Systems integration is about aligning company systems to ensure there's a cohesive flow of information across applications and workflows.
We live in an age of interconnected enterprises and devices and internal systems are expected to interact across department and branch processes, sync with websites and update multiple devices and apps not only internally but also with up- and down-stream partners in the supply chain.
That's where systems integration or the services offered by a systems integrator become invaluable. If in-house IT resources are already stretched, this is a function that can be outsourced to a consulting company with specialist integration skills.
Systems integrators will use application programming interfaces (APIs) between systems (with terms such as SOAP architectures, REST APIs, endpoints, webhooks and push/pull syncs) alongside more traditional techniques such as batch processing of .csv files, SFTP file transfer and polling of file repositories to trigger data import procedures.
Integrators may use 'middleware' systems that can handle all of the above in a consistent way that provides an abstraction layer between systems so one system can be swapped out without affecting the other. Middleware can provide a single point of control and monitoring or all integrations across an enterprise (also known as an 'Enterprise Service Bus', which exposes the endpoints across all systems for ease of connectivity by any other system).
Systems integration ensures that organisations can begin to operate more holistically, with systems working together to build deeper relationships with customers and business partners. Getting systems working together opens the way for greater co-operation, speedier access to data and eliminates human data inconsistencies or re-keying errors.
