In today’s heterogeneous IT landscapes, enterprises rely on multiple systems—both SAP and non-SAP—to run their operations efficiently. Seamless integration between these systems is critical to ensuring smooth business processes, consistent data flow, and a unified user experience. The SAP Integration Suite provides a robust, flexible platform to integrate SAP environments with diverse non-SAP applications, enabling businesses to connect across clouds and on-premises systems effortlessly.
This article explores how to leverage SAP Integration Suite for successful integration with non-SAP systems, key tools, approaches, and best practices.
Most organizations use a mix of software, including:
- CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics)
- HR solutions (e.g., Workday)
- E-commerce platforms (e.g., Magento, Shopify)
- Legacy databases and custom applications
- Collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams)
Integrating SAP with these systems ensures:
- Unified data management
- Automated workflows spanning multiple platforms
- Real-time data synchronization
- Improved user experience and operational efficiency
SAP Integration Suite, part of SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), is designed for modern integration challenges:
- Cloud-native and scalable architecture
- Support for multiple protocols (REST, SOAP, OData, JMS, IDoc, RFC)
- Rich adapter library including connectors for popular non-SAP applications
- Prebuilt integration content from SAP API Business Hub
- API Management for exposing and securing APIs
- Event Mesh for asynchronous event-driven integration
- Develop integration flows (iFlows) to orchestrate data exchange between SAP and non-SAP systems.
- Use adapters like HTTP, REST, SOAP, JDBC, and SFTP.
- Apply message mapping, transformation, and routing.
- Provide standardized connectors for 150+ third-party SaaS applications such as Salesforce, Google Workspace, Dropbox, and more.
- Simplify authentication and API interaction with non-SAP cloud services.
- Manage, secure, and monitor APIs exposed by both SAP and non-SAP systems.
- Enable API-led integration approaches that enhance modularity and reuse.
- Facilitate event-based asynchronous communication between systems.
- Decouple systems and improve scalability and responsiveness.
| Approach |
Description |
Use Case Example |
| Point-to-Point |
Direct connection between SAP and non-SAP system |
Real-time data sync between SAP and Salesforce |
| Hub-and-Spoke |
Central SAP Integration Suite acts as a hub routing messages |
Complex workflows involving multiple systems |
| API-Led Integration |
Expose and consume APIs for loosely coupled integrations |
Mobile app using APIs from SAP and external CRM |
| Event-Driven |
Use events to trigger integration processes |
Notify third-party warehouse system on order creation |
- Identify source and target systems.
- Define data types, frequency, and volume.
- Determine synchronous vs asynchronous needs.
- Use SAP Cloud Connector for secure access to on-premise systems.
- Set up authentication for non-SAP cloud APIs.
- Use Cloud Integration to build iFlows.
- Leverage Open Connectors for SaaS integration.
- Implement message transformation and routing.
¶ Step 4: Secure and Manage APIs
- Expose SAP data via APIs.
- Secure with OAuth, API keys, or certificates.
- Monitor usage and apply throttling policies.
¶ Step 5: Test, Deploy, and Monitor
- Perform end-to-end testing.
- Use Integration Suite monitoring dashboards.
- Set alerts for failures or performance issues.
- Reuse Prebuilt Content: Utilize SAP API Business Hub integration packages.
- Adopt API-Led Architecture: Promote modularity and agility.
- Use Standard Protocols: Prefer REST/OData APIs for ease of use.
- Secure Endpoints: Enforce encryption and robust authentication.
- Monitor Continuously: Detect and resolve issues proactively.
- Plan for Scalability: Design with performance and load in mind.
A manufacturing company integrates SAP S/4HANA with Salesforce CRM and a third-party logistics platform. Using SAP Integration Suite:
- Customer and order data flows seamlessly from Salesforce into SAP.
- Inventory updates trigger notifications to the logistics system via Event Mesh.
- APIs exposed by SAP enable the mobile sales team to retrieve order status in real time.
This hybrid integration scenario enables better customer service, operational efficiency, and faster decision-making.
Integrating SAP systems with non-SAP applications is crucial for digital transformation. The SAP Integration Suite offers a comprehensive, scalable, and secure platform to bridge diverse systems—enabling seamless data exchange, process automation, and business innovation.
By leveraging its rich adapters, API management, event mesh, and prebuilt content, organizations can build flexible hybrid integration landscapes that evolve with business needs.