Database-centric data integration involves data interchange between different databases, either in asynchronous or on-demand in the context of active transactions, or bulk data merges between source and target databases. The earliest information integration techniques involved exchanging data between different databases/applications through flat files. This data interchange using flat files made the data integration processes a batch process. This approach is in use even today, due to its technical simplicity and lower cost in terms of use of native database utilities. Organizations do not need to buy expensive proprietary tools or technologies.
However, the need for access to data in real-time, that is, when executing a transaction such as checking the current stock level for an item, current account balances, confirmation of address, ascertaining credit scores while processing loan applications, and so on, has increased with the advent of internet...