SAP Cloud Platform Integration (CPI), now part of the SAP Integration Suite, is a powerful cloud-based integration service designed to help enterprises connect SAP and non-SAP applications seamlessly. While CPI offers robust capabilities, understanding its licensing and pricing model is essential for organizations to plan budgets and optimize their investment in SAP Cloud Platform.
This article explains the fundamentals of CPI licensing and pricing, providing clarity on how costs are structured, what factors influence pricing, and best practices for managing CPI costs effectively.
SAP CPI is a cloud-native Integration Platform-as-a-Service (iPaaS) that enables process integration, API management, and data integration between heterogeneous landscapes. It supports various integration scenarios including cloud-to-cloud, cloud-to-on-premise, and B2B.
SAP CPI licensing typically revolves around subscription-based models tailored for cloud services. The main licensing approaches are:
Several factors impact the cost of SAP CPI services:
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Message Volume | Number of messages processed per month (in millions). |
| Integration Runtime Units (IRUs) | Capacity units required for processing messages and running iFlows. More IRUs mean higher throughput. |
| Number of Tenants | More tenants increase costs due to isolated runtime environments. |
| Type of Integration Scenarios | Cloud-to-cloud, on-premise, or B2B integrations may have different cost implications. |
| Additional Services | API Management, Open Connectors, Event Mesh add to overall pricing. |
| Contract Terms | Commitment duration and volume discounts may affect pricing. |
Message volume is a critical metric. One message could be a single document, an API call, or a business event. Pricing tiers often define a base message volume included with the license, with incremental charges for extra usage.
Throughput requirements determine the number of IRUs needed. IRUs affect processing speed and concurrency and are directly linked to tenant sizing and pricing.
Note: Actual prices vary by region, contract negotiation, and SAP’s current pricing policies.
| Customer Type | Licensing Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Small Businesses | Smaller message volumes, tenant-based subscriptions with minimal IRUs. |
| Medium Enterprises | Moderate message volume, possibly message-based pricing for flexibility. |
| Large Enterprises | High message volumes, integration suite bundles, and scalable IRU packages. |
| Partners and ISVs | Special pricing and licenses via SAP partner programs. |
SAP CPI licensing and pricing can seem complex due to varying usage patterns, integration needs, and service bundling. However, understanding the core concepts—message volume, runtime capacity, and service bundles—enables organizations to make informed decisions that optimize costs while leveraging SAP’s powerful integration capabilities.
As enterprises continue digital transformation, having clear visibility into CPI licensing helps avoid surprises and supports scalable, flexible integration landscapes.