What is Middleware?
Middleware is software that bridges the gap between primary and secondary business systems and applications. Middleware facilitates data management by connecting two or multiple end-points through APIs and databases to enable disparate business systems to interact by pushing and pulling related data for end-to-end transactions.
What is Middleware Integration?
Application integration is the joining of two pieces of software. This means their two Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) become integrated, allowing for automatic transfer of data sets and instructions between the two.
When it comes to seamlessly integrating between two powerful business tools (for example, Magento and Dynamics NAV 2015/SAP/Sage, you have two options, bespoke integration or Middleware integration.
Bespoke Integration
You could bring in a dedicated IT professional (or even a whole team) to write some code that makes it much easier for you to transfer data and functionality between the two systems. Let’s call this the bespoke option.
What attracts ICOs and IT managers to bespoke solutions is that they will suit the company’s exact needs. They will be functionality-efficient, doing everything you need them to, without fancy extras that could confuse (or be added to your invoice!).
Middleware Integration Tools
Alternatively, you could use pre-developed middleware for your Application integration projects. Middleware is a product that sits between multiple primary business systems. These include primary business systems such SAP Business One, SYSPRO, Sage, Epicor and Microsoft Dynamics products, such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV, AX and CRM. One example of genius middleware integration is Codeless Platforms’ BPA Platform. Sitting between, for example, NAV2015 and Magento, Codeless Platforms BPA Platform allows you to drag documents and information from one system to another via a user-friendly graphic display.
The Benefit of Middleware Integration Tools for Application Integration
When choosing bespoke integration, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Sage users may experience maintenance issues and problems with updates. This is because whenever an update changes the API of either system, the code may need to be rewritten. This makes bespoke solutions an on-going cost for a company’s technology lead.
Further, after production, the only people who fully understand a bespoke solution are its authors, meaning that if something goes wrong, it is difficult to solve it without their help. But as all IT professionals know, teams change, people move companies and knowledge is often lost.
The crux of middleware integration tools like Codeless Platforms’ BPA Platform is that they can automate manual processes such as getting data from a business application into another without the need for an expensive IT team. In exchange for your purchase, you:
- Avoid lengthy and expensive software coding
- Extend the applications of the primary systems
- Can easily scale your use of the product as your company grows.
- Won’t get stuck on ancient versions of software. The middleware integration product designers update their software as the primary system software is updated.
Learn more about middleware integration by reading this article on System Integration Best Practices
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To find out more about how you can integrate your business systems and applications download the brochure below or call us on +44 (0)330 998 8700.
