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System Integration

We offer professional System Integration services (based in Brisbane).

System integration

System Integration is the process of bringing component subsystems into one system and ensuring that the subsystems work well as a system. As far as the Information technology is concerned, through system integration, different computing systems and software applications are linked together physically or functionally. The system Integrator brings discrete systems utilizing variety of techniques such as computer networking, enterprise application integration, business process management or manual programming.

If the subsystems have interfaces, through system integration, those subsystems are joined together by gluing their interfaces together. System Integration is about adding value to the system. If the interfaces don’t directly interlock, the “glue” between them can provide the required mappings. System integration is about determining the required “glue”.

By system integration, we add value to the system and make it capable because of interactions between the subsystems. Nowadays, System Integration Engineers play an important role. A system integration engineer needs a broad range of skills such as software and hardware engineering, interface protocols, and general problem solving skills.

 

Methods of System Integration

Vertical Integration: The process of integrating subsystems according to their functionality by creating functional entities is known as Vertical System Integration. This type of integration is useful as it requires lesser time and only the necessary vendors which makes this method cheaper. On the other hand, the cost-of-ownership is substantially higher in other system integration methods.

Star Integration/Spaghetti Integration: In Star Integration (Spaghetti Integration), each system is interconnected to each of the remaining subsystems. If viewed from the integrated subsystem's perspective, the connection are reminiscent of a star, but when the overall diagram of the system is presented, the connections look like spaghetti and hence the the system got its name.

The cost varies according to the interfaces exported by the subsystems. The cost rises exponentially, if the subsystems are exporting heterogeneous or proprietary interfaces. The method often seems preferable from features perspective, as it provides extreme flexibility of the reuse of functionality.

Horizontal Integration/Enterprise Service Bus (ESB): In this integration method, a specialized subsystem is dedicated for the communication between other subsystems. This method allows cutting the number of interfaces to just one per subsystem which will connect directly to the ESB. In ESB, one interface can be translated to the another that helps reducing costs of integration and provides extreme flexibility.

Horizontal Integration allows to completely replace one subsystem with another which provides similar functionality but exports different interfaces. This remains completely transparent for the rest of the subsystems.

 

Organizational Issues during System Integration

In an organisation, special projects bring additional resource management challenges. Like if the project is about implementing a large system consisting of components from different suppliers, the project requires System Integration. So, the challenge here is to align the subsystems of different parties.

Scoping sessions: Scoping is about setting boundaries on what one delivers. If one party limits their result, the overall result will never be covered.

Interfacing: Then there comes the problem of interfacing like which component will get connected to which one.

Compatibility: As some systems are not completely compatible with the others, standardization will solve this and this requires a central approach.

This last point is one of the main organizational challenges. While some work requires a central approach; other activities can be performed locally. When more focus is put on a central steering the project may be unnecessarily delayed, but if too much work is left to the local contributors, conflicts may arise.

Centralized activities include:

  • Presentations and overviews of the big picture
  • Required standardization, a minimal set
  • Overall project management
  • Alignment of scopes
  • Overall project communication

 

Local or decentralized activities include:

  • Individual project management and execution
  • Individual scoping
  • Signalling of issues

 

Maybray - Brisbane.

Maybray in Brisbane provide you with System Integration solutions. The company offers various sophisticated software and a highly competent team to make sure that your website meets the expectations of your customers.

Call us today for an obligation-free professional advice for your project.