The Australian National University is preparing to introduce an enterprise service bus in the hope it will boost staff efficiency by reducing manual processes like rekeying data from one system to another.
The ANU's data integration project will see it implement a suite of IBM middleware products - Integration Bus, MQ, and API Connect - to move data between the more than 100 business applications the university currently uses.
The ESB will be integrated with the university’s core systems, which include its PeopleSoft student management, HR and finance system; Oracle Identity Manager; Moodle-based learning management system; Office 365; and IBM Cognos business management system.
It will also tie together a range of other systems, including building automation, casual parking, fire management, emergency SMS, student housing management, timetables, and its Drupal-based content management system, among others.
According to tender documents, ANU has traditionally relied on custom point-to-point integrations to move data between its systems.
While the university currently has 140 such integrations in place, many of its systems aren't integrated at all given the time and cost associated with doing so.
It means data must be manually rekeyed between systems, leading to errors and decreased efficiency for staff.
The university is hoping the new ESB approach will free up staff time for more valuable activities, improve development times and lower costs for future integrations, and make it easier to decommission legacy applications.
It also hopes more integration between systems will allow for standardised methods of protecting personal data for staff and students.
The university is currently looking for integration partners to assist with the implementation of the technology.
Applications for the tender close September 23. ANU expects to sign a contract with the successful bidder before November 30.
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