Integration
Seamless processes and access to data in self-service require integration. Selecting the right integration method and support you during implementation is where our experties lie. Find out below what kind of challenges and opportunities arrise when we deal with integration and how you can benefit from our experience.
Integration is the Key
IT landscapes are increasingly distributed across corporate data centers and multiple clouds, with business processes supported by heterogeneous applications and freely combinable modules. These need to exchange data with other systems, which makes automation and interaction a challenge. In addition, there is a growing need to collaborate with customers and partners across the entire value chain. This is how to avoid supply chain disruptions, increase efficiency and improve sustainability. Connecting internal and external systems is therefore paramount.
Large Amounts of Data
Large Amounts of Data
The amount of complex, rapidly changing and sometimes poorly structured data is constantly increasing in companies.
Technical Connection
Technical Connection
A specific technical solution for connection is implemented for each source system. This is costly and maintenance-intensive.
Heterogeneous
Data
Heterogeneous data
As a rule, technical or professional keys for harmonising the data are missing.
Large Amounts of Data
The amount of complex, rapidly changing and sometimes poorly structured data is constantly increasing in companies.
Technical Connection
A specific technical solution for connection is implemented for each source system. This is costly and maintenance-intensive.
Heterogeneous data
As a rule, technical or professional keys for harmonising the data are missing.
Redudant Data
Data is processed in several systems, so redundancies and duplicates can occur.
Inconsistent Data
Temporally different processing processes of the data can lead to inconsistent states.
Outdated Data
Too large frequencies in the provision of data lead to insufficient data timeliness.
Redundant
Data
Redundant Data
Data is processed in several systems, so redundancies and duplicates can occur.
Inconsistent Data
Inconsistent Data
Temporally different processing processes of the data can lead to inconsistent states.
Outdated
Data
Outdated Data
Too large frequencies in the provision of data lead to insufficient data timeliness.
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Challenges and Opportunities
Data integration is a complex endeavor. 97% of all companies face this challenge. But the opportunities are immense: 86% of companies that have integrated their data have been able to make better decisions and improve the customer experience.
Tackle your Challenges Head on with a Modern Integration Platform
Today’s modern solution is a cloud-based integration platform as a service (iPaaS). It was developed for a wide range of integration problems.
It connects information from everywhere – applications, data sources, processes, services and events in cloud and on-premises environments, inside and outside the organization. It paves the way for faster innovation and unprecedented automation.
This platform automates processes and enables data to be shared throughout the company and across different organizations.
An iPaaS includes tools for the development and deployment of integration scenarios. It is not necessary to install and manage additional hardware or middleware.
It incorporates seamlessly as the central location for creating, managing and modifying application and process integrations within the company and its partners. A good iPaaS provides a library of connectors and pre-built integrations to get projects off the ground. It also has an event-driven architecture that supports scalable, real-time processing of business event data. This helps companies to efficiently and systematically deliver better customer experiences and improve operations.
In addition to consistent company-wide connections, an iPaaS offers a number of other advantages:
Faster Integration
Faster integration unprecedented through better connectivity, pre-built connectors and integrations, APIs, events and API management.
Single-point-of-truth
Single-point-of-truth, thanks to better communication between applications, processes and systems.
Adaptability
Adaptability to rapid changes thanks to real-time insights from all relevant sources.
Business Innovations
Support of business innovations, such as new processes, services and experiences – driven by interconnected information.
Process Automation
Automation of complex business processes across the organization and beyond, as well as seamless connectivity between systems, whether in the cloud or on-premise.
Security and Compliance
Strict security and compliance through enterprise-level security managed by the provider.
Increased Efficiency
Increased efficiency through a centralized management system that can be accessed from anywhere.
Our Approach
We offer you comprehensive expertise and are happy to go the whole way with you, from the analysis of the existing situation to the development and operation of the solution. We offer the following services:
Data Provisioning Architecture
Based on our experience, we advise you on the basis of a comprehensive catalogue of criteria and thus create the basis for your decision-making.
Source Systems
Together with your IT, we ensure the technical connection of the different source systems.
Data Replication
Depending on the data source, we optimise the type and performance of the replication and transform the data into the desired target format.
Data Quality Layer
We would be happy to consult you on setting up a company-wide quality layer to ensure the data quality of your entire data inventory.
Data Layer
We develop a data layer in which the data is made available via generic interfaces for consistent further processing in your data inventory.
We will aid you in building a future-proof integration platform!
Would you like to have a company-wide concept (e.g. for the integration architecture)?
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Your Partner for a Successful System Integration
We advise you on your integration and automation strategy and support you in the implementation and migration of your current solution. Our experience in the areas of architecture, integration, automation and development is the perfect basis for this.
Here are some examples of the different types of integration based on our project experience.
Selection Process - from the Longlist to the Decision
We support you in setting up a company-wide architecture for data connection and data integration. As a SAP Gold Partner, we have certified know-how in SAP’s data integration tools and also have expertise in non-SAP data integrators. Each of these tools has its own advantages and disadvantages, which need to be evaluated according to your requirements. This is optimally achieved, for example, with the help of a comprehensive catalogue of criteria.
With us, you have the optimal partner at your side on the way from the longlist to the selection of your final solution. In doing so, we first jointly define your specific evaluation criteria and go/no-go criteria for future data integration solutions and then select the optimal solution.
Based on specific evaluation criteria for data integration solutions and the go and no-go criteria defined by you, we support you on the way from the longlist to the selection of the final solution.
In the subsequent phase, we jointly implement the planned integration of the solution into your existing data and system landscape. Accordingly, we have shown you a possible architecture in the following picture as an example.
"The ability to integrate is crucial for companies to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world. Seamless connections between systems and processes are key for companies ability to react quickly and flexibly to new challenges and drive innovative solutions."
Daniel Fröhler, Principal Consultant & SAP BTP ArchitectBIG.Cube GmbH 
SAP Solution for an Efficient Integration
With the SAP Integration Suite, SAP has a powerful integration solution (iPaaS) in its product portfolio. The Integration Suite runs on SAP BTP and is the one-stop shop for all topics relating to the integration of SAP and non-SAP products. It is far more than just the successor product to the discontinued SAP PI (Process Integration) and SAP PO (Process Orchestration) solutions. It is also a symbol of a modern API architecture and offers the possibility of simple integration with ready-made content, AI support for integration and countless connectors.
Core Features of the SAP Integration Suite
- Integrates SAP, third-party, cloud and in-house applications
- Simplifies connectivity with more than 3,400 pre-built integrations, connectors and APIs
- Supports a variety of integration approaches:
- Process integration (A2A, application to application) for ensuring end-to-end processes, such as lead-to-cash, recruit to retire, designt to operate or source to pay, across multiple applications
- Master data integrations that ensure consistency through SAP’s One Domain Model
- API integrations including lifecycle management
- Event-driven integration to control integrations based on business events
- Data integration and pipelines for use in Data Lakes or Warehouses, including transformations
- B2B integration ensures collaboration with customers and partners across the entire ecosystem with standards such as ASC X12 or UN/EDIFACT
Operational Integration
The dependence on a well-functioning integration also requires automated monitoring that warns about, but can also correct errors. This is where the Integration Suites perfect interaction with SAP Cloud ALM really shows benefits, which provides operations with dashboards and the means to correct any errors that occur. Users are notified via message systems such as Microsoft Teams or other ticket systems such as ServiceNow depending on the connection. It is also possible to react automatically to events and have them resolved by predefined processes and the use of AI.
Use Cases for Integration from our Project Experience
SAP API Hub (A2A) setup
We built a wrapper around a standard product from a third-party provider for our customer that standardizes and bundles all requests via the product’s interfaces and thus offers a single-pointof-truth for communication. This reduced maintenance and project costs by 60%.
Data integration: Connection of 60+ data sources
We have connected a wide variety of data sources in over 300 projects for Data Lakes or Warehouses. These include classic databases such as Oracle or MSSQL as well as web services. The connection is made in real time or batch, depending on the requirements.
Process integration: Automation of the approval process
We developed a tool for the transfer of data to the warehouse, that checks the data and transfers it to the subsequent system after approval. From an Excel solution to a user-friendly Fiori application with a NodeJS backend.
Data quality & process integration: Automation of data quality management
We built a supplier interface for our customer, which integrated data quality checks for over 200 national companies . Data is loaded via the interface, checked for quality and then imported into the subsequent system. The data quality is checked both for completeness and against checks that are defined based on current data in the system.
Automated ticket creation in ServiceNow, Jira and Azure DevOps (A2A)
To support operations, we have developed apps for our customers that use the APIs of the ticket systems and can both create tickets and read out the information for reporting.
Security Integration: OneIdentity and Single Sign on
For a better user experience, we have connected various identity providers that enable seamless access to the applications for the user.
Optimize your IT Infrastructure
We develop your integration and automation strategy tailored to your needs and support you at every step, from planning to migration, with our in-depth expertise. This enables us to ensure the smooth implementation and optimization of your IT landscape.
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Get to Know Us Offer: Analysis Workshop
We are happy to offer you the opportunity to get to know us without any obligation and to discuss your requirements. If your requirements and our services match, then the next step is to offer you a workshop in which we develop possible solutions together. During the workshop, you will also receive a first concrete estimate of the expected expenses.
Workshop Content
Analysis of the data sources to be connected and your system landscape, as well as discussion of possible solutions.
Result
Result document for the assessment of your data sources and system landscape, including effort estimation for further steps and solution approaches.
Scope
2 day workshop on-site or remote incl. documentation of results.
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FAQ's to Data Provisioning & Integration
Is there a "One-Fits-All" solution for Data Integration?
With Smart Data Integration (SDI), SAP has taken the approach of being able to map all requirements through one tool. SDI offers real-time and batch connection of the data plus additional virtual access to the data. Virtual access makes it possible to use data without having to persist them in the company’s own system and thus consume storage space. However, as a component of SAP HANA, SDI is designed to replicate the source data in the target system SAP HANA. Almost every tool has strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, we recommend a detailed analysis of the requirements based on a comprehensive catalogue of criteria at the beginning.
Which tool should be used for Data Integration?
The selection of the best possible tool depends on several influencing factors. The following aspects, for example, are included in the evaluation: the number of data sources, the required data timeliness, the number and types of recipients. To identify a suitable tool, we recommend a requirements analysis in which we analyse your system architecture together with you and prepare the basis for the decision-making process of the tool selection based on a catalogue of criteria.
Does my tool for Data Integration into SAP HANA have to be from SAP?
No, not necessarily. HANA offers very good ODBC/JDBC connections that make it possible to access the database with a wide range of tools. Apache Spark, for example, is very suitable for the batch connection of large amounts of data.