Connecting applications is about more than moving data. First define what it means, who owns it and how it changes.
Start with flows, not tools
List business events: creating a customer, approving an order, closing a service request. Identify the authoritative source and the applications that need the information. This map reveals repeated entry and unclear ownership.
Define an explicit contract
An API should specify formats, validation rules and possible errors. Contract versioning matters as much as code. Plan stable identifiers, compatibility and an independent test environment.
Plan for interruptions
Networks fail and operations can arrive twice. Use idempotent processing, bounded retries and searchable logs. Every exchange should be understandable and recoverable.
Start with one useful flow
Choose an integration with an observable benefit. Document the workflow before and after, then review errors and actual time saved before expanding the scope.
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