Seamless Enterprise Computing Using Enterprise Application Integration (Eai)

Summary

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Enterprise computing has undergone a remarkable evolution in recent past. Emphasis on easy availability of data to customers and efficient management of applications within an enterprise has lead to the need of integrating and automating applications within the corporate environment. This paper describes a dynamic approach towards business integration that has of late gained ground. It is called Enterprise Application Integration (EAI). EAI is a cost efficient method of integrating existing applications within an enterprise and adding new technologies to the mix. We first discuss the various aspects of enterprise computing and the need for business integration. An overview of various technologies related to EAI is provided. A comparison with other approaches like B2B and customer integration is also provided.

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Seamless Enterprise Computing Using Enterprise Application Integration (Eai)

INTRODUCTION

Virtually every enterprise at some time or the other faces the problem of integrating different applications and database systems. These applications and database systems might have been acquired or developed at different points of time using the technology prevalent at that time. Naturally, these applications use heterogeneous technology and platforms. In addition to this, enterprises constantly evolve. For example, an enterprise might merge with other enterprises and adopts new technologies to strive for competitive advantages. It is not a simple matter for an enterprise to discard its existing model. Thus it is critical for an enterprise to be able to leverage its investments in its existing infrastructure and applications while adding new systems and technologies.

Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) is one of the most talked about approaches today towards solving the problem of integration within the corporate environment (Irani, Themistocleous and Love, 2003). EAI has emerged as middleware technology with the objective of lowering the cost of application integration. Using EAI a company can integrate its existing applications and systems and add new technologies to the mix in a cost effective manner.

This paper is divided into seven sections. This paper discusses briefly the enterprise computing and the need for integration. A detailed study of EAI is also undertaken. Section 4 describes the various types of EAI. The paper also discusses technologies a company may use and different approaches a company may take while implementing an EAI. A comparative study on EAI and the other approaches to systems integration have also been evaluated.

ENTERPRISE COMPUTING

Enterprise Computing consists of different applications of an enterprise that are run on various platforms and the underlying data that governs the running of these applications. The applications that are run in an enterprise can be broadly classified into two categories

- Front Office Application:- These include applications for customer relationship management and marketing automation. Common examples of such applications are sales, customer service and field service. These applications are crucial to an organization because they provide information...

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