Your SAP Integration Suite/Cloud Integration (CPI) is crucial for your organization. As your integration landscape grows, you will likely encounter a wide array of challenges that require specialized services and tools to address them effectively.
Understanding these essential services and choosing the right tools can make a significant difference in the overall success of your integration projects.
Introduction
This guide aims to provide an overview of the most important services and tools you should consider when managing a SAP Integration Suite. You may not need all the tools listed, but having a solid understanding of the different tools available will help you make informed decisions as you encounter various challenges. Some tools are covered by the standard version of SAP Integration Suite, some tools come with other SAP services and some other tools can be performed better with external options.
One solution to consider that addresses many of these essential areas is Figaf. Figaf is a tool focused on making it easier for developers to run integration projects. It covers all the different areas mentioned in this guide, simplifying the process for you and eliminating the need to acquire multiple tools. By utilizing Figaf, you can streamline your SAP Integration Suite management and create a more efficient and effective integration process.
Whether you are a seasoned integration expert or just starting in the SAP Integration Suite, this guide will help you navigate the essential services and tools necessary for effective integration management. As you explore these services and tools, keep in mind that the listed companies and tools may cover the scope differently, so it’s important to evaluate them based on your unique requirements.
Tools for managing your SAP Integration Suite
Transport Management
- Why: To move integration flows between environments efficiently and ensure smooth deployment, while linking it to the ticket system.
- Description: Transport management tools help transport integration flows, configure external parameters, and provide approval mechanisms. They should focus on integration and reduce manual processes like external configuration. Integration with the ticket system is crucial for documentation and change tracking.
- SAP tools: SAP File Export/Import, Cloud Transport, CTS+, Charm
Test Automation Tool
- Why: To ensure seamless functioning of integration flows by automating the testing process and minimizing manual intervention.
- Description: Test automation tools should make it easy for developers to create and update test cases based on requirements. They help identify issues early, maintain high-quality standards, and speed up development cycles. The tool should focus on integration otherwise you end up creating a lot of cases that do not make sense.
Version Control System
- Why: To track and manage changes to integration flows, allowing for easy collaboration and simplified rollback if needed.
- Description: Version control systems should make it easy to compare versions between releases and ensure that new versions are continuously updated. Storing this information in a Git repository is a good practice.
- Possible tools: Project Piper, Jenkins, Git platform
Validation of Integration Flows
- Why: To ensure the correctness of integration flows.
- Description: A validation tool should be able to check if integration flows are correct. Integrating this with your Git repository provides a comprehensive solution.
- Possible tools: CPI Lint in combination with your Git repository
Alerting
- Why: To monitor integration flows for issues and receive notifications when something goes wrong without complicating the flows themselves.
- Description: Alerting tools help you stay informed about the performance of your integration flows, enabling quick issue resolution and maintaining high service quality.
- Possible tools: Lots of tools from SAP.
Real-time Monitoring
- Why: To have an up-to-date view of your integration flows’ performance and status, and enable business users to understand the processing of integrations.
- Description: Real-time monitoring tools allow you to track the progress of your integration flows, identify bottlenecks, and optimize performance. They also provide insights to business users, helping them understand the integrations’ current state.
- Possible tools: Figaf Alerting Tool
EDI Archive
- Why: To store and manage payload data for extended periods, ensuring compliance and supporting troubleshooting efforts.
- Description: EDI archive tools help you save payload data for longer durations and allowing for historical analysis, audit trail maintenance, and better issue resolution. They enable you to meet data retention requirements and maintain system performance.
- Possible tools: SAPs built-in tool to Document Management Service. [Note: Figaf has some limitations and may not scale to large volumes]
Migration from SAP PI
- Why: If you have existing integration in your SAP PI/PO then you need to migrate it to leverage the existing integration resources.
- Description: In the ideal world you would redevelop your integration to match the new platform. To speed up the migration you need a tool to automate the process.
Integration Flow Documentation
- Why: To maintain up-to-date documentation of your integration flows, enabling better understanding, troubleshooting, and collaboration.
- Description: Documentation tools help you generate and maintain accurate records of your integration flows, ensuring that team members have the necessary information to work effectively. They save time and effort by automating the documentation process.
Landscape Reports
- Why: To compare and analyze differences between landscapes, identifying inconsistencies and potential issues.
- Description: Landscape reporting tools help you visualize the differences between your development, testing, and production environments. They enable you to spot discrepancies, ensure consistency, and maintain high-quality standards across your SAP Integration Suite.
One application vs Many
If you just need a monitoring solution there are quite a few options both from SAP and SAP Partners, but if you need something special
By getting one application like Figaf you gain:
- One integrated application like test cases can be linked to your changes.
- You only need one vendor application process
- Only one budget, no need to go back and get a new budget for the next item
- Only one tool to manage and operate
Figaf is the only tool that supports all the 10 different scenarios you have in your landscape for both SAP PI/PO and Integration Suite. It is the best for all the areas and the integration which makes it even better.
Conclusion
In conclusion, managing a SAP Integration Suite (CPI) effectively requires a thorough understanding of the essential services and tools available in the market.
As you evaluate and implement these tools, remember that Figaf offers a comprehensive solution that covers many of the areas discussed. By choosing Figaf, you can simplify your SAP Integration Suite management, streamline processes, and improve efficiency for your developers.
Ultimately, the key to successful integration management is to stay informed, adapt to new challenges, and continually evaluate the tools and services you use to ensure they meet your evolving needs. By doing so, you will be well-equipped to handle the complexities of your SAP Integration Suite and drive your integration projects towards success.