As a result, the recent growth of ERP systems has not solved organisational integration problems. Gradually, this practise increases the number of disparate applications and amplifies the need for integration. Application Integration supports the development of flexible and manageable IT infrastructures by incorporating functionality from disparate applications. Application integration is the unrestricted sharing of information between two or more enterprise applications. A set of technologies that allow the movement and exchange of information between different applications and business processes within and between organisation.
Modern businesses are under enormous pressure to adapt to new market conditions.
Whilst e-Business expectations have become more realistic, there is no doubt that the new economy is having a great impact on the systems, people and processes that sit at the heart of brick and mortar companies. Consequently, the race is on to find a new way of working that integrates people, processes and technology, so that businesses can respond dynamically to a constantly changing environment. In other words, business is 'fluid' and needs to move quickly to adapt. A fluid business is one that integrates people, process and technology so that it can respond to its changing environment. The fluid business is agile and can adapt to new challenges, markets and opportunities with limited disruptions to its operations.