The word Integration has its roots from Latin origin (Integratus), meaning, “to render (something) whole, bring together the parts of”.

What is Integration?

Integration, simply put, is the means of combining data from disparate sources into meaningful and valuable information, for example, a retail chain might own several stores, each having several point-of-sale (POS) systems. These POS systems gather information of items sold each day. The data gathered from each POS system needs to be collated at some point, in order for each store to be able to track their sales and to enable them to have an inventory of what stock is left in the store. But it does not end there as the company’s head office also needs to know what the sales, stock and financial status of each store is. This is where integration plays the role of combining the POS data from each into meaningful centralised data.

What to study

If you look at possible programmes used by Integration Specialist the list becomes quite lengthy, but luckily technology has also standardized, so one course could assist you in understanding the basics of another course. IT Integration revolves around a vast number of technologies, but a solid understanding of databases, XML, Java and Web Services will enable you to grasp the other technologies used in this field of specialization.

Qualifying for the job

Practical training is the best way to enter the industry but to specialise in this field, understanding the technology will be essential. You would not need to be an expert in all the listed technologies, but a basic understanding of the underlying technology would enable you to grasp how integration works in the world of data. For integration to be successful the captured data needs to be integrated with other data sources and transformed into information necessary to drive key business functions of an organization.

Work hours

Depending on the industry, technology and scope of integration, the working hours of an Integration Specialist might differ from project to project. Meeting deadlines on a project might require extra work hours. Whether you are a permanent employee in a company or a consultant to several companies would play a huge role regarding your working hours. Permanent employees, by law, usually have fixed hours, sometimes with the requirement of a standby. As a consultant, on the other hand, you may work on multiple projects with multiple deadlines at any given time.

Integration also has two different aspects, namely projects and support. Projects are usually time intensive with specific deadlines, whereas support is usually, but not always, a little more laid back.

Average remuneration for a qualified Integration Specialist

Renumeration for integration specialists differs by technology, but on average a skilled person in an industry that makes use of Java software will be looking at a salary of approximately R 45 000/month before deductions, whilst an Integration Specialist working with industry players using SAP ERP software will be looking at a salary of approximately R 60 000/month, dependent on their experience.

Tips for future Integration Specialists

When it comes to technologies one can never have enough knowledge. In the IT industry, knowledge is power. Always keep yourself up to date with technologies, and never set one technology to the side, someday you might need it. Software packages change when new variations are added. You will need to keep up to date with the new versions made available. For example, the latest version of SAP ERP was made available in 2006. The most recent Enhancement Package for SAP ERP 6.0 was released in 2016.

The basics will always remain intact but understanding new functions and abilities of any technology will certainly raise you a step above the rest.

By Jan Broodryk