System Integration is the process of integrating all the physical and virtual components of an organization’s system. The physical components consist of the various machine systems, computer hardware, inventory, etc. The virtual components consist of data stored in databases, software and applications. The process pf integrating all these components, so that act like a single system, is the main focus of system integration.
On broad terms in the IT world, a SI is regarded as a company that specializes in implementing, planning, coordinating, scheduling, testing, improving and sometimes maintaining IT systems. IT projects trying to manage such projects and the numerous suppliers involved. However, in terms of system integration, the role of the systems integrator is narrowed down to enabling the data integrations between the different existing systems of the end customer defined in the project scope. This may mean anything starting from simple internal point-to-point connections to very complex many-to-many integrations both internally and with third parties.
The systems integrators role in this equation is normally to design, implement and test the integration solution, but the role of the systems integrator may also include continuous management of the solutions as well as contacting third parties to enable connections with them. Most importantly, however, the systems integrator brings to the table integration expertise that the customer is otherwise lacking internally.