Orchestration Engine

Intro

An orchestration engine executes and coordinates steps (manual and automated) per defined flows and rules. In EA, it is the runtime for process and integration automation.

Key points:

• Manages sequencing, conditions, and state.
• Provides monitoring, retries, and error handling.
• Common use cases across EA/BPM/Data/App/Tech include workflow engines, BPM suites, and integration platforms.
• Pitfall: embedding orchestration logic in individual apps, increasing coupling.

Examples:

• Workflow engine driving approvals and escalations.
• iPaaS orchestrating API calls across SaaS systems.
• Data pipeline engine coordinating ETL jobs.

In practice:

Select an engine that supports required models, connectors, and observability for your landscape.

Related terms: Orchestration; Workflow Engine; BPMN

FAQs:

Q: Can an ESB act as an orchestration engine?
A: Yes, if it supports flow control, state, and error handling.

Q: Does it replace APIs?
A: No; it coordinates API usage within flows.

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