WebSphere® business integration systems facilitate two main types of integration:
Information Connectivity and Integration (ICI) is the coupling of heterogeneous application information and data. Connectivity between applications is a fundamental starting point for Information Integration solutions. As connectivity configurations and topologies grow in complexity, additional considerations involve the management of information and data delivery from one application to another (for example, routing rules and data transformation). ICI provides routing and data integration functionality. It routes its information between endpoints, leaving decisions on what actions to take next to the senders and receivers. ICI focuses on where data is located and handles data normalization.
Process Integration (PI) is the implementation of internal and external business processes in a way that fully utilizes IT systems to add efficiency and flexibility within an enterprise. Process Integration includes functions required for traditional business process management solutions. Typically, PI solutions begin with a focus on processes internal to the enterprise and evolve to include processes that fully integrate external partners. This external integration requires functions that support business-to-business interaction management. PI focuses on what data is needed and how that data is used.
Parent topic: Architecture