Software Architect's Handbook

Performing data integration

When integrating and sharing data between two systems, we have to ensure that data can be combined from disparate sources in a meaningful way. There should be an understanding of the data in both systems and what they represent. We need the ability to identify whether or not a piece of data represents the same thing in both systems.

Data mapping between systems may be required to transform data from one system to another. When possible, redundancy in data should be removed and decisions need to be made as to which system will be responsible for certain pieces of data.