¶ Integration Layer
¶ Purpose
The Integration Layer in Fuse establishes the foundation of cross-system communication — connecting systems, applications, and services to enable secure, observable, and composable interoperability across domains.
Integration alone is not the goal — it’s the starting point for orchestrated, explainable execution.
¶ 
Overview
Integration refers to the technical process of linking systems, APIs, or components so they can send and receive data, events, or commands. Fuse supports a wide variety of integration types, including:
- REST and SOAP APIs
- File-based transfers (CSV, XML, EDI)
- Messaging systems (queues, topics, webhooks)
- SQL and stored procedure access
- Event-based and schedule-based triggers
Many platforms treat integration as the end-state. Fuse treats it as the entry point into governed, explainable, cross-domain execution.
¶ 
Key Capabilities
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Protocol Connectors | HTTP, FTP, TCP, SMTP, WebSockets, SQL, EDI, SCIM |
| Format Transformers | JSON, XML, CSV, HL7, X12, and custom schema mapping |
| Dynamic Mappings | Runtime-driven adaptation, enrichment, and format translation |
| API Façade Layering | Securely expose internal or legacy systems through governed API layers |
| Observability | Token propagation, event tracing, error handling, and full auditability |
Fuse makes integrations:
Composable — Usable across workflows, assistants, and orchestration logic
Governable — Subject to policy, role, and token enforcement
Observable — Traceable across the entire execution fabric
¶ 
Common Integration Patterns
| Pattern | Description | In Fuse |
|---|---|---|
 Point-to-Point |
Direct connection between two systems | REST, SOAP, SQL, SMTP |
 Hub-and-Spoke |
Central event coordinator or orchestrator | Fuse’s orchestration engine and event bus |
 API Gateway |
Aggregated API layer for many services | Fuse exposes API façades with identity, security, and policy |
 Message Bus / ESB |
Shared pub/sub or queue-based communication | Adapters, message transformers, retry logic |
¶ 
Limitations of Integration Alone
Integration solves connection — but not coordination, governance, or resilience.
| Limitation | Description |
|---|---|
 No shared meaning |
Systems move data but lack contextual understanding |
 Tight coupling |
Fragile dependencies break easily with changes |
 No built-in recovery |
Minimal error handling or fallback logic |
| No policy or trust context |
Lacks access controls, auditability, or decision explainability |
Fuse embeds integration into a governed, explainable execution model — where trust, structure, and knowledge accompany the connection.
¶ 
Integration in the Interoperability Stack
| Domain | How Integration Participates |
|---|---|
 Security |
Enables token exchange, SSO, identity brokering |
 UI |
Triggers human-in-the-loop events or real-time updates |
| Workflow |
Launches orchestrations from API calls or external events |
 Messaging |
Adapts inbound messages into task triggers or notifications |
 Knowledge |
Exposes external content or APIs as structured, governed Resources |
Integration is the bridge between external systems and internal intelligence, trust, and orchestration.
¶ When to Use Integration Alone
Fuse supports integration-only workflows when:
- Connecting simple systems without orchestration
- Handling scheduled transfers (ETL, sync)
- Exposing APIs from legacy or static back-ends
- Performing light transformation or routing
For decisions, context-awareness, approvals, or AI participation — transition into:
¶ 
Explore Related Concepts
-
Knowledge Layer
Enables explainability and context injection into runtime integration flows -
Automation Layer
Supports reactive triggers and conditional logic from integration points -
Orchestration Layer
Builds structured workflows and approval chains using integration data -
Interoperability Layer
Achieves governed, cross-domain execution from integrated systems and signals -
Domains of Interoperability
Learn how integration supports domain-wide reasoning, trust, and automation
Ownership, Review, Status, and System Instructions
¶ Ownership
- Owner: Fuse Platform Architecture Team
- Contributors: Integration Engineering Group, Interop Enablement Team
- Reviewer: Director of Systems Architecture
- Approver: Chief Platform Architect
¶ Review
- Last Reviewed: 2025-05-11
- Next Review Due: 2026-05-11
¶ System Instructions
systemInstructions:
purpose: "Defines the Integration Layer as the foundation of system connection and data exchange within Fuse. Explains its limitations and its role in powering automation, orchestration, and governed interoperability."
llmGuidance: "Use this page to explain how system-level integration connects external inputs to workflows, messaging, assistants, and governance models. Reference limitations and when to escalate into higher layers."
trustLevel: High
knowledgeType: InteroperabilityLayer