Integration can refer to different things depending on the context. In general, integration means combining two or more things to create a whole. In the IT industry, integration often refers to software or system integration, which means bringing together multiple business systems to operate as a collaborative unit. Integration allows information to be shared between the connected systems, and these integration solutions can come in many forms, such as connecting data, applications, APIs, and devices across an IT organization.
In an engineering context, system integration is defined as the process of bringing together the component sub-systems into one system and ensuring that the subsystems function together as a system. This involves integrating existing, often disparate systems in such a way that focuses on increasing value to the customer while at the same time providing value to the company.
There are different methods of system integration, including vertical integration, point-to-point integration, and star integration. The benefits of system integration include increased efficiency and revenue, as it automates the flow of information between systems, eliminating the need for repetitive and manual data entry.
In mathematics, integration refers to the operation of finding a function whose differential is known or solving a differential equation.