System Integration

System integration is the process of building the links between two or more applications to allow data to move reliably from one application to another. The integration can be:

• Batch integration: On a scheduled basis all data which has been collected since the last batch integration event will be processed. Typically this is done hourly.
• Event driven integration - fast batch: An example would be an integrated process that takes a batch of received EDI purchase orders that are automatically loaded into the order processing application.
• Event driven integration - realtime: An example would be an integrated process that takes each invoice as they are generated and pushes them to the EDI software to be sent. Real-time integration is significantly more complex and expensive to implement.

System integration provides the foundation for system automation.