5 Challenges to SAP Integration You Should Know

SAP integration is achieved by adopting some common approaches, or methodologies. Namely, integration of software applications in such a way that they use a shared database, integration using service-oriented architecture stacks (point to point direct integration and standalone enterprise service bus integration), robotic process automation and a combination of these approaches. We will learn about the challenges concerning SAP integration by discussing the merits and limitations of each of the 5 approaches below. 

Shared database

A number of software applications are integrated with an underlying shared database. All applications share and use the same data residing in that location. This ensures the data being used in different business processes is uniform as all changes to the data take instantaneous effect. The transmission of the data is relatively fast as it doesn’t have to cross lots of interfaces between the business process software application and the database. 

Naturally, like all technology, these advantages of the centralized repository of data shared real-time with integrated software systems, come with some trade-offs:

• Higher risk of entire SAP ERP system failure: The complete suite of software systems connected to and dependent on the database can become inoperable due to any failure of the database. All the systems connected to the database will cease functioning or function improperly if there is even a slight problem with the database.

• The criticality of database changes and operations: Any tweaking to the database will entail a thorough check of all the integrated applications to see if the changes are compliant to the smooth functioning of each of the applications.

• Risks to data security: Since several SAP or third-party applications have access to the database, security may be compromised on account of widespread access. 

• Compatibility with different products: Software systems operating on databases like the CRM application of Salesforce and the SAP ERP suite cannot be integrated with each other due to the existence of separate internal databases.

Service-oriented architecture stacks

Service-oriented architecture stacks or SOA stacks, being an integration of several independent apps and services comprise of multiple products. These products are application servers, management and development tools, orchestration engines, etc. The SOA integration architecture is quite robust due to the fact that it’s integrated apps are coupled loosely and free to mature organically. The SOA architecture helps to bring costs down as it is easier to tend to stacked apps compared to maintaining each and every constituent application as a standalone. The reliability-factor of stacked apps is also higher than that of separate standalone programs. Once a stacked framework has been implemented, adding additional applications for supporting new business processes is not too expensive. SOA stacking allows businesses to create, consolidate and deploy services and add/modify them as required. It also allows the convenience of the rapid introduction of new services, easy modification of existing ones and compatibility to external systems. Read more...