Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for automating the EII, using a smart integration engine based on metadata. On-line execution (i.e. data access, retrieval, or update) is automated by integrating heterogeneous data sources via a centralized smart engine based on metadata of all data sources managed in a metadata repository. The data-source assets are mapped to business metadata (terminology) giving programmers the ability to use business terms, and overcome technical terms. IT departments can use the business-level terms for easy and fast programming of all services “at the business level”. The integration is performed by the engine (via pre-configuration) automatically, dynamically, and on-line, regardless of topology or technology changes, without user or administrator intervention. MDOA is a high-level concept in which the metadata maps the technical low-level terms to business high-level terms.