SAP Integration: Capitalize on synergies of solutions for your company
The large number of applications and technologies within a company is changing rapidly in the digital age. These different IT solutions should ideally be linked to one another and nowadays each poses specific integration challenges. How can these integration tasks be managed to drive growth and innovation and make your company fit for the future? We’ll help you find a holistic integration strategy that actively supports you on your path to digital transformation and accompanies you in the long term.
SAP Integration: Advantages and added value for your company
With the comprehensive SAP integration concept, we strive to help companies remove process or system barriers and establish flexible, cross-functional business processes that deliver the best possible results. SAP creates the conditions for seamless linking of applications and the design of a strong ecosystem consisting of solutions, data and artificial intelligence.
An integrated company offers huge advantages, such as:
- End-to-end business processes and quicker innovations since your data is consistent across applications
- Improved communication between SAP and non-SAP systems as well as cloud-based and on-premise applications
- Significant reduction in overall operating costs due to a leaner and more streamlined IT architecture
Optimized interface architecture thanks to SAP Integration Suite
The SAP Integration Suite is a cloud-based platform, which enables companies to seamlessly link their distributed and hybrid applications as well as data to one another. It provides tools and services to integrate on-premise and cloud solutions, supports different protocol and formats and uses APIs (application programming interfaces), connectors and best practices in order to exchange data securely and in real time. The result: end-to-end process automation and business transformation across SAP and third-party applications. This not only enables companies to respond to market changes in a targeted manner, but also to recognize them early on and address them proactively.
The SAP Integration Suite follows the following three basic principles:
Integrate everything holistically
Accelerate all connectivity
Connect every area with one another
Seamless linking of SAP and non-SAP applications
If companies use more than just SAP solutions, but their data should be linked to one another, this can be very challenging for the IT department: Differences in data formats, protocols and system architectures make seamless communication between these systems difficult. Additionally, outdated IT infrastructures and a lack of standardization can lead to enormous complexity and higher costs. Security aspects, such as observing compliance requirements and the secure exchange of data also play an important role. The integration lastly often also requires specific knowledge to ensure performance and data consistency.
Business-to-Business (B2B) and Application-to-Application (A2A): Focus on integration scenarios
But what scenarios do IT managers face on a daily basis?
- In B2B scenarios, the integration is enabled between business partners such as customers, suppliers or service providers. In this case, data and processes are exchanged between different companies via secure communication channels, often using standard protocols. An example of a B2B scenario would be automated order processing between a company with an SAP ERP system and a supplier, who uses a non-SAP solution.
- A2A scenarios, on the other hand, focus on the seamless integration of applications within a company. Both SAP and non-SAP solutions can be linked here in order to harmonize processes. Since SAP does not have a suitable application in its portfolio for all business processes, ORBIS is happy to take on the application development for special, customer-specific needs in order to close significant gaps in processes.
The SAP Integration Advisor is a tool within the SAP Integration Suite, which supports the company with creating and adjusting mappings and interfaces. By using machine learning and industry knowledge, it facilitates the implementation of B2B and A2A integrations by providing automated suggestions for the configuration and optimization of data formats and structures.
Advantages of customer-specific process and app development
The SAP Clean Core principle is aimed at leaving the core of SAP systems as unchanged as possible and making adjustments via extensions or external solutions. This simplifies future updates and upgrades since customer-specific adjustments do not affect the standard code. ORBIS offers tailored solutions which are customized precisely to the individual business requirements of the client. These applications increase efficiency since business processes are optimized and functions are specifically adapted to the needs of the users. Furthermore, the flexibility for future adaptations provides a competitive advantage by implementing unique features that stand out from standard solutions. Our specialists use the SAP Integration Suite to integrate these customized software solutions with existing SAP applications to improve user friendliness.
Examples of successful application integration at ORBIS
ORBIS TEM
Events have always been a fundamental component of a CRM strategy, but special event processes are not covered by the SAP portfolio. With the help of our event management software ORBIS TEM, which can be seamlessly integrated into the SAP Customer Experience Suite and into billing processes of S/4HANA, event-related data also complements the holistic 360-degree view of the customer. ORBIS TEM can get help from the SAP CDP (Customer Data Platform) when managing identities and access, as well as for enterprise consent management. Make your events professional and maximize the earnings potential from them at the same time!
ORBIS Service Portal
Our service portal makes managing support requests simple and efficient. Record tickets at lightning speed, categorize them yourself and assign your equipment (machine, device, etc.) as needed. Track the status of your tickets in real time and use the history for a complete overview. The system allows for mobile use, quick language settings and an overview of all equipment and its tickets. This app is integrated via the SAP Service Cloud in SAP S/4HANA and SAP Field Service Management. Optimize your customer service now!
ORBIS Config Tool
The Config Tool developed on SAP BTP using the low-code/no-code solution SAP Build equips the operating elements of devices with the required functions, which can vary depending on the product configuration. Thanks to the integration of the SAP backend using BTP destinations and the Cloud Connector, order data is read out directly, which considerably simplifies processing in the Config Tool. BTP destinations are also used for the integration of mail servers. SAP BTP also offers numerous services, including the SAP Forms Service by Adobe, which enables the simple creation of PDF templates that are filled with the required data as part of a configuration.
Hybrid Integration: Capitalize on synergies between SAP Cloud and on-premise
SAP cloud and on-premise integration solutions use different approaches, but can be combined via the SAP Integration Suite to create flexible connections:
SAP Cloud Integration, formerly SAP Cloud Platform Integration (SAP CPI), is a middleware hosted on SAP BTP, enabling companies to quickly and scalably connect different systems, applications and data sources. This solution allows SAP to offer an integration environment in the form of an iPaaS (integration platform as a service), which is particularly well suited for hybrid IT landscapes in which cloud applications have to be integrated with on-premise systems.
On-premise integration solutions such as SAP Process Orchestration (SAP PO) offer deeper control for complex internal processes and security requirements. They are ideal for companies with high security requirements or complex, tailored integration scenarios within their local IT infrastructure.
Synergies arise when both approaches are combined to connect both cloud and on-premise systems. This enables companies to retain existing on-premise installations and benefit from the advantages of the cloud, such as a simplified connection to external partners and cloud services.
A brief insight into promising integration technologies
Efficient system linking using API-supported integrations
The integration via APIs (application programming interfaces) on the SAP Business Technology Platform offers companies a flexible and secure solution for linking different systems and applications. APIs simplify the exchange of data between SAP and non-SAP solutions, without having to make radical changes to the IT infrastructure. Central API management in the SAP BTP allows you to efficiently control and monitor your integrations. Reusable APIs accelerate development and increase efficiency. They also enable the connection of cloud and on-premise systems and support modern architecture approaches such as microservices and event-based integrations.
Event-based architectures with SAP Event Mesh
With the help of SAP Event Mesh, event-based architectures enable flexible, asynchronous communication between applications. SAP Event Mesh is a messaging service that exchanges events in real time between distributed systems and applications. This allows applications to react to events, without having to be directly connected to one another. This architecture supports scaling and improves agility by seamlessly integrating microservices, cloud and on-premise systems. SAP Event Mesh ensures reliable and decoupled communication which is particularly advantageous in dynamic IT landscapes.
Integration assessment and further action
An integration assessment for existing IT landscapes in connection with the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) is used to evaluate and optimize a company's integration strategy. In this process, all existing systems, applications and data flows are analyzed in order to understand how well they are connected to one another and how efficiently they work together.
The planning and implementation of SAP integration projects can also take place using the SAP Activate method. SAP Activate offers a structured, proven approach to successfully introduce and integrate SAP solutions, including the Integration Suite.
And after a successful SAP integration project, we will also be happy to provide further support by developing tailored application management concepts for you.
