The VertiGIS Integrator is a server-based software for the intranet, used to connect the Geographic Information System (GIS) with other IT systems.
A GIS in utility companies typically has to be integrated with other IT systems in order to be able to implement cross-system business processes. Examples of such systems are:
•Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERP), like SAP
•Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
•SCADA and DMS systems
Integrations
The VertiGIS Integrator offers three types of integrations:
•Backend Integration – near real-time, ongoing data synchronization of certain assets and attributes between GIS and other IT systems without any direct user interaction.
•Online Integration – one-time data synchronization (e.g. batch job to initially fill SAP EAM / GEF with GIS data) with direct user interaction.
•Frontend Integration – combining data and functions of both GIS and SAP (or other IT systems) in one web-based user interface.
The main benefits of these integrations, to name just a few, are:
•reduced data entry
•improved data quality
•better mapping between systems
•optimization of business processes
Processes such as asset management, maintenance, inspection, customer service, and /or financial reporting are improved by system integration of SAP (or other IT systems) with GIS.
General message flow: External system to GIS
The external system (e.g. SAP) sends a message to the VertiGIS Integrator. The GIS Connector of the VertiGIS Integrator executes the relevant INSERT, DELETE or UPDATE operations in the selected ArcGIS Server version (typically in SDE.DEFAULT) and on the relevant objects/assets. The GIS Connector then sends a response to SAP, containing the GIS Object ID of the new/updated asset or the error number in the case of an error. Non-Esri GIS systems are connected via feature services.
General message flow: GIS to external system
The VertiGIS Integrator checks with the PostManager what changes a user has done in a certain GIS job/version or by analyzing editor tracking. Only these changes are sent to the external system. A filtering is possible (see object filter). Optionally, SAP sends a response.
All messages are idempotent, which means that they can be re-sent multiple times and will always have the same effect (e.g. no creation of duplicate entries).
Also, different functionalities are available such as check protocol of all messages, check all (GIS) jobs which were handled by the VertiGIS Integrator, manual creation of messages for certain object IDs and certain tasks, for instance, information on versions in Esri geodatabase, configurations for VertiGIS Integrator, SOAP monitor (checking all incoming external SOAP messages), information on ArcGIS Server services, log out.
Last but not least, the VertiGIS Integrator is SAP certified for integration with SAP Applications and SAP S/4HANA, resulting in keeping the ArcGIS and SAP HANA databases in perfect sync. The VertiGIS Integrator is also used to fill/keep in sync a GEF running in SAP HANA.
