Which tools deliver truly effective enterprise integration? Let's take a closer look.
According to an ESG report, 83% of companies have listed enterprise system integration among their top five strategic priorities.
But integrating disparate components into a single, seamless ecosystem is often far more complex than it appears. The challenge lies in the diversity of applications, devices, and networks, as well as the ever-growing volume of data.
True enterprise integration is not about attaching new software and tools onto existing systems. It’s about ensuring that your people, customers, partners, and technologies work together, in real time, as one cohesive unit.
This level of integration enables companies to:
However, these benefits hinge on having the right technological foundation. So, the question is: Which tools deliver truly effective enterprise integration? Let's take a closer look.
While it's possible to integrate SAP systems manually via custom code, using purpose-built integration platforms is faster, more scalable, and more reliable. These platforms offer ready-to-use connectors, real-time data exchange, and automation tools.
SAP PI enables seamless integration between SAP and third-party applications, both within (A2A) and outside (B2B) the organization.
SAP PO builds on PI, offering advanced tools for automating and optimizing business processes. It’s a long-established solution that has proven itself in on-premise environments, making it ideal for complex, highly customizable scenarios.
SAP CPI is a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) designed to connect cloud-based and on-premise applications, SAP and non-SAP. It supports a wide range of integration use cases:
CPI offers pre-built integration packages that can be adapted to your needs, enabling rapid deployment.
The predecessor to SAP CPI, HCI is a cloud-based integration platform designed for connecting multiple systems across cloud-to-cloud, cloud-to-on-prem, and global-to-local models.
HCI is now largely phased out, with most of its features absorbed into the more advanced SAP Integration Suite.
This integration platform as a service (iPaaS) supports end-to-end integration across cloud and on-premise landscapes. It combines tools like SAP API Management, Event Mesh, and Integration Advisor into a single platform, offering a comprehensive environment for managing, scaling, and automating integration processes.
To clearly highlight the differences between SAP’s key integration tools, let’s take a closer look at their core capabilities:
| Capability | SAP CPI | SAP PI/PO | SAP HCI | SAP Integration Suite |
| Integration Scenarios | A2A, B2B | A2A, B2B | A2A, partial B2B | A2A, B2B, Hybrid |
| Protocols Supported | IDOC, SOAP, REST, OData | IDOC, SOAP, REST | SOAP, REST | IDOC, SOAP, REST, OData |
| Pre-built Connectors | Extensive (via SAP API Business) | Limited (mostly manual) | Some | Extensive, incl. third-party APIs |
| Architecture Focus | Cloud | On-premise | Cloud | Cloud + Hybrid |
| DevOps/CI/CD Support | Yes: Git, pipelines, automation | No (manual via external tools) | Partial | Full DevOps toolset |
| Scalability | High | Medium | Medium | Very high |
| Updates | Frequent (by SAP) | Manual updates | Legacy solution | Continuously evolving |
Think of your SAP ecosystem as the nervous system of your enterprise. SAP Cloud Platform Integration (CPI) is the connective tissue, linking all systems, processes, and data flows into a unified whole. With CPI, you can:
A common scenario is transferring master material data between systems. CPI can dynamically check for missing data, fetch it from a secondary source, and deliver a complete dataset to the target system, all within one IFlow. This is just one of many pre-configured scenarios available with CPI.
CPI is especially well-suited for companies that:
SAP Cloud Platform Integration is one of the most flexible and adaptive tools for configuring cloud and hybrid integrations. Below, we’ll explore real-world use cases that show how CPI helps companies automate processes and enhance system-to-system interaction.
Scenario:
A2A
Challenge:
SAP SuccessFactors was rolled out globally, but local systems were still in use in some countries for payroll and HR.
Solution:
Bidirectional data sync via SAP CPI automated hiring, termination, and contract updates.
Results:
Scenario:
B2B
Challenge:
A retail company integrated SAP S/4HANA with several major marketplaces, including Allegro and eBay.
Solution:
SAP CPI connected to their APIs to auto-import orders and return delivery updates.
Results:
Scenario:
B2B
Challenge:
Suppliers used different ERP systems.
Solution:
SAP CPI enabled standard document exchange (orders, invoices, confirmations) through EDI/REST/IDOC.
Results:
Scenario:
A2A
Challenge:
The company transitioned to digital contract signing using a cloud-based service such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign.
Solution:
Through integration with SAP CPI, documents generated in SAP S/4HANA are automatically sent to the e-signature platform. Once signed, the documents are returned to the system and attached to the relevant business object.
Results:
Scenario:
A2A
Challenge:
Customer and sales data was stored in an external cloud CRM.
Solution:
SAP CPI pulled data via REST API into SAP Data Warehouse Cloud for visualization in SAC.
Results:
In a modern business environment, simply connecting systems is not enough. Enterprises need living ecosystems that are adaptable, transparent, and responsive to change. That’s why integration is not a one-time project; it’s a strategic process that evolves alongside your business.
Tools like SAP CPI do more than simply connect systems; they lay the groundwork for sustainable digital transformation. With pre-built connectors, a cloud-native foundation, and support for modern protocols, these tools enable faster adaptation, greater agility, and deeper customer insights.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but there is the right combination of tools that can help build the ecosystem your business needs today and in the future. If you're evaluating platforms, planning a migration, or looking to streamline cloud and on-premise integrations — we're here to help you chart the best path forward.