Integrating Data Integration Tools

The data integration market has recently witnessed a flurry of activity among vendors to launch new 'integrated' suites. Oracle, Informatica and Business Objects are now assembling broad data integration suites more or less the same way - by acquiring each part and putting it together on a single platform. These moves signal a tightening level of integration between what is a largely acquired grab bag of data integration tools. They are also reflective of the broadening scope of data integration beyond analytic data warehousing to more operationally focused areas. The benefit of suites for customers is flexibility in terms of how they license these technologies. However, they shouldn't mistake a bundle for a truly integrated suite, and should carefully scrutinise how well the component tools play together.