Enterprise application integration (EAT) is the use of software and computer systems architectural principles to integrate a set of enterprise computer applications. Typically, an enterprise has existing legacy applications and databases and wants to continue to use them while adding or migrating to a new set of applications that exploit the Internet, e-commerce, extranet, and other new technologies.
Enterprise Applications are vital to the operations of diverse present organizations and hence their integration is even more decisive to modernize all activities and ensure smooth functioning of enterprise-level activities. EAI encompasses methodologies such as:
- Object-oriented programming.
- Distributed, cross-platform program communication using message brokers with Common Object Request Broker Architecture and COM+.
- Modification of enterprise resource planning (ERP) to fit new objectives.
- Enterprise-wide content and data distribution using common databases and data standards implemented with the Extensible Markup Language (XML).
- Middleware, message queuing, and other approaches.
