What process allows separate systems to communicate directly with one another?

Integration is the process that enables separate systems to communicate directly with one another. This process is crucial in information technology, as it connects diverse systems and applications to work together as a cohesive unit. By integrating systems, organizations can streamline operations, improve data accuracy, and enhance workflow efficiency.

Through integration, various software platforms, databases, and applications can exchange data in real-time or near-real-time, allowing for coordinated efforts across different segments of an organization. This can involve different methods, such as APIs, middleware, or custom interfaces, ensuring that disparate systems can function together seamlessly.

Other options like data processing, data sharing, and data synchronization, while relevant aspects of data management and communication, do not specifically address the ability of separate systems to communicate directly. Data processing refers to the manipulation and transformation of data, data sharing involves the dissemination of data among users or applications, and data synchronization focuses on ensuring that data remains consistent across multiple locations or systems. Integration encapsulates the broader capability of enabling those systems to work together effectively in a cohesive manner, which is essential for delivering improved functionality and insights across an organization.