Integration Layer

A BSS/OSS integration layer provides the APIs, interfaces and supporting services used to connect business and operational support systems with each other, external applications and ecosystem partners.

It enables information and processes to flow between areas such as CRM, product catalogue, ordering, charging, billing, service fulfilment and network inventory. It can also provide common capabilities for authentication, API management, notifications and monitoring.

Cerillion Integration Layer is not a separate middleware product. It describes the integration capabilities built into the Cerillion BSS/OSS platform, including TM Forum Open APIs, other REST APIs, event notifications and connectors to third-party systems.

API-first BSS/OSS means that APIs are fundamental to how the platform is designed and operated, rather than being added later solely to support individual integrations.

The APIs drive how users and applications interact with system capabilities, how components within the platform communicate, and how external systems, partners and AI tools can access authorised data and functions. The same underlying capabilities can therefore be reused consistently across user interfaces, automated processes and third-party integrations.

Cerillion exposes the same APIs used natively within its BSS/OSS Suite to external systems and applications. This avoids creating a separate integration layer based on bespoke interfaces that behave differently from the core platform.

TM Forum Open APIs are standardised REST-based interfaces developed for the telecommunications industry. They provide common models and operations for managing areas such as customers, products, orders, services, resources, usage, billing and payments.

Using standard APIs makes it easier for CSPs to integrate systems from different vendors, introduce new digital channels and connect with partners. It also reduces reliance on bespoke point-to-point integrations that can be costly to develop and maintain.

Cerillion uses TM Forum Open APIs throughout its BSS/OSS platform and has achieved Diamond-level certification based on API conformance and certified real-world deployments.

Point-to-point integration creates a dedicated interface between two systems for a particular requirement. As the number of systems and connections grows, these bespoke interfaces can become difficult to change, test and maintain.

API-based integration exposes reusable business capabilities through consistent, documented interfaces. Multiple applications, channels and partners can use the same APIs, subject to appropriate authentication and access controls. This supports a more modular architecture in which systems can be introduced or replaced without rebuilding every surrounding integration.

Cerillion’s standards-based APIs provide reusable access to capabilities across the BSS/OSS Suite, while additional REST APIs and pre-built connectors support requirements not covered by TM Forum standards.