Oracle Integration Cloud Service (ICS) has gained a lot of traction in the marketplace and for good reason: it’s both a cloud-based integration application that performs integrations between applications, with the capabilities to perform additional integrations with on-premises applications.
Understanding that as the world becomes more digitally connected, the need for non-developer-friendly tools is becoming more paramount, ICS is defined by its ‘easier and more seamless approach to creating integrations today. Based on the Oracle Service Bus application, ICS takes it one step further by creating functionality that is all browser-based with XSL being used for mapping and transformations.
At its core, ICS is marked by a long list of application adapters that connect with other cloud-based apps, as well as standard adapters for database, file, and ftp. Serious about revolutionizing the industry as we know it, the ICS adapter list is a long one, and includes the following:
- AQ
- Adobe eSign
- Ariba
- Concur
- DocuSign
- Eloqua
- Eventbrite
- Evernote
- File
- FTP
- Google Calendar
- Google Mail
- Google Task
- JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- JMS
- MailChimp
- Microsoft Calendar
- Microsoft Contact
- Microsoft Email
- Microsoft SQL Server
- MySQL
- NetSuite
- Oracle Commerce Cloud
- Oracle CPQ
- Oracle Database
- Oracle E-Business Suite
- Oracle ERP Cloud
- Oracle Field Service Cloud
- Oracle HCM Cloud
- Oracle Messaging Cloud Service
- Oracle RightNow (Service Cloud)
- Oracle Sales Cloud
- Oracle Siebel
- Oracle Utilities
- Responsys
- REST
- Salesforce
- SAP
- ServiceNow
- SOAP
- Successfactors
- SurveyMonkey
Within ICS, its components are categorized as Connections and Integrations. What are these two concepts?
Connections are instances of an adapter that have been programmed to leverage a certain endpoint and credentials. It can count as two connections if your system needs to be in two places at once. Additionally, since ICS is licensed by connection, it’s an accessible and affordable solution for companies that don’t want to onboard the entire Oracle SOA Suite.
To further dive into ICS and its features, let’s look over different integrations that are supported by the tool:
- Basic Map Data Style/Pattern: now you can transfer data between two systems, with the feature to add one enrichment call during either the response or request. In layman’s terms: you can get data from system A to system B, with quick and obvious transfers that work for non-developers.
- Orchestration Style/Pattern: with this feature, you can assign, map, stop, and switch, creating more complicated flows like invoking calls to downstream systems, aggregating data, etc. Like the Oracle Bus Service, the orchestration feature is stateless.
- ICS Messaging: akin to using JMS to write and read messages, you can use ICS messaging across multiple integrations for tracking timelines, information, and so forth. If you want to communicate on your premises systems, you also have the option of installing either/both of the Connection and Execution Agents. With the Connection Agent, your ICS will be able to communicate without the hole in the firewall. With the Execution Agent, you can now run integrations on a local level.
- Monitoring Console: now you can track messages and errors in real-time. You can download Diagnostic and Activity logs as needed, which can be used for debugging and troubleshooting requirements.
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