An integration server architecture (ISA) that facilitates communication between processes that do not share a common message format or use a common communication protocol. The ISA comprises a combination of adapters and a Queuing and Translation Engine (QTE). Every process that uses the ISA must have an adapter designed to understand that process's native message format. The adapter forwards the message to the QTE. The QTE places the forwarded message in an incoming message queue (IMQ). The QTE then retrieves messages from the IMQ in the order they arrive, identifies the sender, and locates an entry for the sender in a Configuration Database (CDB). The CDB entry designates a translation map that enables the QTE to properly translate messages into the receiving process's native format. The QTE uses the map to translate the messages into the receiving process's native format, and then forwards the translated message to the appropriate adapter.