Integration of information systems – complexities and features

In this article, we will consider the main complexities and features of IS. Integration of information systems – the task of combining disconnected parts is often even more difficult than their development “from scratch”. The question arises – why?
It’s no secret that programmers prefer to create systems “from scratch”. The developed integrated system, if it was designed by a specialist, looks monolithic and works reliably.
But the business process is not a static thing. Something is constantly changing in the legislation, software or hardware platforms are changing, there is a process of business mergers. Naturally, all this cannot but affect the state of information systems.

Factors affecting integration

There are a number of objective factors affecting integration:

• intensive development of business processes. It is increasingly necessary to change data structures. Here the task of integration becomes complicated and becomes a serious problem;
• distraction Companies are increasing, accordingly, tasks are becoming more complex;
• heredity. It is unrealistic to completely get away from outdated technologies, old technical support, reliable enough, but not conducive to integration;
• heterogeneity. In large projects, it is impossible to use one platform often, so there is a need to use several;
• conditioning ISs are limited by technical frameworks, habits of company employees, legal conflicts, and many other reasons beyond the control of programmers;
• chaoticity Sometimes it is not possible to completely formalize and structure information data. Part of the model is not amenable to, or poorly amenable to, computer analysis, processing, or indexing;
• mobility IS users began to move faster, and interaction with them takes place on public channels everywhere;
• interactivity Consumers are constantly raising their perceptions of IP response speed;
• security. So, as network packets are transmitted by a wireless network, there is a need for data encryption;
• high workload. The number of users, large volumes of data, and the intensity of the processing flow play an important role here;
• cycle continuity. Integration and improvement of systems should always take place without stopping work, imperceptibly for the enterprise and its partners;
• intersystem integration. The tasks of the association are not limited to the framework of one organization. It is often necessary to integrate with many links in the business chain (customers, partners, contractors, suppliers).

Finally, one cannot fail to mention the software involved in solving the tasks of integrating information systems. Software for integration is often combined under the term “middleware”.

Many leading manufacturers of programs for corporate information systems implement complex integration packages. These include: IBM WebSphere, Oracle 10g, Microsoft BizTalk Server, SAP Netweaver and many others.