Abstract: A system and method for integrating one or more external systems, where the integration is achieved through the collaboration of an engine and one or more adapters. The engine can be configured with a set of rules that defines how messages are distributed among the adapters, and is responsible for enforcing those rules. Each adapter is associated with an external system. Each adapter is responsible for translating messages received from the associated external system into a common messaging protocol and for transmitting the translated messages to the engine. In addition, each adapter is responsible for translating messages in the common messaging protocol received from the engine and for transmitting the translated messages to the associated external system. Engines and adapters may be distributed among several computers.