Enterprise application integration is “middleware framework”, meaning a collection of technologies and services that unite the databases and workflows associated with various business applications. It is a necessity for mobile workers, to optimize internet and e-commerce use, and to fully exploit cloud computing.
Many types of business software such as supply chain management applications (SCM), applications for managing customers (CRM), business intelligence (BI) applications, payroll and human resources systems typically cannot share data or business rules with one another. It is the reason why such applications are sometimes referred to as islands of automation or information silos. The lack of communication leads to inefficiencies, wherein identical data are stored in multiple locations, or straightforward processes are unable to be automated.
So, the purpose of enterprise application integration is to ensure that the business uses the information consistently and that changes to core data made by one application are correctly reflected in others.
In such a globally distributed and heterogeneous world how can we make sure that our operations are efficient and we have visibility across all systems, departments and operations.
That’s where EAI comes in, it helps orchestrate business activities across systems, departments, channels and remove process inefficiencies.