Core data integration

Core data integration is the use of data integration technology for a significant, centrally planned and managed IT initiative within a company. Examples of core data integration initiatives could include:

• ETL (Extract, transform, load) implementations
• EAI (Enterprise Application Integration) implementations
• SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) implementations

A core data integration differs from an edge data integration, which is not centrally planned and which will probably be completed with a smaller budget and a tighter deadline. Most edge integrations involve hand-coded scripts. Some may take the form of enterprise mashups and other new, Web 2.0-based models.

Core data integrations are often designed with to be enterprise-wide integration solutions. Because they do not address all integration needs, edge integrations take place, using technology that may be incompatible with that used at the core.