What are the most important emerging trends in System Integration?

1 Cloud-based integration

Cloud-based integration, also known as integration platform as a service (iPaaS), is a trend that involves using cloud-based services and tools to integrate systems and applications across different environments, such as on-premise, cloud, or hybrid. Cloud-based integration offers many benefits, such as scalability, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, security, and ease of use. You can use cloud-based integration to connect various cloud services, such as software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), or infrastructure as a service (IaaS), as well as to integrate cloud and on-premise systems. As a system administrator, you need to be familiar with the features and functionalities of different cloud-based integration platforms, such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or Salesforce, and how to use them to create, deploy, and monitor integration workflows.

2 API-led integration

API-led integration is a trend that involves using application programming interfaces (APIs) to expose and consume data and functionality from different systems and applications. APIs are standardized and reusable interfaces that enable communication and data exchange between different components, such as web services, microservices, or mobile applications. API-led integration allows you to create modular and decoupled integration architectures that can support multiple use cases, such as data synchronization, orchestration, or transformation. As a system administrator, you need to be proficient in designing, developing, testing, and documenting APIs, as well as using API management tools, such as Postman, Swagger, or Apigee, to monitor and secure your APIs.

3 Event-driven integration

Event-driven integration is a trend that involves using events to trigger and coordinate integration actions between different systems and applications. Events are messages that indicate that something has happened or changed in a system or application, such as a new order, a payment confirmation, or a status update. Event-driven integration allows you to create reactive and real-time integration solutions that can respond to changes and events in your systems and applications. As a system administrator, you need to be skilled in using event-driven technologies, such as message brokers, event streams, or event buses, to publish, subscribe, process, and consume events. Some examples of event-driven technologies are Kafka, RabbitMQ, or Azure Event Grid.

4 Low-code/no-code integration

Low-code/no-code integration is a trend that involves using graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and drag-and-drop features to create and execute integration workflows without writing code or using complex programming languages. Low-code/no-code integration enables you to integrate systems and applications faster and easier, as well as to empower non-technical users, such as business analysts or end users, to participate in the integration process. As a system administrator, you need to be familiar with the capabilities and limitations of different low-code/no-code integration tools, such as Zapier, Microsoft Power Automate, or Workato, and how to use them to automate and optimize your integration tasks.

5 Artificial intelligence and machine learning integration

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) integration is a trend that involves using AI and ML techniques and algorithms to enhance and improve your integration solutions. AI and ML integration can help you to analyze, process, and transform large and complex data sets, as well as to generate insights, predictions, and recommendations from your data. AI and ML integration can also help you to automate and optimize your integration workflows, such as by detecting and resolving errors, anomalies, or bottlenecks, or by suggesting and implementing best practices, patterns, or policies. As a system administrator, you need to be knowledgeable about the basics and applications of AI and ML, as well as how to use AI and ML integration tools, such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or AWS SageMaker, to leverage the power of AI and ML in your integration solutions.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?