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EAI
Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) is a business strategy aimed at efficiently transferring information from one application to another. Such applications might include customer databases or records of inventory. EAI attempts to link up disparate informational archives, allowing a free exchange of information from each.
EAI is to be distinguished from middleware, the software which helps to link databases together. EAI is not a software product at all, but rather an organizational process by which information is retrieved from one application and transformed into information useful to the end application. EAI aims for an intelligent transfer of data which allows it to share information most advantageous to the company, rather than a simple exchange of numbers and letters from one computer to another. EAI strategies are extremely versatile because they can be adjusted to meet the specific goals of a company—for example, a company desiring to increase its shipment efficiency can turn its shipping system over to an EAI framework, reducing redundancies and streamlining standard procedures. An advanced EAI network can even form a sort of business artificial intelligence, automating such functions as inventory checking, sending mail, and taking orders. History of EAI EAI came into existence in the first years of the 21st century as information technology became increasingly more refined. At this time, many businesses using older technologies tended to lock up huge storehouses of data in individual departments without allowing for ease of transfer from one to another. This in turn created significant stoppage when it was necessary for one department to communicate with its counterparts. EAI evolved naturally as a response to this issue. In recent years, EAI solutions have become a top focus in the IT budget for many businesses. EAI Difficulties Implementing EAI is occasionally difficult. One common problem is simply that many companies possess a wide variety of applications that they desire to have linked together. However, the number of connections between applications increases exponentially as more applications are introduced. A ten application system will require dozens of links, and this can be both costly and time-consuming. A further issue is that both business and information technology tend to advance so fast that there is often a danger that once a company is thoroughly reworked according to an EAI framework, its strategies and/or software may already be obsolete. In addition, EAI integration tends to encounter a certain amount of resistance from users and trading partners, who may prefer their traditional methods of doing business.
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