Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Integration layer
Also known as: middleware layer, integration tier
German: Integrationsschicht
In system architecture, an integration layer is the architectural layer between applications or between plant and enterprise systems that handles communication, data transformation, routing and access to shared services, so that applications are not directly coupled to each other.
- System integration
In one sentence
An integration layer sits between applications and handles communication, transformation and routing so that systems are not coupled directly.
Example
Instead of the ERP calling each line PLC, an integration layer receives production orders and distributes them in the formats the MES and edge gateways expect.
How it applies
- Architecture: An integration layer isolates applications from each other's changes. It can be built with brokers, API gateways, integration platforms or a combination.
- Engineering: The layer should carry integration logic, not business decisions. Business rules hidden in the integration layer are hard to find and test.
- Documentation: Document the layer's components, the flows they handle and their owners. The integration layer is also a natural place to log exchanged data, which supports troubleshooting and audit trails; document retention and access rules for these logs.
Integration layer vs. integration platform
The integration layer is an architectural concept: the place where integration happens. An Integration platform is a product or set of tools used to build it.