Enterprise application integration can be defined as integrating software applications and hardware systems using technology and services across an enterprise. To put it simply, it is the task of uniting the business applications associated with workflows and databases to ensure consistent information throughout all operations.
Otherwise, if one application changes to core business data and is not reflected in other applications, it will lead your business to the brink of collapse within no time.
Best Practices For Enterprise Integration Application:
A few examples of Enterprise Integration architecture technologies include the integration of business operations, content processes, service-oriented architecture, and web services. Since there is no predefined framework for Enterprise application integration, ensuring success can be an arduous task. Here we have outlined the best practices to improve the success probability of your integration deliverables.
- Starting by developing a realistic plan
The goal should be to develop a realistic plan involving special integration considerations. The critical factor here is to show patience and recognize that you need to get comfortable with some level of ambiguity at the start. At times, you won’t know all of the answers, so you must not fall into the trap of analysis paralysis.
- Establishing the scope boundaries of the business
The most effective way to establish a scope baseline is by drawing a simple diagram that contains descriptive text, assumptions, and bullet points. Deciding the scope of the business beforehand helps the business analysts solve a lot of ambiguities.
To avoid any confusion in the later stages of the project, it is essential to identify the interfaces determined to be out of scope. This is arguably the most crucial step in facilitating the decision-making process.
- Scheduling the deliverables
Enterprise integration applications can be very inefficient from a scheduling perspective. Businesses need to define a realistic schedule and implement a bottom-up scheduling approach. Ideally, the detailed steps to achieving all the significant deliverables should be considered while scheduling them.
- Costing of Enterprise Integration Application
The most significant cost of these Enterprise Integration Architecture projects is labor. Thus, for a practical approach, it is crucial to allocate time for each deliverable and resource. Creating a resource allocation spreadsheet serves as a budget-friendly tool for cost estimates. Such spreadsheets also help communicate the expectations and priorities to the workforce.
- Ensuring Quality Deliverables
Testing plays a considerable role in ensuring that a solution meets the desired expectations. However, to ensure quality deliverables, a few other practices such as clarity of expectations, consistency, and a balanced approach throughout the delivery cycle must also be followed. Successfully providing quality, precise and effective communication among the team members remains the most critical factor.
- Building A Balanced Team
As is the case with all areas of life, the purpose of the team-building exercise is to build a more robust unit where you have the right people involved. Creating a balanced team becomes even more critical for integration projects as it helps separate the responsibilities of people with very specific subject matter expertise.
- Contextual Communication
Enterprise Application Integration crosses an extensive range of audiences. Generally, this results in a lack of understanding due to communication challenges between the technical and non-technical staff.
Stakeholders need to facilitate effective communication by adding examples to provide context for documentation.
- Deliver iteratively
Adopting an approach that allows mid-course corrections through iterative delivery for a solution is essential. Reviewing the business process should be done with minimal effort. This can be achieved by adequately documenting supporting information such as requirements, diagrams, assumptions, and frequently asked questions. The documentation should then be validated and revised. The evolution of early documentation deliverables with time as discussions progress is a common practice.
- Plan for errors and exceptions
Undoubtedly, the most challenging aspect of Enterprise Application Integration is resolving the integration errors. Since integration involves at least two applications, you may need to navigate several moving parts and many organizations.
In simpler terms, the design of the solutions must include troubleshooting and error handling capabilities. For a successful integration process, each application should have a standardized method of capturing and reporting exceptions.
Advantages of Enterprise Application Integration
Enterprise Application Integration offers many evident advantages, a few of them are as follows:
- Enables accessing the information in real-time
- Allows accessing the information more efficiently
- More straightforward development and maintenance.
- Process Automation
- Streamlines the business operations and processes
- Data Visibility
- Data Integration
- Transferring data information across several platforms
- Faster Time-to-Market
Why Choose HazenTech?
At Hazentech, our team of business analysts ensures that all affiliated businesses realize their full potential and can create lasting value through the integration of B2B enterprise data. Hazentech allows you to use a customized approach while staying within your budget.
Hazentech is an equally feasible option regardless of whether you are a small, medium, or even a large enterprise. Our mission is to integrate and develop your enterprise applications to allow smarter, better, and faster business operations. Hazentech is an enterprise application integration tool that helps eliminate all integration challenges thanks to its on-premise application connectors and built-in cloud services.
Wrap Up
Integrating multiple applications may seem like a daunting task for many business stakeholders. Hazentech offers a one-stop solution for all Enterprise Application Integration needs. Hazentech works fine for all kinds of enterprise data architecture due to its modern technology that helps integrate many applications with minimal effort.
Visit our website to know how our services can help you HazenTech
