A centralized integration system is provided for enabling two or more heterogeneous applications to exchange communications with one another. Metadata is stored in a first repository form in order to configure instructions for performing one or more conversion operations on a particular item that is to be exchanged between two or more heterogeneous applications. The first repository form may be structured so as to facilitate validation of the metadata prior to the metadata being used to configure instructions for configuring the instructions. Transmission of the particular item to the integration system is detected. In response to detecting the item, the metadata in the first repository form is converted into a second repository form. The second form is structured to facilitate execution of the configured instructions using the metadata. As a result of the instructions being executed, one or more conversion operations are performed to convert the particular item from a format of the first application to a format of each of the one or more other applications.