In today’s enterprise infrastructure, system and application integration has become a vital concern for organizations. The wide variety of ideologies and approaches aimed at achieving this goal is proof of this fact. When you are just getting started researching integration solutions, getting lost in the sea of options is quite easy. So, what exactly should you do? How do you bring the different applications in your environment on a single platform? Enterprise Application Integration is your solution.
Rapid advancements in enterprise application integration technology to meet the growing demands for integration have been the major cause of why most organizations of today are opting for enterprise application integration services. Here we are going to walk you through the various aspects of EAI implementation and the associated benefits:
What Is Enterprise Application Integration (EAI)?
Enterprise application integration has existed as a technical term since the early 2000s. However, the problem that it aims to solve is much older. EAI integration is an approach which provides interoperability between the multiple systems that make up an enterprise infrastructure. Enterprise architectures consist of many applications and systems which offer different services that companies rely on to conduct their business operations. In fact, the enterprise applications software market revenue worldwide is expected to reach 334 billion USD by 2025.
A single company might use separate systems to manage their customer relationship, supply chain, employee information, etc. This modularization is often desirable which can be achieved through enterprise application integration solution. However, it is equally important to maintain interoperability between the different components of the infrastructure for a business to function in a streamlined way. This enterprise application integration software not only allows data integration but also maintains the robustness and scalability of systems.
The need for interoperability in systems gave rise to application-to-application integration. Enterprise application integration or EAI refers to the process of connecting the company’s business applications, databases, and services into an integrated framework that allows easier communication and interactivity. An EAI integration software solution enables seamless connectivity of data while automating the workflows and business processes. Software app integration also ensures that companies make use of data consistently.
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How Does Application-To-Application Integration Work? The Underlying Processes Involved
An enterprise application integration software solution operates like a middleware that connects disparate systems. The EAI software solution can easily be implemented without having to reprogram the individual systems. It makes use of technologies like message-oriented middleware (MOM), service-oriented architecture (SOA), and enterprise service bus (ESB) to allow the systems to perform efficiently and effectively.
An EAI app integration platform like APPSeCONNECT can be used to accommodate various cloud-based and on-prem applications. The platform’s flexibility makes it easy to add, update, or remove services or applications without impacting the productivity of the company.
Struggling With Data Silos? Here’s How EAI Can Help:
Now you might be wondering why application integration is important. As a company grows in size, it starts using a large number of enterprise applications for various tasks. Businesses depend on analytics platforms, customer relationship management tools, accounting software, etc. to offer critical business functionalities and services. However, there is a significant issue with the typical deployment model for enterprise applications: information silos. Communication between enterprise applications is not automated. The tools are not configured to communicate seamlessly with each other which brings about widespread business inefficiency. These inefficiencies can lead to data disparity, administrative delay and slower business processes.
Enterprise application integration comes with the necessary capabilities that allow applications and services to share their data and workflow. This reduces manual labor and limits the number of data errors. The process also offers better insights into customer data. Application integration solutions have become even more crucial as data volumes continue to grow exponentially and applications become more complex. In such an environment, an effective EAI platform can provide companies with multiple benefits.
A Few Vital Use Cases of Enterprise Application Integration Tools:
Live Enterprise application integration can be used to simplify complex digital setups. It helps increase business agility. Here are some of the important use cases:
- Order processing: EAI tools can be used to connect inventory, E-Commerce, and CRM platforms. This ensures that the business processes are enhanced and the customer satisfaction rate is increased.
- Marketing automation: EAI can connect the various marketing services to a centralized platform. It can integrate both the creative and financial sides of marketing. This allows for better data efficiency and high availability.
- Project management: EAI software connects your human resource and project management system. You can easily schedule projects, assign responsibilities, and track the progress of the various projects.
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From Data Silos to Synergies: Experience the EAI Advantage:
Here are some of the “key benefits of EAI” that you must know of:
Reduced data silos:
By integrating data across different systems, application integration tools limit data size. The data is easily accessible by all the users and systems. They now have a unified view of the data. This offers better business insights. The data consistency is maintained.
Better data quality:
The data that is integrated through EAI software is a lot more consistent. This helps improve the data quality significantly. It becomes a lot easier to share and collaborate on the data. Improved data quality allows for better analytics. The decision-making process becomes a lot more efficient.
Enhanced business operations:
EAI platforms can be used to integrate the company’s key services and applications. This helps in improving the operational efficiency. Business processes become a lot more systematic. EAI platforms also streamline workflows. This reduces the time and effort taken to carry out particular tasks.
Improved customer experience:
EAI software offers an integrated view of data. The company’s personnel as well as the customers can have access to the data. This helps in expediting various processes like customer calls, sales enquiries, and customer resource management. In this way, application-to-application integration can be used to offer a better experience to the customers.
Reduced costs:
Enterprise application integration solutions streamline business operations. The processes become more efficient and the employees become more productive. This helps in cutting down on costs. The enhanced business profile productivity leads to increased revenue generation for businesses. Integrating legacy systems into EAI platforms can also help in reducing IT infrastructure costs.
Here are more benefits of EAI tools.
Technical Limitations of Enterprise Application Integration Software:
EAI platforms also come with various technical limitations:
Integration complexity:
Services and applications often vary significantly. There are vast differences in the underlying technology and the way the data is stored and formatted. Trying to integrate all these systems into a uniform platform can be a complex task. It requires sufficient time and a great deal of experience.
Integrating legacy systems:
Integrating legacy systems with other services and applications can be a challenge. These legacy systems are often incompatible with modern applications and other legacy systems. The greater the number of legacy systems you have in your environment, the more the challenge related to integrating them.
Scalability Concerns Associated With EAI:
Even if you are able to integrate the services and applications with each other, enterprise integration software may still experience problems with growing data volumes and an increase in the number of transactions. Scaling the platform with respect to growth in data volumes can be a challenge. So, it is important to build the platform in such a way that it is agile. Otherwise, performance degradation may be reported.
Security Risks of Application Integration Tools:
While designing an EAI platform, companies must take the necessary security aspects into account. They must adhere to application regulations. Failing to implement the security measures can expose the business to various risks. It can lead to data breaches and security compliance issues which can be detrimental to your business.
Different Enterprise Application Integration Models:
Based on the exact business requirements, companies can choose from different enterprise integration approaches. Here are some of the common types:
Point-to-point integration:
Point-to-point integration EAI can be used to create direct connections between the different enterprise applications. It is the most basic form of EAI. It has a relatively straightforward approach. However, this approach isn’t scalable. Adding a direct connection to each pair of applications can complicate the architecture. So, if scalability is of importance, then this is not the ideal solution.
Hub-and-spoke model:
This integration model makes use of a central hub (middleware) in order to connect the various spokes (applications) that are required to exchange data. An application only requires one connection to the hub. The hub handles communication between the different connected systems. This approach is quite ideal for companies having environments of medium complexity.
Bus integrations:
Bus integration makes use of middleware especially an enterprise service bus (ESB) to allow communication between the different applications. It is a much more complex method and involves complex data exchange and orchestration. The ESB architecture supports various data formats and different protocols. It makes use of the service-oriented architecture (SOA) principle. The applications mainly communicate through usable services. Bus integrations are mainly ideal for large-scale environments.
Middleware integration:
Enterprise application integration tools make use of intermediate software to connect the different applications. It supports various methods including message-oriented middleware (MOM) for asynchronous communication, object request brokers for distributed computing, and database middleware for data sharing and access. This method is more flexible in managing application interactions. It is suitable for heterogeneous setups.
Microservices:
An EAI platform can also be implemented through microservices. These are small, lightweight applications, each of which serves a particular purpose. Microservices can be created as dedicated apps or serverless functions to integrate the different systems. They make use of various industry standard protocols and APIs. Microservices can be easily deployed as cloud workloads.
Few Goals of Implementing an EAI Platform: The Best Practices to Follow
Here are some of the key considerations to make while opting for enterprise application integration:
- Security: It is important to maintain data governance in your EAI system. As there is a continuous flow of data across your environment, a comprehensive security strategy is a must that would cover different aspects of integration. You may try implementing robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure that only authorized systems and users are able to perform data operations.
- Complexity: The diverse nature of applications and services can add complexity to your EAI platform. So, it is important to maintain proper architectural design and modularity in your EAI implementation. This will help reduce complexity. You can also adopt middle-layer components like API gateways. This will create consistency in interaction between the different systems.
- Scalability: Scalability in EAI implementation refers to the ability to handle large volumes of data and transactions without having to experience any kind of performance degradation. It is crucial to understand the scalability of every component within the EAI network to prevent bottlenecks. Cloud-based integrations can also be opted for so that the systems can dynamically adjust the resources based on demand.
Future Trends in Enterprise Application Integration Tools:
Enterprise application integration solutions are rapidly evolving. This is mainly happening in order to keep pace with the rapid developments being made in the various underlying technologies and a gradual shift in business demands. Here are some of the “vital trends in EAI” that we can expect in the future:
- Growing needs for integration: Having a system integration platform still remains a major priority for a majority of organizations. The enterprise application integration market is projected to reach 42.45 billion USD by 2029, with a CAGR of 16.5% from 2024 to 2029.
- Using machine learning for integration: Machine learning can automate complex integration challenges. It can be used for data mapping, predicting errors, and optimizing workflows. Companies can also improve data quality and governance using machine learning.
- Hybrid integration approaches: A lot of organizations still make use of on-prem systems in order to host crucial applications. Hybrid integration can be used to combine the cloud services with physical servers. This helps companies in carrying out their business operations smoothly.
APPSeCONNECT: Your Gateway to Effortless EAI Software Implementation
For seamless enterprise application integration, APPSeCONNECT is your ultimate choice. APPSeCONNECT is the No.1 EAI service provider for integrating your enterprise applications on a single application integration platform. With APPSeCONNECT, you can strategically drive business growth and streamline your workflows. You also get to unlock comprehensive pre-configured integrations around the most popular enterprise applications.
Here’s what set us apart from the crowd:
- Pre-configured Templates
- 100+ ready connectors
- 1000+ integration endpoints
- Easy setup, low-code platform
- SAP Certified
So, bring an end to the endless challenges of having to deal with disparate systems and data silos by partnering with APPSeCONNECT. Contact the experts at APPSeCONNECT for more details.
