Need for Integration:
Different applications control business data
o Companies purchase best-of-class applications in each domain
o Each application has a different user interface
o Each application uses a different data source
Users want:
o Seamless access to all business data
o A consistent, known user interface
o Reliable data
o To avoid reentering data in multiple applications
Basic Integration Tasks:
Identify the data to integrate in each application
Map and transform the data from each application
Transport the data between applications
Identify the Data to Integrate in Each Application:
Identify the external data to bring into the Siebel application
Identify the Siebel data to send to the external application
Map and Transform the Data from Each Application:-
Using a common exchange format such as XML
o Map: Match Siebel field names with external field names
o Transform: Match Siebel data structures to external data structures
Transport the Data Between Applications:
Move data to and from the Siebel application and the external application using:
o IBM MQSeries
o IBM MQSeries AMI
o Microsoft MSMQ
o Microsoft BizTalk Server
o File transport
o HTTP
Features of an Integrated Environment:
Open object interfaces with robust, extensible, reusable objects
Interfaces easy to modify and extend, with automatic upgrades
Multi-tier architecture with open interfaces at each tier
Serial interfaces for integration through messaging
Choice of application synchronization techniques
o Data replication
o Online access to external shared objects, with no data replication
Support for mobile clients
Cross-application process integration capabilities
o Ability to time-out and act on asynchronous interaction failures
o Trigger internal activity upon asynchronous interaction successes
o Workflow automation across applications
http://www.blogs.siebelexperts.in/page/eai-overview1.aspx