Why SAP Integration Suite Is More Important Than Ever
Erik Landkroon - SAP Fiori & Development Consultant
An organization’s current IT landscape is no longer what it used to be. Today, companies no longer rely on a single on-premises system. Instead, we see a hybrid ecosystem where various cloud applications and on-premises systems coexist. As a result, organizations face the challenge of ensuring that this proliferation of applications works together seamlessly. SAP’s solution? The SAP Integration Suite.
From Disconnected Systems to a Connected Landscape
Many organizations are dealing with a growing number of applications. This growth is often the result of organic expansion: a new tool here, a SaaS solution there. As a result, data is scattered across systems, integrations quickly become complex, and management and maintenance take up more time.
The SAP Integration Suite helps to seamlessly connect that landscape without embedding logic in core systems.
What is SAP Integration Suite?
The SAP Integration Suite is an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) within the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP). The platform serves as a bridge between various applications and systems, including both SAP and non-SAP systems. Using a variety of tools and standard connectors, systems can be connected to one another easily, securely, and quickly.
In addition, SAP Integration Suite plays a crucial role in the Clean Core strategy.
Four key components of the Suite
The SAP Integration Suite consists of several components, each of which has a specific role:
Cloud Integration: For designing and developing both simple and complex integration flows and scenarios via a visual user interface. This involves routing, transforming, and mapping messages and data.
API Management: For securely making internal data available to the outside world. This makes it easy to determine who has access to the API and to monitor its usage.
Open Connectors: With a wide range of standard connectors, various third-party applications can be quickly connected to one another.
Event Mesh: Enables organizations to respond to events in real time and work toward adopting an event-driven architecture.
Why use SAP Integration Suite?
Organizations choose the SAP Integration Suite to make their integrations easier to manage. Three reasons are frequently cited:
The Clean Core Strategy: SAP Integration Suite is a key component of SAP’s Clean Core strategy. Instead of making modifications within the S/4 HANA system, the integration logic with external systems is set up outside of S/4 HANA. This keeps the core system stable and makes it easier to upgrade.
Pre-packaged Content: The SAP Business Accelerator Hub provides access to ready-to-use integration scenarios. This accelerates the development and deployment of integrations.
Central Monitoring: SAP Integration Suite provides a central location for monitoring and managing all integration scenarios and APIs.
SAP Integration Suite in Practice
What does this mean in practice? The SAP Integration Suite can add value to an organization in various ways, for example:
Integration of SAP Applications: Using out-of-the-box iFlows (Integration Flows), various SAP and non-SAP applications can be linked together. A good example is support for integration scenarios between SAP MDG and SAP Cloud for Customer (C4C/C4). These iFlows are available as templates and can be extended as needed.
Integration with Third-Party APIs: This includes connecting to external sources, such as the Chamber of Commerce registry.
Making data available from the SAP system: Securely making SAP data available to various applications within the organization.
Conclusion
The SAP Integration Suite is more than just a technical tool. It is a strategic resource for connecting the IT landscape within organizations.
The platform helps organizations set up integrations that are manageable, secure, and scalable, while also supporting the Clean Core strategy. As a result, systems work together more quickly and efficiently, without requiring unnecessary changes to core systems.
Learn more
For more information about SAP Integration Suite, please contact Sander van der Wijngaart. He would be happy to discuss how this tool can be strategically implemented within your organization.
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