¶ Interoperability in eTag Fuse
Interoperability is the ability of diverse systems to work together intelligently and meaningfully, not just exchange data. It is the highest level of system collaboration — and the core mission of the Fuse platform.
¶ 1. What is Interoperability?
Interoperability goes beyond integration, automation, or orchestration. It means:
Systems understand each other’s data and intent
Processes work across domains with shared context
Components adapt to each other’s constraints and policies
Security, identity, and semantic meaning flow across boundaries
Fuse doesn’t just connect systems — it makes them compatible, cooperative, and intelligent across all layers.
¶ 2. Interoperability vs. Integration
| Concept | Integration | Interoperability |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Data exchange | Shared understanding and collaboration |
| Type | Technical | Semantic, procedural, operational |
| Scope | Point-to-point or system-to-system | Domain-to-domain, user-to-system, process-wide |
| Fuse’s Approach | API and data connectivity | Context, meaning, and composability across domains |
¶ 3. The Domains of Interoperability in Fuse
In Fuse, domains represent the building blocks of system collaboration — such as identity, data, AI, UI, security, and more. Rather than forcing systems to flatten their functionality into generic APIs, Fuse enables each domain to operate as a modular, pluggable unit with its own context, logic, and policies.
These domains don’t work in silos. They are cross-connected through Fuse’s orchestration, automation, and integration layers — enabling true multi-domain interoperability.
¶ 
Explore All Interoperability Domains
Each domain has its own role in enabling collaboration and control — from data normalization, to AI orchestration, to human-in-the-loop workflows.
Visit the Domains of Interoperability page to explore:
- Data, Service, and Process Interoperability
- Security, UI, and AI Interoperability
- Operational, Compliance, and Human-in-the-Loop Interoperability
- Visual domain mesh diagram
- Domain extensibility strategies
¶ 4. Why Interoperability Is a Platform Capability
Unlike integration tools that offer features in isolation, Fuse enables:
- Composable capabilities — Connectors, policies, UIs, and AI tools can be reused across domains
- Unified state — Systems share awareness of what's happening, not just what happened
- Adaptive behavior — Context-sensitive execution that adjusts based on data, policy, or domain
Fuse acts as an interoperability fabric, not just a platform — enabling your enterprise to act like a single, adaptive system.
¶ 5. Examples of Interoperability in Action
- Cross-border tax compliance — Data, security, UI, and logic integrated across nations, banks, and users
- Federated identity workflows — Fuse connects Okta, ADFS, Google with dynamic workflows and policy enforcement
- AI agent orchestration — Fuse lets models call each other, select tools, and trigger downstream actions across domains
¶ 6. Building Toward Interoperability
To reach interoperability:
- Start with Integration
- Add Automation to reduce manual effort
- Use Orchestration to control complex workflows
- Achieve Interoperability to unify them all with intelligence and shared context
Fuse was built specifically to support this layered journey — not just to connect systems, but to enable ecosystems.
¶ 7. Real-World Mental Models & Analogies
To better understand Fuse and interoperability, think in analogies:
- “Fuse is to interoperability what Kubernetes is to container orchestration.”
- “If APIs are roads, Fuse is the entire transit system — managing routes, signaling traffic, dispatching flows, enforcing policies, and adapting in real time.”
¶ 8. What Problems Does Interoperability Actually Solve?
 Pain Point |
 Traditional Reality |
How Fuse Solves It |
|---|---|---|
| Data Silos | Systems can’t speak the same language | Schema normalization + semantic pipelines |
| Security Fragmentation | Multiple identity providers, no SSO | Federated identity + token orchestration |
| Human-System Coordination | Manual approvals, missing context | Human-in-the-loop workflows with traceability |
| Duplicate Logic | Same rules in multiple apps | Reusable pipelines, triggers, and domain primitives |
¶ 9. Interoperability Maturity Model
Interoperability is not a toggle — it’s a journey of intentional digital transformation.
| Level | Stage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 |  Disconnected |
Manual tasks, siloed systems, no automation or integration |
| 1 | Integrated |
Point-to-point APIs, file transfers, ETL scripts |
| 2 | Automated |
Event-based triggers, scripts, basic pipelines — but no coordination |
| 3 |  Orchestrated |
Workflow-driven, state-aware, includes human input and policy enforcement |
| 4 |  Interoperable |
Fully composable, context-aware, domain-driven collaboration with governance |
¶ Ready to Evolve?
¶ 10. How to Think in Fuse
- Think in domains, not systems
- Compose flows using reusable logic
- Pass context, not just data
- Apply AI and UI as orchestrated actors
This isn’t about building integrations. It’s about composing interoperable systems.
¶ 11. Before vs. After: Traditional vs. Interoperable Flows
 Traditional Integration |
Fuse-Based Interoperability |
|---|---|
| Point-to-point scripts | Cross-domain pipelines |
| Siloed credentials | Federated identity with scoped tokens |
| Custom logic per app | Composable UI, AI, and policy components |
| Hidden or fragmented logs | Unified, domain-aware observability |
| Brittle systems | Resilient, recoverable, adaptive coordination |
¶ 12. Governance & Observability in Fuse
Fuse makes compliance and governance native — not bolted on:
- Audit Trails — Track every step by domain, user, and trigger
- Policy Enforcement — e.g., deny AI tool access unless user has
AIUserrole - Domain-Scoped Telemetry — Logs, traces, metrics grouped by domain
Fuse turns governance into a platform capability — with minimal developer overhead.
¶ 13. Interoperability KPIs & Success Metrics
To prove the impact of interoperability, track metrics like:
 Metric |
 Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Time to onboard a system | Measures integration agility |
| Reuse ratio of components | Indicates modularity and governance |
| # of workflows crossing domains | Reveals system coordination maturity |
| Manual handoff reduction | Tracks automation effectiveness |
| Audit coverage % | Measures observability and compliance readiness |
¶ 14. Additional Resources
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eTag Fuse Platform
Explore how Fuse delivers true interoperability — enabling systems, services, AI, identity, and user interaction layers to operate with shared meaning, purpose, and coordination across domains. -
Audio Summary: Interoperability in Fuse
Next: Domains of Interoperability — Understand how Fuse defines and governs functional domains for true multi-domain collaboration.