What is middleware? (And what it means for system integration)

Middleware enables different pieces of software to communicate and share data. Find out what that means in practice.



Most businesses use a range of applications, systems and services. These systems don't always speak to each other automatically.

Middleware is software that acts as an intermediary and helps them communicate. It's often known as "software glue", although you could also imagine it as an interpreter or translator.

To take a straightforward example, let's say a company has:

• A customer relationship management (CRM) system
• An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system
• A warehouse management system (WMS)
• A payment processing system
• 
  

Without middleware, these pieces of software might be joined together with separate connections – the CRM joined to the ERP, the ERP to the WMS and so on.

This set-up is often manageable until it's not. The tipping point tends to be when the connections grow too numerous and the overall system too complex.

Unfortunately, complexity is usually a sign of growth. If you want to grow, you need solutions in place to make it possible. Without them, you're likely to face roadblocks as your business grows and your systems become more complex.

This is where middleware comes into its own. It provides a common layer that integrates all systems and enables them to communicate freely. This, in turn, is felt across the board as efficiency, productivity and a general lack of friction.

Those are the basics of middleware and what it means for system integration. So, what does it do in more detail?

What does middleware do?

Middleware is an intermediary that fulfils a wide range of functions.

In a systems integration context, middleware allows applications and systems to exchange information – even those that aren't built to recognise or interact with one another.

It can also transform data as it passes from one system to another. This is primarily a case of converting one format to the next and doing so automatically without the need for manual intervention.

Middleware also converts protocols, enabling systems to interact no matter what communication methods they use.

Other functions can include:

• Routing information to the right destination
• Queuing messages until the system is ready to receive them
• Dealing with errors like failed messages and retries
• Monitoring integrations
• Handling authentication, access control and other aspects of security
  
  

Common examples of middleware include message brokers, API gateways, enterprise service buses (ESBs) and cloud integration platforms.



What does middleware mean for system integration?

System integration is all about making distinct systems work together as one big business process. Middleware is one of the main ways you can get there – but it's far from the only one.

Nevertheless, it can be a game-changer. If you need the CRM to communicate with the ERP, the CRM no longer needs to fully understand how the ERP works.

Instead, the systems are loosely coupled. That means they communicate with as few dependencies as possible. The two systems interact without the sender needing to know the location or programming language of the receiver.

Middleware enables this loose coupling by taking the CRM's message, reformatting it so it's understood by the ERP, routing the message to the ERP and taking care of the response.

One benefit of this is that it frees up system administrators to add new systems. You can now add a system without rewriting all the other systems connected to it.

Common examples of middleware

Middleware is everywhere. Common examples include message queues, database connectors, application servers and authentication checkers. These act as "software glue", connecting different applications, data sources and operating systems without the need for custom code.

What's the difference between middleware and APIs?

Middleware and application programming interfaces (APIs) are closely related, but they're not the same thing.

An API is an interface that allows software applications to communicate and share data with each other. When you buy something online, for instance, the website may use a payment provider's API to send payment information and receive a response.

Middleware is the software or infrastructure that sits between systems and helps manage those interactions. It can use APIs, messages, queues, data transformations, routing and security to move information from one system to another.

You could say that an API provides the rules or doorway for communication, while middleware manages the wider flow of information between systems.

The distinction quickly becomes technical and complex. But in the context of system integration, it's most helpful to think of middleware as the software bridge that glues different pieces of software together.

When do you need middleware?

Businesses tend to use middleware when they have a bunch of applications, legacy systems, cloud services, databases and external services all whirring at once.

If all these systems play a role in the daily running of the business, they must be able to speak to one another.

Middleware acts as an intermediary integration layer that connects systems, transforms and routes data, manages communication and reduces the number of connections.

IntaData from Minster WMS

At Minster WMS, we develop IntaData: a cloud-based integration platform that often works alongside our warehouse management systems CORE and EDGE.

IntaData is a cloud-based integration tool that connects internal, external and legacy systems. It can translate messages and data between systems – including different protocols and file formats.

If you change, upgrade or remove one of the connected systems, the remaining systems can continue communicating seamlessly. This helps future-proof your business, allowing you to scale without your systems getting in the way.

Let's say your business uses an ERP, a WMS, an eCommerce platform, a carrier system for deliveries and an EDI for communicating with customers and suppliers.

You could build a separate custom integration between every pair. Alternatively, you can use IntaData as a comprehensive integration layer that enables every system to speak to every other system.

It's faster, it's easier and it's simple enough to support growth, rather than growing more complex as you scale.

Want to see how IntaData can work for you? Book a demo with our UK experts today.