Integrations feature in Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC)

Integrations feature in Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC). 

Before diving into its components and use cases, let’s clarify some key terms that may have multiple meanings, like instance and integration. 

Key Terminology 

1. Oracle Integration Cloud (OIC): OIC is Oracle’s platform-as-a-service that provides tools for creating and managing integrations, along with other features like File Server, B2B, Process Automation, and Visual Builder. In this training path, the focus is on the Integrations feature. 

2. OIC Instance: Before using any OIC features, you need to provision an OIC environment, also known as an OIC instance. This instance is tied to an OCI region and a compartment, providing the infrastructure for building and running integrations, Visual Builder apps, and Process Applications. 

Integration: An integration is a service you create and deploy within your OIC instance. It connects applications, processes, or services to meet specific business needs.  

1. Once deployed and activated, integrations can be triggered multiple times. Each trigger creates a new integration instance, which runs independently and can be tracked later. 

Integrations Feature 

The Integrations feature is the core component of OIC and includes tools for creating, deploying, and managing integrations. These services enable seamless communication between applications, services, and processes. 

With these definitions clear, let’s dive deeper into the components of the Integrations feature. 

In the OIC console, the Integrations feature is always accessible. Simply click on Design to access its components, starting with the core element: integrations. 

Core Components 

1. Integrations: The main service used to connect applications, processes, and systems. 
2. Adapters: Pre-built connectors (80+ available) for Oracle Cloud, SaaS apps, on-premises systems, databases, and more. 
3. Connections: Configurations for adapters, including connectivity and security details. 
4. Lookups: Domain value maps to associate and translate data between applications. 
5. Events: Enable integrations to communicate using a publish-subscribe pattern. 
6. Packages: Group integrations and their dependencies for easy export and import. 
7. Connectivity Agent: Required for accessing on-premises or private network systems securely. 
8. Data Mapper: A tool for mapping fields and transforming data between systems. Includes built-in XSLT functions and supports custom JavaScript functions via libraries. 
9. JavaScript Libraries: Custom functions that extend the capabilities of the data mapper. 

These components work together to simplify integration design, deployment, and management within OIC. 

Integrations 

An integration is a service you create and deploy to address specific use cases, such as connecting applications, fulfilling business requirements, or creating an abstraction layer for other services or apps. As the centerpiece of the Integrations feature, it plays a vital role in enabling seamless communication and data flow. 

Adapters 

Creating integrations in OIC involves using various supporting components, starting with adapters. There are over 80 pre-installed adapters in your OIC environment. These include options for: 

• Oracle Cloud and SaaS applications 

• Third-party SaaS applications 

• On-premises enterprise apps 

• Social and productivity tools 

• Generic technology adapters for databases, FTP, file servers, REST, and SOAP 

This graphic showcase 55 adapter categories and icons, highlighting the variety of tools available for your integrations.  

OCI Adapters 

Connections 

To design an integration, you’ll use one or more of these adapters by creating a connection. A connection is configured for a specific adapter and includes essential details like connectivity and security settings. 

The Adapter Configuration Wizard simplifies setting up connections for your use case. 

Agents  

However, if you’re connecting to services or applications within a private network, on-premises systems, or a private cloud, you’ll need a connectivity agent. This agent securely bridges the private network and Oracle Integration Cloud, enabling smooth communication and data exchange. 

Lookups 

To make data mapping easier in integrations, OIC uses lookups, also known as domain value maps. Lookups match values from one application to corresponding values in another, ensuring compatibility across systems. 

For example, a lookup can map: 

• Country codes (e.g., "US" to "USA") 

• City codes 

• Currency codes 

• Other common data types 

Once defined, a lookup functions like a lightweight database table. However, instead of querying a database, the runtime lookup function retrieves values directly from memory, making the process faster and more efficient. This helps maintain consistent data translations across applications. 

Libraries 

OIC provides a range of built-in XSLT functions to help with data transformations during integrations. Additionally, you can create custom functions using JavaScript and register them as a JavaScript library in OIC. 

Once the library is added to your OIC environment, these custom functions can be used in the data mapper tool, just like the built-in XSLT functions. This flexibility allows you to handle complex data transformation requirements tailored to your specific integration needs. 

Events 

In most cases, integrations in OIC are triggered by an external application or a client request. However, you can also create a local integration service that is triggered by an event published by another integration. 

An event is defined with: 

• A unique name 

• A JSON object containing the event's data 

These events can be used for event subscriptions or published by other integrations, enabling seamless communication between them. This approach follows a publish-subscribe pattern, which helps decouple integrations, making them more modular and easier to manage. 

Packages 

Lastly, OIC allows you to group multiple integrations into a package. This is especially useful when you need to export or import related integrations as a single unit. A package includes not only the integrations but also their dependencies, such as: 

• Connections 

• Lookups 

• Libraries 

• Events 

By packaging integrations, you simplify the process of managing and transferring complex solutions. 

In summary, integrations are the core of the OIC integrations feature, supported by additional components to build and implement complete solutions effectively. 

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