Data integration vs. Application integration

At first glance, data integration and application integration may sound similar, yet they represent distinct challenges for organizations. Each comes with its own set of complexities and requires tailored strategies for effective implementation.

Before jumping into potential integration solutions, let’s take a moment to uncover the true meaning behind these concepts.

What is data integration?

Data integration is the process of combining data from multiple sources into a single system. Every organization manages massive amounts of data generated from a variety of locations.

By bringing these datasets together, organizations can create a unified view that simplifies analysis and access, improving efficiency and cross-departmental collaboration.

The challenges of data integration 

While data integration is essential for organizations looking to leverage their information, the process of unifying data from different sources isn’t an easy task. Some of the issues include:

• Complexity
  Merging data from different sources can be complex and resource-intensive, especially when dealing with varying formats and technologies. This complexity requires a strong technical infrastructure and specialized expertise for effective integration.

• Data silos
  Scattered data leads to silos, making it difficult for different departments to share insights and make informed decisions. When information isn’t easily accessible across teams, it hampers communication and can result in duplicated efforts, inconsistencies, and missed opportunities for innovation.

What is application integration?

Application integration is the process of enabling different software applications to work together seamlessly, allowing them to share data and processes efficiently.

In an ideal world, organizations would manage their activities and processes through a single system or software. However, the reality often involves a collection of applications tailored for specific tasks, leading to a fragmented landscape.

The challenges of application integration 

Application integration comes with many benefits, but the process can be intimidating.

• Complexity
  Integrating multiple applications involves navigating different data formats and protocols, leading to technical challenges, increased costs, and the need for specialized expertise.

• Consistency and quality
  Maintaining consistent and accurate data across integrated applications is difficult, as discrepancies can arise from various sources.

Now that we’ve defined data integration and application integration, let’s take a look at how both processes can be achieved without any headaches.

FME: A tried-and-tested solution

The advantages of FME for data integration

The FME platform has long been recognized for its capacity to process CAD and spatial data efficiently. Using the ETL approach (Extract, Transform, Load), FME supports over 450 supported formats, both spatial and non-spatial. This extensive compatibility allows users to connect and process a wide range of data within a single system. Since the data models are already integrated into FME, this eliminates concerns about the requirements of each application or system.

In addition, FME allows you to process your data as required thanks to its impressive collection of more than 500 transformers. This allows you to enhance your data and export it to other systems or share it with end users.

The advantages of FME for application integration

Although FME is primarily known as a data integration tool, it also serves to connect various systems and applications. In this scenario, connections are made through the specific programming interfaces (APIs) of each application. There are two ways to link applications:

• Using pre-built connectors

• Creating custom connectors tailored to specific needs

While it’s certainly possible to integrate applications using just the desktop version of FME, opting for FME Server provides enhanced capabilities for managing process sequences and execution within a corporate IT framework. With FME Server, you can precisely schedule when your processes should run and even set up triggers based on events such as receiving an email, transferring data to a designated folder, or modifying a file.

Data integration and application integration made easy

Whether you’re aiming to unify a variety of diverse datasets into a seamless centralized database or connect your systems and applications effortlessly, FME stands out as the ultimate solution. Its versatility and proven track record make it particularly powerful for handling CAD and spatial data.

At Consortech, we pride ourselves on being the go-to partner for all your integration and automation needs. As a Safe Software partner and geospatial performance expert, we specialize in streamlining data integration and application integration, helping our clients save valuable time and resources. Our dedicated team is ready to guide you every step of the way, ensuring you harness the full potential of your geospatial data.

Explore our strategic consulting services.

* An API is a set of rules and protocols that guide interaction with an application or system.