There are several options available for interfacing with oracle ERP. The way integration and interfacing works in typical commercial application have almost similar in nature. Let’s emphasize some options that technology offer in Oracle applications. However, the option derived will be on the basis of nature of system, current process, and cost. From the integration and interfacing the important factors are:

Frequency The frequency is important in term of running the interface. Many times an interface need to run during month end processing, or needs to run on daily basis as most of industry updating happens off-hours only. 

Mode Should it be real time or daily and generally the mode is based on frequency.

Volume it is important to understand volume needs to interface. This helps in selecting the right  technology to help in handling big volumes.

Technology This is based out of all above three factors.

Security One way sync (Read Only) vs bi-directional (Read Write) vs access in place.

Generally integration is broadly categorized into two types:

• Data Integration
• Application Integration

This is the most standard way for doing interfacing in oracle application till day. This consist of developed interface table and programs. The underline interface table allow you to load data and then call concurrent program if any else use the standard AOL API’s and have a custom concurrent program. The standard/custom concurrent program will take data from the interface table validate it and the data into application base products table.

This kind of Open Interface Table satisfy in most of time, as design and development does not requires much efforts. In oracle each product has number of OIT available to cater most of interfacing/integration need.

Many times we need a tighter integration to oracle application that can be provided with interface table. In those cases, Oracle Application API’s are indeed a good options. API’s allow for tight integration into oracle application product. There are also 3rd party products that need to bolt-on into oracle apps with its integration capability.  

When there is no standard Oracle API’s to import data, a custom programs are written to insert data directly into the Oracle Base Tables. However, this is not recommended by oracle as it any changes from oracle standard functionality may malfunction during patch or upgrade version. So there are other options where we can use some EAI or middleware tool. EAI/Middleware tools typically works as adaptor or connector which then take care of any insert /update in oracle base table without any risk.