Blissful Integration - Work With Data, Not Against It! - Blogs by data management Experts & Analysts

Introduction

API; “a set of rules describing how one application can interact with another, and the mechanisms that allow such interaction to happen.” APIs are an ideal solution to a recurring concern in the technology sector, systems integration.

Business technologies are evolving rapidly. Over the years, organizations have accumulated multiple systems to support different aspects of their businesses. Now, these organizations face a series of challenges that revolve around an inability to integrate with these systems, which may use a wide variety of technologies and file formats.

The results of poorly linked systems and tools are measured in additional labour, fragmented data, and missed opportunities. However, there are solutions; APIs allow different systems to interact with each other, facilitating data flow and simplifying business processes. Here are the most important integration methods for modern systems:

Key Integration Methods

SOAP:

Utilizes XML as a messaging format
Functions effectively in distributed enterprise networks
Easy internationalization and extensibility with XML namespaces
Utilizes any programming model due to its independence
Operational over various protocols (Ex: HTTP, JMS, SMTP, etc…)
Increased security and protection of database integrity

REST:

Utilizes smaller message formats; for example, JSON which results in high level browser capability
Use of HTTP protocols for greater simplicity
Does not require extensive processing
High level of performance and scalability; Can be cached
Uniform interface; ensuring applications interacting with the API do so in one a single way

OData:

Advanced protocol for querying or updating data utilizing existing web protocols
REST-based protocol for querying and data updates
Built on standardized formats, for example: HTTP, JSON and XML
Share data utilizing uniform file types to ensure seamless integration with downstream systems
Query language is available in the URL

Conclusion

When companies attempt to adapt to integrations challenges, the primary struggle is discovering the optimal solution to maximize the variety of potential integration points. Users need an end-to end enterprise data management system that is able to oversee all of your data processes and ensure that they are under control. Furthermore, using methods such as APIs, direct database queries, JMS messaging or web adaptors all through one platform can be extremely beneficial. It would be ideal if the software that accommodates any data-centric system ranging from various downstream systems for front-office, mid-office and back-office. This includes BI, ETRM systems, ERP systems and much more. There is a plethora of benefits that can be obtained through the use of such a solution, such as energy consumption savings, quicker response time, a single work station and much more. The rewards to be reaped through such a solution are truly limitless.