Most applications available within organizations have unique characteristics, are coded in different languages, use different programming interfaces and protocols, and run in different operating environments. This is because these applications were built using what was then the coolest technology of the day, with little thought about whether or not these applications would someday be called upon to share information with one another. With each passing day, however, seamless integration between these applications is becoming increasingly imperative.

Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) is a sophisticated set of procedures that uses tools, techniques and technologies to build bridges between these islands of automation, allowing enterprises to freely move information between application stovepipes at will, without even having to change the source or target systems. It creates a common medium for business processes and data to communicate to each other across applications.

EAI implementation however, is a tricky business. Some of the systems may contain mission-critical data. They could be built on open or proprietary frameworks. There can be an assortment of hardware and operating systems to be negotiated with. Communication protocols and networking equipment could be vastly different. What's more, the applications and databases could geographically be poles apart.

Proven Methodology

PVM Innvensys has gained considerable experience and expertise in EAI, and has evolved a reliable approach to ensure successful implementation. Innvensys' first task is to acquaint itself thoroughly with the larger picture of the existing enterprise architecture. Its next task is to understand the processes and data that exist within the enterprise, and how they relate to each other. Having done that, engineers at Innvensys determine which applications and data stores need to share information, and then identify the most appropriate enabling technology to build the bridge. The experience that Innvensys has gained in EAI helps it to steer clear of common pitfalls in the implementation process and ensure successful completion of integration initiatives.