Moving Data into the GL

I'm looking for information or feedback on how PSFT GL Users are feeding their general ledger.

Do you use a point to point connection from your various source systems directly to PSFT GL? Or, do you utilize an accounting engine of some sorts to apply business rules to pass detailed data into a database from which summarized data then feeds into the GL?

If you are using the engine/database concept, what are your pros and cons? What engine are you using, purchased or internally built?

Appreciate the info and insight!

Sara