In the era of cloud-based digital transformation, integrating diverse applications, systems, and data sources efficiently is crucial for enterprises. SAP Cloud Platform Integration (SAP CPI), also known as SAP Integration Suite, offers a robust platform to connect cloud and on-premise applications seamlessly. A core component enabling this seamless connectivity is Adapters — the connectors that facilitate communication between different systems.
Adapters in SAP CPI are specialized components that enable integration flows (iFlows) to communicate with various protocols, formats, and third-party applications. They act as bridges that translate and transfer data between different endpoints, whether it be cloud applications, on-premise ERP systems, web services, or messaging queues.
Adapters handle the details of connecting, sending, receiving, and formatting messages, allowing integration developers to focus on business logic rather than low-level technical protocols.
Business ecosystems often consist of heterogeneous systems with varying communication protocols and data formats. Adapters in SAP CPI abstract these differences, enabling:
SAP CPI provides a wide range of adapters, categorized broadly as:
These adapters receive messages from external systems or applications and pass them into the integration flow.
These adapters send processed messages from SAP CPI to target systems or applications.
| Adapter Name | Purpose | Protocol/Technology |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP | Connects via HTTP/S REST APIs | HTTP/HTTPS |
| SOAP | Supports SOAP web services | SOAP/XML |
| IDoc | Integrates SAP ERP systems using IDoc protocol | IDoc |
| SFTP | Secure file transfer between systems | SFTP (SSH File Transfer) |
| JMS | Messaging via Java Message Service queues | JMS |
| OData | Connects to OData services | OData |
| RFC | Remote Function Call for SAP system integration | RFC |
| XI | SAP PI/XI protocol for integration | XI Protocol |
| Send or receive emails | SMTP/POP3/IMAP | |
| SuccessFactors | Prebuilt adapter for SAP SuccessFactors integration | API based |
When an integration flow is executed, the sender adapter listens for incoming messages or triggers, processes the message format, and hands it over to the integration logic. After processing, the receiver adapter takes the transformed message and delivers it to the destination system.
For example, an HTTP sender adapter might receive an order in JSON format from an e-commerce platform, which is then transformed and sent as an IDoc via the IDoc receiver adapter to an SAP ERP system.
Adapters in SAP CPI are configured within the integration flow design time using SAP Web IDE or SAP Integration Suite tooling. Key configuration aspects include:
Developers can also extend adapter functionality using scripts or custom mappings if required.
Adapters form the backbone of SAP CPI’s integration capabilities, enabling enterprises to connect diverse applications with ease. By abstracting protocol and format complexities, SAP CPI adapters accelerate the design and deployment of integration scenarios, supporting the hybrid enterprise architecture.
Understanding and leveraging the right adapters allows organizations to streamline business processes, improve data consistency, and embrace agile integration strategies in their digital transformation journey.