Integration Design

In todays complex IT infrastructre integrations between different systems are so common
that it is almost a daily routine subject. Therefore design of integrations create huge impact on system performance, operations effort and user satisfaction. Depending on the technology of systems; data file, database link, web service methods can be used.

Thinking of nowadays's popular web service method, there is another fundamental design decision; synchronised or asynchronised? Both has different advantages and disadvantages so satisfies different requirements.
Synchronised; Provides result of service request directly to the user. This provides users to act quickly if needed. Though it is disadvantageous if too many records exist and if that causes users to wait. Also this may cause high load problems on the system.
Asynchronised; Users submit a request though does not see the result until querying it. This probably causes users extra effort because of requiring a control action to see if it is completed expectedly. Also increase operational support need because when users doesnt see results immediately a scheduled monitoring action is probably required. Also this may cause delay of other processes which are dependent of the requested action. Though it's disadvantages it can be used because synchronisation time can be scheduled to a time which system is free of load and users does not have to wait until getting a response.

Another important subject to think about is error handling. Many reasons may cause problems such as system shutdowns, missing data or unexpected cases and different solutions may required for these causes. Sending failed records twice, sending warning mails about failed transactions to related users, creating a log report and giving users the ability of retry are the basic precautions to be taken.

Taking these into consideration, will provide customer satisfaction and decrease the need for operations support.