dataexchange

Data exchange is the process of transferring data between disparate systems, organizations, or applications to enable interoperability and integration. It may involve real-time streaming or batch transfers and can cover structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.

Common data formats include JSON, XML, and CSV. Domain-specific standards such as HL7 and FHIR in healthcare, EDIFACT or X12 in commerce, and ISO 20022 in finance define message structures and semantics to support automated processing and reduce ambiguity.

Data exchange uses various delivery mechanisms and protocols, including application programming interfaces (APIs) using REST or SOAP, message queues, file transfer protocols, and data streaming technologies. Security concerns are addressed through encryption, authentication, authorization, and integrity checks, with encryption in transit and at rest.

Architectures range from point-to-point integrations to hub-and-spoke models and data exchange platforms or marketplaces that mediate access to data. Governance concepts such as data contracts, metadata management, data quality, and access control are essential to maintain reliability and compliance.

Challenges include semantic interoperability, data quality, latency, scalability, privacy, and regulatory compliance. Approaches to mitigate these issues include standardization, data mapping and cataloging, semantic enrichment, and robust governance frameworks.

Data exchange supports use cases across industries, including enterprise integration, supply chain visibility, healthcare information exchange, financial messaging, and research collaboration. It underpins analytics, interoperability of software systems, and the creation of data-driven services.