Applikationsintegration

Applikationsintegration is the practice of connecting disparate software applications so they can exchange data and coordinate actions across an organization. It aims to enable automated workflows, real-time information flow, and consistency of data across systems such as ERP, CRM, HR, and legacy applications. The goal is to reduce manual data entry, errors, and latency when processes span multiple applications.

Common approaches include point-to-point connections, which are simple but hard to scale; hub-and-spoke integration using a central integration bus; and more modern API-led connectivity that exposes reusable services through APIs. Event-driven architectures and message-oriented middleware enable asynchronous communication and decoupling of systems. Integration platforms as a service (iPaaS) provide cloud-based tooling to build, deploy, and monitor integrations.

Technologies and standards used in applikationsintegration include APIs (REST/SOAP), data formats such as JSON and XML, message queues and brokers (MQ, AMQP), and data transformation/mapping tools. Architectural components often include an API gateway, an enterprise service bus (ESB) or microservice mesh, and data governance features like master data management and data quality controls.

Security and governance are central concerns, covering authentication and authorization, encryption in transit and at rest, and auditable change control. Architecture choices influence maintainability, performance, and vendor dependence; mature programs emphasize reuse, explicit contracts, versioning, and clear SLAs.

Common use cases include synchronizing customer data between CRM and ERP, integrating e-commerce platforms with inventory systems, connecting HR systems with payroll, and enabling IoT devices to feed operational systems. The field continues to evolve with API management, event streaming, and cloud-based integration platforms.