What is one of the key roles of an Integration Architect?

One of the key roles of an Integration Architect is to document architectural plans. This involves creating a comprehensive blueprint that outlines how different systems and applications will interact within the enterprise ecosystem. By documenting architectural plans, the Integration Architect ensures that there is a clear understanding of data flows, integration points, and the technologies in use.

Documentation serves multiple purposes: it provides a reference for current and future development teams, helps in maintaining consistency across integration efforts, and aids in the onboarding of new team members. It also plays a critical role in ensuring that stakeholders have a shared understanding of the integration architecture, which leads to better decision-making and alignment on strategic goals.

Other responsibilities, such as developing APIs, managing API testing, and deploying applications to the cloud, while essential, are typically more focused on the implementation or execution aspects rather than the strategic planning and architecture side of integration. Thus, documenting architectural plans is a foundational activity that supports all integration efforts and ensures the alignment of technology with business objectives.