, etc
• Using “Quick and dirty” client-side integration tooling e.g. Screen scraping and user simulation (i.e. RPA)

IT Systems Integration: The Multishoring Approach

At Multishoring, we specialize in IT systems integration. Our experienced team understands common integration failure modes and knows how to mitigate risks and ensure project success. Whether rescuing off-the-rails projects or developing new solutions, we prioritize essential aspects and work within defined constraints.

We collaborate with clients to define optimal project schedules, ensuring confidence in the delivered solution’s performance. Our approach focuses on delivering stable, secure, and scalable integrations without unnecessary complexity. Integrations may be complex, but they don’t need to be complicated. With our experience and expertise, we make challenging IT integration scenarios achievable, allowing you to focus on your core business objectives.

Integrations may be complex, but they do not need to be complicated. We use our experience and expertise to take challenging IT integration scenarios and make them happen. We do what is needed to make your integrations stable, secure, and scalable so that you can focus on other things.

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