Integration of Systems with MuleSoft Anypoint Platform

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Integration of systems in a company is important not only for the elimination of errors or current data availability in separate systems. For the solution of integration needs and requirements, the Anypoint Platform product by the MuleSoft company is intended, allowing for integrating company systems in the company network as well as SaaS systems in cloud.

Besides the main ERP system, present-day companies use a number of specialized systems (WMS, MES etc.) for the effective operation. These “satellite” systems commonly need data provided by the ERP system for their operation (code lists, transaction data). And the ERP needs data produced by these specialized systems as well. In extreme cases, manual rewriting of data between systems is sufficient. Mostly however, the effective operation of a company requires the integration of the systems, in order to eliminate errors during data rewriting, provide availability of current data in the systems, traceability of data transfers, and last but not least, the ability to respond to changes in requirements from the outer world.

Anypoint Platform

One of the products solving the integration needs is the Anypoint Platform by MuleSoft. Thanks to almost 120 available connectors, the Anypoint Platform allows for integrating company systems in the company network as well as SaaS systems in cloud. In addition to the connectors dedicated for the system, general connectors are also available for web services (REST, SOAP), or for direct access to databases. During data transfer between systems, the Anypoint Platform provides many functions. E.g., it is possible to transform the message structure, determine the message recipient based on the message contents, deliver the message to multiple recipients, etc. This year, B2B integration processes are supported for the first time. The Anypoint Platform can work with EDIFACT and X12 formats. The AS2 protocol has been added to the family of supported communication protocols, used for safe exchange of business data through Internet. The Anypoint Platform can also be operated in distributed arrangement, and e.g., bridge an unreliable data line between the company branches. In order to provide high availability, the Anypoint Platform supports operation in cluster, not limiting, however, further scalability capabilities in any way. The Anypoint Platform can both be operated within an own network, and in the form of service directly on the MuleSoft company servers.

Difficulties of system integration

Due to too many shortcuts and technical terms, it might seem that the integration of company systems is a task for IT specialist/programmer. As a matter of fact, current modern integration platforms help to resolve the most of technical difficulties. Where the up-to-date tools are unable to replace a human being is the understanding business processes and consequent design of optimal architecture of the system integration. A wrong selected strategy may result in loss of data, current data unavailability, etc. All this finally leads to financial losses. AIMTEC is committed to system integration almost from its inception. In addition to services in the area of system integration design and implementation, it also provides remote supervision of critical system in the 24×7 mode.

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