[Blog Post] Demystifying & Maximizing the Potential of SAP BTP : An Essential Guide for Business Analysts,Technology Executives,Decision Makers ,Developers and consultants
Hello readers!
In the main blog post, I have shared brief summary of SAP BTP.
The first part of Blog Series will be aimed at sales teams, focusing on how to effectively sell SAP BTP to customers.
The second part will be geared towards individuals & emphasizes the value of SAP BTP for different roles within an organization
I am excited to share my blog post on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) with you today.
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SAP Business Technology Platform: Your All-in-One Solution
Unleash the power of SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), a unified environment tailored for SAP applications. This transformative platform seamlessly integrates application development, automation, data and analytics, integration, and AI capabilities. Explore more at SAP BTP.
SAP Official Help Documentation: Your Ultimate Resource
Access the SAP Official Help Documentation, a comprehensive hub offering complete information on products, features, services, and best practices for SAP BTP. Click on the respective hyperlinks to navigate through various aspects: SAP Help Documentation.
SAP BTP Learning Resources: Elevate Your Skills
Free Trainings: Explore SAP BTP through free courses at Open SAP.
Learning Journeys: Navigate your learning path with SAP BTP Learning Journeys at SAP Learning Journeys.
Tutorials and Guides: Dive deep into hands-on tutorials at SAP Developers and SAP Learning.
Our SAP community has numerous tutorials , videos, blogs
SAP CAP: Cloud Application Programming
Official Documentation: Find official documents for SAP CAP at CAP Cloud SAP.
New Course: Enroll in the latest SAP CAP course at SAP CAP Webinars.
Hands-on Tutorials: Explore SAP CAP hands-on tutorials at SAP Developers.
Hands-On Tutorials for SAP BTP Services
SAP BTP Cockpit: Navigate the BTP Cockpit with tutorials at SAP Developers.
SAP BTP CLI: Learn the Command Line Interface at SAP Developers.
SAP BTP CF: Master Cloud Foundry runtime and environment at SAP Developers.
SAP Business Application Studio: Explore the Application Studio at SAP Developers.
SAP BTP SDKs: Mobile Development
Android SDK: Delve into the Android SDK at SAP Developers.
iOS SDK: Explore the iOS SDK at SAP Developers.
SAP BTP Kyma: Unleashing Scalability
Kyma Integration: Discover Kyma runtime at SAP Developers.
SAP Build: Innovate with Ease
Explore SAP Build and its process automation capabilities:
What is SAP Build Process Automation? Learn more
Tutorial navigator for SAP Build Process Automation: Access tutorials
What’s it all about & Courses? SAP Build: Discover courses
Hands-on with SAP Build: Get hands-on experience
SAP Build APPS: Explore SAP Build APPS
SAP Build Process Automation: More information
SAP Build Workzone: Learn about SAP Build Work Zone
SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition: Understand the standard edition
IRPA (Intelligent Robotic Process Automation): Open SAP Course
More about SAP Build Process Automation: Explore SAP’s technology platform
What’s New for SAP Build Process Automation: Check out the latest updates
Explore more BTP services at SAP Developers.
SAP BTP Missions, Reference Architectures
Explore SAP BTP Missions and Reference Architectures at Discovery Center SAP.
Generative AI at SAP
Explore SAP’s generative AI strategy in the official SAP post
How SAP’s Generative AI Architecture Redefines Business Applications.’ Check out the Joule AI Cockpit
Gain valuable insights into AI architecture, ethical principles, and upcoming innovations. Read more | Generative AI at SAP
Forum: Engage with Experts
Ask questions, seek expert advice, and share insights on the SAP BTP Forum: Ask Questions.
Stay Informed with SAP BTP Updates
Stay tuned for ‘SAP BTP Innobytes,’ a monthly video series providing quick insights on the latest innovations. Subscribe to the YouTube Playlist.
Podcast and Updates
Podcasts: Tune in to SAP BTP podcasts at Open SAP.
Official Updates: Stay current with official updates at SAP What’s New.
Empower yourself with SAP BTP — where innovation meets seamless integration! #SAPBTP
Find out how to build software applications, side-by-side extensions, and integrations from and to cloud applications by exploring SAP’s free learning content on SAP BTP. It is made for both integration designers and extension developers from all levels of expertise and will help you stay up to date with the latest SAP BTP innovations. Check out even more role-based learning resources and opportunities to get certified in one place on SAP Learning site.
Navigating SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP): A In-Depth Exploration of its Diverse Services and Capabilities
SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) is a cloud-based platform offered by SAP that can help your organization achieve its digital transformation goals. SAP BTP provides a range of services and tools that can help you build, run, and manage enterprise applications and extensions in the cloud. From database services and analytics services to integration services and development tools, SAP BTP offers everything you need to create innovative and effective solutions.
Faster time-to-market: With SAP BTP, businesses can quickly develop, deploy, and iterate their applications and services, reducing the time-to-market and enabling them to stay ahead of the competition.
As an IT Leaders,IT Managers or technology executive, you are responsible for ensuring that your organization’s technology strategy aligns with its business goals and objectives. With digital transformation becoming a top priority for organizations across industries, you need to be aware of the latest technologies and solutions that can help your organization stay competitive and drive growth.Transforming Your Organization with SAP BTP for a Successful Digital Transformation”
As a business analyst or functional consultant, you are responsible for ensuring that your organization’s business processes are efficient, effective, and aligned with its goals and objectives. With SAP BTP, you can improve your organization’s business processes and drive growth by leveraging the latest cloud-based tools and services.SAP BTP provides a range of services and tools that can help you analyze and optimize business processes, from advanced analytics and data management to integration services and development tools. With SAP BTP, you can gain valuable insights into your organization’s operations and make data-driven decisions that improve business performance.
As a developer or technical professional, you are responsible for building and extending enterprise applications that meet the needs of your organization. With SAP BTP, you can develop and extend SAP-based applications quickly and efficiently, leveraging the latest cloud-based tools and services.
In this guide, I’ll provide an overview of SAP BTP and its key features and benefits for the organization & benefits for developers and technical professionals. I’ll also discuss how SAP BTP can help your organization address common technology challenges and achieve its strategic objectives.Also will delve into the technical aspects of SAP BTP.I’ll also discuss how SAP BTP can help you streamline your development process, drive innovations, improve productivity, and build better applications that meet the needs of your organization & drive growth for your organization.
SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) is a comprehensive platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering by SAP. It provides a range of services, including database and analytics services, application development tools, and integration capabilities. While it incorporates elements of both PaaS and SaaS, it is primarily recognized as a PaaS solution.
SAP BTP can also involve infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) components, especially if the data center is managed by SAP or hosted on a cloud infrastructure. In such cases, the platform encompasses a combination of IaaS, PaaS, and sometimes SaaS, providing a more holistic solution for businesses.
SAP BTP provides a range of cloud-based SaaS Solutions (SaaS) , services and tools, including database services, analytics services, integration services, and development tools.
SAP BTP IaaS
SAP BTP offers both Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) options from SAP’s own data centers as well as from hyper-scalers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Customers can choose the cloud provider that best meets their requirements and deploy their applications and services accordingly.
In SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), the following terms have specific meanings:
- SAP Global Account: A SAP Global Account is a top-level account that is created by SAP for an enterprise customer. The SAP Global Account is used to manage all the sub-accounts and associated resources for that enterprise.
- Sub-account: A sub-account is a child account of a SAP Global Account. Sub-accounts allow customers to manage their resources and access control at a more granular level.
- Space: A space is a logical partition of a sub-account in which an application or service can be deployed. It provides an isolated environment for applications and services to run without interfering with other applications and services running in the same sub-account.
- SAP BTP Cockpit : The SAP BTP Cockpit is a web-based user-friendly interface, provides a comprehensive set of tools and features for managing SAP BTP resources, making it a powerful tool for developers, administrators, and other stakeholders.
- The SAP BTP Cockpit provides a range of features and tools, such as :
- Service Marketplace: The SAP BTP Cockpit includes an integrated service marketplace where users can browse and purchase services that can be used to build and deploy applications.
- Application Management: Users can use the SAP BTP Cockpit to manage their applications, including deploying and scaling them, monitoring their performance, and viewing their logs.
- Security: The SAP BTP Cockpit includes features for managing access and security, including setting up user roles and permissions and configuring security settings.
- Connectivity : The SAP BTP Cockpit provides integration with other SAP Systems (Cloud , OnPremise ), Non SAP External Systems and services.
- Destination: A destination is a configuration that defines the target system or resource that an application needs to access. A destination can include information such as the target system URL, authentication credentials, and connection details.
- Cloud Connector: The SAP Cloud Connector is a secure communication channel that allows on-premise systems to communicate with applications and services running in the cloud. The Cloud Connector is installed on the customer’s network and provides a secure and encrypted tunnel between the on-premise system and the cloud-based applications and services.
10. Usage Analytics: The SAP BTP Cockpit includes tools for monitoring and analyzing application performance, including dashboards, alerts, and metrics.
11.Entitlement: An entitlement is a permission to use a specific SAP BTP service or resource. Each sub-account has a set of entitlements that determine which services and resources can be used by the applications and services deployed in that sub-account.
12.Quota: A quota is the maximum amount of resources (such as memory, storage, and CPU) that can be allocated to an application or service running in a space.
13.Service Marketplace: The SAP Service Marketplace is an online portal where customers can browse and purchase SAP products and services. The Service Marketplace also provides access to support resources, such as product documentation and software updates
14.Services: Services are pre-built application components that can be used to build and deploy applications quickly. SAP BTP offers a wide range of services, such as database services, messaging services, and security services, to name a few.SAP BTP provides flexibility in how service instances can be created, allowing customers to choose the method that best meets their needs.
- 14.1 Application Manifests (MTA.Yaml ) : Recommended Approach: Service instances can also be created programmatically using application manifests. An application manifest is a YAML file that specifies the configuration and deployment requirements for an application. The manifest can include instructions for creating service instances, which will be automatically created when the application is deployed.
- 14.2 SAP BTP Cockpit: The SAP BTP Cockpit is a web-based user-friendly interface for managing SAP BTP resources. Customers can create service instances using the SAP BTP Cockpit by selecting the desired sub-account and space, and then selecting the appropriate service from the service marketplace. 14.3 Service Marketplace: The SAP Service Marketplace provides an online portal where customers can browse and purchase SAP products and services. Customers can create a service instance from the Service Marketplace by selecting the desired service and following the prompts to provision the service instance.
- 14.4 Cloud Foundry CLI: The Cloud Foundry Command Line Interface (CLI) can be used to create service instances from the command line. Customers can use the CLI to target the desired sub-account and space, and then create a service instance using the appropriate commands.
SAP BTP SaaS
SAP BTP offers a range of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions across various business functions.SaaS solutions are complete software applications that are hosted in the SAP BTP cloud and provided to customers on a subscription basis. These solutions are fully managed by the SAP & Its Partners.
You can refer here
Here are some examples for Non BTP Based solutions & you can also integrate this SaaS Offerings into BTP.
- SAP Ariba : SAP Ariba provides organizations with a powerful, cloud-based procurement and supply chain management software that connects buyers and suppliers , streamline procurement processes, optimize their spending, and improve supplier relationships.SAP Ariba also provides a range of tools and services for supplier management, including supplier qualification, performance management, and risk management. This enables organizations to develop stronger relationships with their suppliers and ensure that they are working with high-quality, reliable partners. Its range of tools and services make it a highly flexible and customizable solution that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each organization.Another key advantage of SAP Ariba is its integration with other SAP solutions, including SAP S/4HANA and SAP Fieldglass. This enables organizations to create a more holistic view of their procurement and supply chain processes, and provides greater visibility and control over procurement activities.
- SAP Concur is a cloud-based travel and expense management solution that helps organizations to manage employee expenses , travel, and invoices processes. It includes modules for travel booking, expense reporting, itinerary management, invoice management, processing. SAP Concur can be used on mobile devices and integrates with other systems, such as ERP and accounting systems, to provide a complete picture of spend and financial management. It also provides reporting and analytics capabilities to help organisations gain insights into their spend and identify cost-saving opportunities.
- SAP Fieldglass is a cloud-based Vendor Management System (VMS) used to manage contingent workforce and services procurement. It helps organizations to source, engage, and manage their external workforce, including temporary employees, freelancers, independent contractors, and services providers. With SAP Fieldglass, organizations can streamline their entire process, from initial request to final payment, with real-time visibility into spend and headcount.
- SAP SuccessFactors: A cloud-based human capital management (HCM) software that helps organizations manage their workforce and human resources. It includes modules for employee central, payroll, recruiting, onboarding, learning, performance and goals, compensation, and more.
- SAP Sales Cloud: A cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software that helps organizations manage their sales processes and customer relationships. It includes modules for sales automation, lead and opportunity management, sales performance management, and more.
- SAP S/4HANA Cloud: SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a SaaS solution offered as part of SAP BTP . SAP S/4HANA Cloud is an intelligent, cloud-based ERP solution built on the latest technologies, including in-memory computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. This allows organizations to leverage the latest advancements in technology to improve their operations and gain a competitive advantage , organizations gain insights into their operations and make data-driven decisions, offers a modern, user-friendly interface, easy to use and intuitive.SAP S/4HANA Cloud offers a range of capabilities, including financial management, procurement and inventory management, sales and distribution, manufacturing, and project management. These capabilities are integrated with one another, allowing organizations to have a complete view of their operations and enabling them to make more informed decisions.It is highly scalable solution that can adapt & can be customized to meet specific customer business requirements.The solution offers real-time reporting and analytics, allowing organizations to quickly identify trends, opportunities, and potential issues.
- SAP Customer Experience: A suite of cloud-based applications for managing customer relationships (CRM) and experiences, including SAP Sales Cloud, SAP Service Cloud, and SAP Marketing Cloud.
- SAP Analytics Cloud — cloud-based analytics solution that enables users to visualize and analyze data from various sources.
- SAP Qualtrics — cloud-based experience management platform that enables organizations to measure and improve customer, employee, and product experiences.
These are just a few examples of SAP BTP-based & Non BTP based SaaS applications. SAP is constantly expanding its portfolio of cloud-based solutions, and more BTP-based SaaS applications are expected to be developed in the future.
Benefits of BTP SaaS
- TCO → Cost-effective: SAP BTP SaaS solutions are often more cost-effective than traditional software solutions as they do not require large upfront investments in hardware or software. Instead, users pay a subscription fee to access the service, which can be scaled up or down as needed. They do not need to have the resources to manage complex IT systems, not required of IT infrastructure or staff
- Automatic updates: SAP BTP SaaS solutions are automatically updated by the provider, which means that users always have access to the latest features and security updates without having to manage the updates themselves.
- Scalability: SAP BTP SaaS solutions are highly scalable and can be easily adjusted to accommodate changes in the user’s business needs. This allows businesses to quickly and easily add or remove users, applications, or features as needed.
- Accessibility: SAP BTP SaaS solutions are often accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, making them ideal for remote work and collaboration.
- Lower maintenance: SAP BTP SaaS solutions require minimal maintenance as the provider manages the infrastructure and handles issues such as backups and disaster recovery.
- Security: SAP BTP SaaS solutions are typically more secure than traditional software solutions as the provider is responsible for implementing and maintaining security measures such as encryption and access control. This can help reduce the risk of data breaches and cyber attacks.
SAP BTP Paas
SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform) PaaS (Platform as a Service) Services are a set of cloud-based services offered by SAP that enable developers to build, deploy, and run applications on the SAP Cloud Platform.These services provide a wide range of functionalities, including database and data storage, integration, analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and more. Developers can use these services to create customized applications that meet their specific business needs.
Reference : BTP Services
I’m impressed by the well-presented and visually appealing infographic created by my peer, @Christian Michel. Feel free to check it out here
SAP BTP PaaS Environments
The environments offered by SAP BTP are considered Platform as a Service (PaaS) offerings, which provide a platform and set of services for developing, deploying, and managing applications.
- Cloud Foundry Environment: Cloud Foundry is an open-source platform for building, deploying, and managing cloud applications. It is designed to be cloud-agnostic and supports multiple cloud providers i.e development and deployment experience across different cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This enables customers to choose the cloud provider that best meets their needs.. Cloud Foundry provides a set of tools and services for building and deploying cloud applications also offers features such as automatic scaling and self-healing of applications..Read our SAP blog posts to keep up to date with BTP Cloud Foundry Environment.
- SAP BTP ABAP Environment: This environment is based on the ABAP programming language and is designed for developing on-premise applications that run on SAP’s Business Suite or SAP S/4HANA systems. ABAP is a proprietary language used by SAP, and is primarily used for developing applications that interact with SAP systems.SAP BTP ABAP Environment offers a modern development platform called Steampunk, which enables continuous integration and delivery, cloud-based deployment, and web-based development interface. It leverages Rapid Application Development (RAP) programming model for developing high-quality applications with Core Data Services (CDS) as a data modeling language. ABAP Development Tools (ADT) for Eclipse is an Eclipse-based development environment for ABAP programming, offering features such as code editors, debugging tools, and integration with SAP systems. Code Inspector is a code analysis tool to ensure the code is efficient, maintainable, and compliant with best practices.You can learn more about SAP BTP ABAP here blog posts
- Kyma Runtime: Kyma is an open-source project that provides a platform for building cloud-native applications and microservices. It is based on Kubernetes and uses Istio for service mesh functionality. Kyma provides a set of pre-built components and services that can be easily composed to create new applications.Read our SAP blog posts to keep up to date with future Kyma releases.
- SAP BTP NEO Environment: NEO is a proprietary platform offered by SAP for building and deploying cloud applications. It provides a set of tools and services for building and deploying cloud applications, including a Java runtime environment and a set of pre-built services for data storage, messaging, and authentication.SAP has announced that the NEO environment will be retired in the future, although an exact timeline has not been provided. SAP has recommended that customers move to other environments, such as the Cloud Foundry environment or the Kyma runtime, as an alternative to NEO. This allows customers to take advantage of the latest SAP technologies and innovations, as well as benefit from the platform’s improved performance, scalability, and security. SAP has also provided migration tools and services to help customers move their existing applications and data from NEO to other environments within the SAP BTP.
Each of these environments has its own strengths and use cases. For example, the ABAP environment is best suited for developing applications that interact with SAP systems, while Kyma is designed for building cloud-native microservices. Cloud Foundry is a good choice if you want a cloud-agnostic platform, while NEO provides a set of pre-built services for common application needs. Ultimately, the choice of environment will depend on your specific needs and requirements.
SAP BTP offers several different environments for developing and deploying applications, including the ABAP environment, the Kyma environment, the Cloud Foundry environment, and the Neo environment. Each environment has its own unique features and capabilities for developing, deploying, and managing applications
SAP BTP PaaS Services also provide developers with the necessary tools, frameworks, and libraries to create, test, and deploy applications quickly and easily. These environments support popular programming languages, such as Java, ABAP , Node.js, Python, and more.
Here are a few important cloud services offered by SAP BTP:
- SAP HANA Cloud: A cloud-based database management system designed to process large amounts of data in real-time, providing organizations with the ability to make faster and more informed decisions.BTP with HANA Cloud can help businesses achieve high performance, scalability, flexibility, easy integration, reduced TCO, and predictable costs.
- SAP Analytics Cloud: A cloud-based analytics tool that allows organizations to gather insights and make informed decisions based on data from a variety of sources.
- SAP Integration Suite while SAP Cloud Platform Integration is a cloud-based integration platform that focuses on application-to-application, business-to-business, and IoT integration where as SAP Integration Suite is a more comprehensive integration solution that includes additional capabilities such as API management, open connectors, process integration, and data integration.. SAP Integration Suite provides a unified integration experience across cloud and on-premises landscapes and supports a range of integration scenarios, including hybrid integration, cloud-to-cloud integration, and multi-cloud integration.
- SAP API Management: This service provides a centralized platform for managing APIs (application programming interfaces). It enables organizations to expose, manage, and monitor their APIs, and provides tools for developers to discover and consume APIs.
- SAP Open Connectors: This service provides a set of pre-built connectors that enable organizations to quickly and easily connect to a variety of third-party applications and services, such as Salesforce, Marketo, and Slack. It also provides tools for building custom connectors.
- SAP Cloud Platform Master Data Integration: This service provides a cloud-based solution for managing and harmonizing master data across an organization’s systems and applications. It supports a range of data domains, including customer, product, and financial data.
- SAP Cloud Platform Extension Suite : SAP Cloud Platform Extension Suite is a suite of tools and services designed to help organizations extend and enhance their existing SAP software solutions with custom-built applications and functionalities. It provides a set of cloud-based tools and services for building, deploying, and managing custom applications that can run on top of SAP software.
- SAP Cloud Integration (CI aka CPI) : SAP Cloud Integration is an integration platform as a service (iPaaS) that provides cloud-based integration capabilities for connect organizations on-premises and cloud-based applications, data sources, and business partners. It supports both real-time and batch processing, and provides a range of pre-built integration content and adapters.It enables users to quickly and easily create integrations using pre-built integration content and templates, as well as custom connectors and adapters. SAP Cloud Integration supports a range of integration scenarios, including application-to-application (A2A), business-to-business (B2B), and internet of things (IoT) integration.
Some of the key benefits of using CI (CPI) for integration include:
- Reduced TCO & development time: CPI provides pre-built integration content, templates, and connectors that can accelerate the development of iFlows. This can help reduce development time and improve overall efficiency.
- Simplified integration: CPI provides a graphical interface for designing iFlows, which can help simplify the integration process and reduce the need for custom coding. This can help improve the quality and reliability of integrations.
- Flexible deployment options: CPI supports both cloud-based and on-premise deployment options, providing flexibility to meet the needs of different organizations. This can help ensure that integrations can be deployed in a way that best suits the organization’s requirements.
- Advanced monitoring and management: CPI provides advanced monitoring and management capabilities, enabling users to monitor the status and performance of integrations and troubleshoot issues quickly. This can help improve overall system reliability and reduce downtime.
- Seamless integration with SAP and non-SAP systems: CPI supports integration with a wide range of SAP and non-SAP systems, providing seamless connectivity across the entire enterprise landscape. This can help improve data visibility and streamline workflows.
Benefits of BTP Services
- Security: SAP BTP services are built with security in mind, providing robust security features and compliance standards, certifications,ensuring that businesses can securely store, process, and manage their data and applications.
- Advanced analytics: SAP BTP provides advanced analytics and data management capabilities, allowing businesses to gain insights into their operations, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
- Cost-effective: SAP BTP services offer a pay-as-you-go model, which can help organizations reduce their costs.
- Real-time data: SAP BTP services provide real-time data and analytics, allowing organizations to make data-driven decisions and improve their processes.
- Mobility: SAP BTP services are designed with mobility in mind, allowing organizations to access their data and applications from anywhere.
- Innovation: SAP BTP services provide a platform for innovation, enabling organizations to explore new ideas and experiment with new technologies.
- Collaboration: SAP BTP services offer collaboration features that enable teams to work together more efficiently, share information, and collaborate on projects.
- Scalable: SAP BTP services can easily adapt to meet the changing needs of organizations, with automatic provisioning and de-provisioning of resources as demand fluctuates.
- Integration: SAP BTP services offer simple integration with existing SAP systems and third-party applications, reducing complexity and allowing a more holistic approach to managing IT infrastructure.
- Agility: SAP BTP services enable organizations to develop and deploy new applications, services, and features quickly.
- Flexibility: A range of modular services within SAP BTP can be customized to meet the unique needs of each organization.
- Open standards: SAP BTP supports open standards, making integration with other systems and platforms simple, and avoiding vendor lock-in.
- Customization: Extensive customization options within SAP BTP allow organizations to tailor services to specific needs, including developing custom applications, customizing user interfaces, and configuring services to meet requirements.
- Deployment options: SAP BTP can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments, providing flexibility to adapt to changing requirements.
- Extensibility: SAP BTP allows organizations to extend existing SAP applications and services and develop and deploy custom applications, providing the flexibility to adapt to changing business requirements and new opportunities.
- Avoids vendor lock-in : With Multi-cloud support: SAP BTP supports deployment across multiple cloud providers, allowing organizations to take advantage of different cloud platforms and services as needed. This provides greater flexibility and avoids vendor lock-in.
- Availability :The Service Level Agreement (SLA) for SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) availability is 99.9% uptime per month, with a minimum service credit of 10% if the SLA is not met. This means that SAP guarantees that BTP services will be available for at least 99.9% of the time during any given month, and if the availability falls below this level, customers may be eligible for service credits.This ensures that services are available when needed, and reduces the risk of downtime and service disruptions.It is worth noting that some BTP services may have different SLAs depending on the specific service level requirements. For example, some services may have different SLAs for response time, resolution time, and uptime. Customers can refer to the SAP BTP documentation or contact SAP for more information on specific service level agreements
- Pricing tool: SAP BTP services offer a pricing tool that can help organizations estimate their costs and manage their expenses.https://discovery-center.cloud.sap/estimator/?commercialModel=cpea :
State-of-the-art technologies:
SAP BTP (SAP Business Technology Platform) offers a wide range of services,tools related to intelligent technologies (AI ,ML, IOT ,RPA), analytics (SAC), database technologies (HANA Cloud), application development, and integration (SAP Integration Suite ) , Automation (SAP Build Process Automation)
SAP BTP PaaS Services also provide developers with the necessary tools, frameworks, and libraries to create, test, and deploy cloud applications ,services , extension quickly and easily in a effcient manner .
BTP support popular programming languages, such as
Frontend = SAP UI5, Fiori3 ,Vue.js and more
Backend = Java, Node.js, Python, SAP CAP (Backend either NodeJS, Java ) and more.
SAP BTP leverages a comprehensive set of state-of-the-art latest technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain, to provide cutting-edge services ,comprehensive suite of tools ,cutting-edge services and solutions (SaaS) to businesses to businesses that can help them to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth. Here are some examples of the technologies offered by SAP BTP:
- Cloud Computing: SAP BTP is a cloud-based platform that enables businesses to easily develop, deploy, and manage their applications and services in the cloud.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): In the dynamic landscape of AI solutions, where innovation thrives and technology evolves, Generative AI emerges as a transformative force.In the field of AI applications, Generative AI stands out as a transformative force. Trained on extensive datasets, Generative AI recognizes patterns and structures to generate new content across various formats, from text to images and videosSAP has recently launched Joule, a Generative AI copilot with advanced natural-language processing capabilities. SAP Joule product shape the landscape and contribute to SAP’s journey in AI . Joule is not merely a tool but a game-changer in business operations, undergoing integration across SAP applications to streamline processes. Check out the Joule AI Cockpit for an in-depth exploration of its capabilities, revolutionizing AI interactions in SAP.Read more about Joule’s impact and integration across SAP applications in this article. Explore how Joule, SAP’s generative AI assistant, elevates conversational experiences and transforms interactions with SAP business systems.SAP BTP offers advanced artificial intelligence services and machine learning capabilities such as predictive analytics, natural language processing (NLP), speech recognition which can help businesses automate processes, improve decision-making, and create new business models and revenue streams ,enhance customer experience. Customers can leverage these cutting-edge technologies to improve their operations and user experiences . This can help businesses automate repetitive tasks, optimize processes, and create personalized experiences for their users. Explore a comprehensive and insightful overview of SAP’s generative AI strategy and Joule in the blog post ‘How SAP’s Generative AI Architecture Redefines Business Applications.’ The detailed exploration of architecture, ethical principles, and upcoming innovations provides valuable insights. Read more on this fascinating topic in the blog post. Also, don’t miss the OpenSAP course on ‘Generative AI at SAP’: Generative AI at SAP.
- Internet of Things (IoT): SAP BTP offers IoT capabilities, such as device management, data ingestion, and real-time analytics, which can help businesses connect, monitor, and control their IoT devices ,assets and sensors, and and leverage the data generated by them to gain insights, drive insights and actions
- Blockchain: SAP BTP provides blockchain capabilities, which can help businesses securely and transparently manage their transactions and contracts, reduce fraud and errors, and enhance trust and collaboration.To create secure, decentralized, and transparent networks for transactions, contracts, and asset management, and improve trust, efficiency, and accountability in their operations.
- Advanced Analytics: SAP BTP provides advanced analytics capabilities, such as data warehousing, data lakes, and predictive analytics, which can help businesses gain insights into their operations, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
- Low-code Development: SAP BTP offers low-code development capabilities, which can help businesses quickly and easily develop, deploy, and iterate their applications and services without requiring extensive coding skills.This help businesses accelerate their application development, reduce costs, and increase productivity.
Application Development: SAP BTP provides a range of tools and services for building cloud-native applications and extensions. Businesses can use SAP BTP to create custom applications that meet their unique needs, allowing them to gain a competitive edge by delivering differentiated services and experiences to their customers.
6.1 SAP Fiori: Fiori 3 is the latest version of the SAP Fiori design system which governs the look and feel of SAP applications, SAP Fiori is a set of design guidelines and user interface (UI) patterns that can be used to develop modern, responsive, and user-friendly web applications. It includes a range of pre-built UI components and templates, as well as tools for customizing and extending them.Fiori 3 provides a more intuitive, modern user experience that is consistent across all devices and platforms.Fiori 3 is designed to be flexible and customizable. This allows organizations to tailor the user experience to their specific needs and requirements this increases productivity.
6.1.1 Fiori Elements : In BTP you can use Fiori Elements , a development framework that makes it easier to build Fiori-compliant ,modern, user-friendly interfaces for SAP applications.To create Fiori applications more quickly and easily, It provides pre-built templates including analytical, list, object, and overview pages and tools for developers to create responsive and adaptive applications that conform to the Fiori design principles.
6.1.2 SAPUI5: A JavaScript UI development toolkit that can be used to build web applications and mobile apps with a consistent, responsive user interface.
6.2 SAP Cloud Application Programming Model (CAP): SAP CAP is a code-centric model ,annotation driven framework that can be used to define, develop, and deploy applications quickly and efficiently for SAP BTP. It includes a set of templates and tools for generating application code and services, as well as connectors to other SAP BTP services and external systems.
- SAP CAP has Out-of-the-box support for SAP Fiori and SAP HANA. You can also choose other UI technologies, like Vue.js, or databases, by providing new database integrations.
- SAP Cloud Application Programming Model (CAP): A framework for building cloud-native applications that can be deployed on SAP BTP or other cloud platforms.
- You can read more about SAP CAP Here : https://cap.cloud.sap/docs/about/
- Tutorial : https://developers.sap.com/tutorial-navigator.html?tag=software-product-function%3Asap-cloud-application-programming-model
Benefits of CAP
- Rapid development: With its low-code approach and pre-built UI elements, SAP BTP CAP technology can help businesses rapidly develop and deploy new applications and services.
- Customization: SAP BTP CAP technology offers extensive customization options, allowing developers to tailor applications and services to meet the specific needs of their organization.
- Flexible deployment options: With SAP BTP, developers have the flexibility to deploy applications on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid environment, depending on the specific needs of their organization.
- CAP is focused on cloud-native applications and microservices architecture
- Access to a wide range of services and tools: SAP BTP provides a rich set of tools and services that developers can use to build, test, and deploy their applications, including access to a wide range of APIs, development frameworks, and database technologies.
- Integration with other SAP products: SAP BTP CAP technology integrates seamlessly with other SAP products, such as SAP S/4HANA and SAP SuccessFactors, enabling developers to build applications that leverage data and services from across the organization.
- Support for open standards: SAP BTP CAP technology supports open standards, making it easier for developers to integrate with other systems and platforms, and avoiding vendor lock-in.
- Lower Total cost of ownership (TCO) with Better Quality: SAP BTP CAP technology provides best practices and pre-built templates for application development, which can help reduce development time and effort. By following the best practices, developers can ensure that their applications are built using industry-standard techniques, which can improve the quality and maintainability of the application. Additionally, the pre-built templates can help jump-start the development process, making it easier to build applications that are customized to the specific needs of the organization.Additionally, its open standards and cloud-based architecture can help reduce infrastructure costs and simplify IT management. Overall, SAP BTP CAP technology can enable faster and more cost-effective application development, leading to a lower TCO.
6.3 SAP RAP: “Rapid Application Development for Advanced Programing” : It is a programming model for building SAP Cloud applications ,Services in the ABAP environment of the SAP BTP platform.It is designed to provide developers with a modern, domain-driven approach to building high-quality business applications quickly and efficiently.
One of the key benefits of using RAP is that it helps developers to build applications that are based on modern, state-of-the-art technologies such as SAP HANA and OData V4 services. RAP also provides a comprehensive set of tools and services that allow developers to easily build user interfaces, define business logic, and integrate with other systems and service
Some of the tools offered for RAP development in Eclipse include:
- ABAP Development Tools (ADT) for Eclipse: This is the primary tool for developing applications on the ABAP platform, including RAP applications. ADT provides a full-fledged integrated development environment (IDE) for creating and managing ABAP projects, developing and debugging code, and deploying applications to SAP systems.
- SAP Business Application Studio: This is a cloud-based development environment that allows developers to create, manage, and deploy applications using a web browser. SAP Business Application Studio supports RAP development in ABAP, as well as other programming languages and platforms.
- CDS Editor: The Core Data Services (CDS) editor is a tool for creating and editing CDS views, which are used to define the data model for RAP applications. CDS views provide a standardized way of defining the data model, making it easier to reuse and maintain.
- UI Development Toolkit for HTML5 (SAPUI5): SAPUI5 is a client-side UI development toolkit used for creating responsive web applications. It provides a set of pre-built UI controls and templates, as well as a rich set of tools for building custom UIs.
- Code inspector: Code inspector is a tool for checking ABAP code for compliance with coding guidelines, performance issues, and security vulnerabilities. It provides a standardized way of reviewing code quality and identifying issues before they become a problem.
6.4 SAP Cloud SDK : The one-stop shop for developing and extending SAP applications in the cloud. You can learn here https://sap.github.io/cloud-sdk/
6.5 SAP Mobile Development Kit (MDK): SAP MDK is a low-code development platform that can be used to build mobile applications for iOS and Android devices. It includes a range of pre-built UI components, data connectors, and plugins, as well as a visual editor and a previewer.
6.6 SAP API Business Hub: SAP API Business Hub is a centralized catalog of pre-built APIs that can be used to integrate SAP and non-SAP systems and applications. It includes a range of connectors and templates for building custom integrations, as well as tools for testing, documenting, and managing APIs.
6.7 SAP Integration Suite: SAP Integration Suite is a cloud-based integration platform that can be used to connect and orchestrate data and processes across SAP and non-SAP systems and applications. It includes a range of connectors, adapters, and tools for building and managing integrations, as well as a visual modeling environment for creating integration flows.
6.8 SAP BTP Workflow: SAP Cloud Platform Workflow is a low-code development platform that can be used to automate business processes and tasks using workflow technology. It includes a visual editor, a drag-and-drop builder, and a rules engine, as well as connectors to other SAP BTP services and external systems.
6.9 SAP Build :
SAP Build has been added to the SAP Business Technology Platform as a new area of focus, providing low-code capabilities. With SAP Build, business experts can utilize visual tools, a variety of services, and pre-built content to create and enhance enterprise applications, automate cumbersome processes, and design attractive business sites. Jürgen Müller introduced SAP Build as a brand during his TechEd keynote speech, and it was also featured in a press article. Some of the SAP Build offerings include SAP Build Apps, SAP Build Process Automation, and SAP Build Work Zone.
SAP Build offering unifies access to below 3 services and is powered by SAP BTP.
SAP Build Apps [aka AppGyver]
SAP Build Process Automation
SAP Build Work Zone [Standard and Advanced Edition]
6.9.1 SAP Build Process Automation (aka SAP Process Automation)
which merges the functionalities of SAP Workflow Management and SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation, provides a user-friendly AI-driven interface that is available on the Free Tier also. To gain practical knowledge of the correlation, you can experiment with SAP Build Process Automation.There is speculation that SAP BTP Process Automation may render SAP BTP Workflow Management obsolete. SAP Build is an umbrella of 3 services: SAP Build Apps (aka AppGyver), SAP Build Process Automation, SAP Build Work Zone (Standard and Advanced Edition)
SAP Build Process Automation utilizes various tools such as robotic process automation (RPA) bots, workflows, forms, embedded artificial intelligence (AI), business rules, and decisions to automate tasks and processes. This automation can help accelerate a business transformation from process insights to process automation. Furthermore, SAP Signavio Process Intelligence offers 135 tailored process improvement recommendations that can be directly utilized in SAP Build Process Automation, and can trigger automated actions through APIs to perform process automations with workflows and bots. SAP Build Process Automation also complements SAP Signavio Process Governance by managing approvals of process model changes in SAP Signavio Process Manager.
Through this integration, SAP now possesses the most comprehensive set of capabilities required for business transformation and automation. In terms of openness with third-party tools, SAP Build Process Automation can integrate with Google Workspace, allowing for automation with products such as Google Sheets, Google Calendar, and Google Drive. This integration can improve document-based processes through the utilization of Google Vision AI with OCR, Google Document AI, and Document Information Extraction from SAP AI Business Services.
You can read more here SAP Process Automation
6.9.2 SAP Build APPs: SAP Build APP aka SAP AppGyver is a low-code cloud based development platform allows users to develop hybrid mobile and web applications quickly and easily.It provides a range of features, including drag-and-drop components, an intuitive visual builder, and pre-built templates, as well as capabilities for app deployment and maintenance.
- SAP Build APP, which is also known as SAP AppGyver, is a cloud-based, low-code development platform that enables users to quickly and easily develop hybrid mobile and web applications.
- The platform provides drag-and-drop components, an intuitive visual builder, and pre-built templates.
- SAP Build includes features for app deployment and maintenance.
- It can be used to create prototypes and design user interfaces for SAP applications.
- The platform includes pre-built templates and tools for creating mockups, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.
- SAP Build features collaboration and feedback collection capabilities to work with stakeholders.
- SAP Build simplifies and streamlines the development process with a user-friendly builder experience that leverages enterprise-grade scaling and security.
- With SAP Build, even non-technical business users can digitalize and automate their daily tasks or improve their coding efficiency, thanks to its visual programming tools and drag-and-drop components. If you’re looking to accelerate your development process and streamline your workflows, SAP Build may be the right choice for you.
- For more information & to learn SAP Build refer https://learning.sap.com/products/sap-build
6.9.3 SAP Build Work Zone
SAP Build Work Zone enables users to create customized business sites with new features like a flexible page builder and integrated UI cards that are context-aware. Users can deploy their newly created applications and processes from SAP Build Apps and SAP Build Processes Automation to an SAP Build Work Zone business site with ease.
SAP has combined SAP Launchpad service and SAP Work Zone into a single, unified solution called SAP Build Work Zone, which has two editions:
The standard edition of SAP Build Work Zone is an upgrade to SAP Launchpad service. It provides an improved workspace navigation experience, UI integration cards that support SAP Fiori design system, low-code page building capabilities, and pre-packaged business content. The new enhanced experience of SAP Build Work Zone standard is expected to be generally available in early 2023, and interested customers can sign up for the beta program.
The advanced edition, previously known as SAP Work Zone, offers additional advanced features such as content management, web content, interactive and engaging workspaces, an enhanced menu builder, and integration with third-party solutions.
With SAP Build Work Zone, end-users can access all relevant applications from one place, making it simple for them to build engaging digital workplace experiences without the need to write any code. These experiences can drive productivity and business agility for employees, colleagues, suppliers, customers, and partners.
6.9.4 SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation (iRPA): SAP iRPA is a low-code development platform that can be used to automate business processes and tasks using robotic process automation (RPA) technology. It includes a visual editor, a recorder, and a debugger, as well as connectors to other SAP BTP services and external systems.
6.10 SAP Business Application Studio:SAP Business Application Studio is a cloud-based development environment that can be accessed using a web browser, without the need to install any software on your local machine. To use SAP Business Application Studio, you only need a valid license for SAP BTP and a web browser, making it easy and convenient to get started with application development. This approach also allows for greater flexibility and scalability, as you can easily scale up or down your development resources based on your needs, without having to worry about managing hardware or infrastructure.
SAP Business Application Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) that can be used to build, test, and deploy cloud-native applications and extensions for SAP systems. It includes a range of tools and services for developing, testing, and deploying applications, as well as features for integrating with other SAP BTP services and external systems.
Overall, these low-code development tools offered by SAP BTP can help businesses build custom integrations, automate business processes, create conversational interfaces, and connect data and processes across different systems and applications, without requiring extensive coding expertise or resources.
7. Edge Computing: SAP BTP provides edge computing capabilities, which allow businesses to process data and run applications closer to where the data is generated, reducing latency and improving response times.
8.Big Data: SAP BTP offers big data capabilities, such as data processing, analytics, and machine learning, which can help businesses handle large volumes of data and extract insights from it.
9.Cloud Foundry: SAP BTP leverages Cloud Foundry, an open-source platform that provides a consistent and scalable environment for deploying and managing applications in the cloud.
10.Serverless Computing: SAP BTP provides serverless computing capabilities, which allow businesses to run their applications without the need for managing servers or infrastructure.
11.DevOps: SAP BTP offers DevOps capabilities, which enable businesses to automate their software development, testing, and deployment processes, and increase collaboration and agility across teams.
12.Containerization: SAP BTP leverages containerization technology, such as Docker and Kubernetes, which allows businesses to package their applications and dependencies into portable, lightweight containers that can be easily deployed and scaled.
Microservices: SAP BTP provides microservices architecture, which enables businesses to break down their applications into smaller, independent components that can be developed, tested, and deployed separately, improving agility and scalability.
13.API Management: SAP BTP offers API management capabilities, which allow businesses to securely expose, manage, and monetize their APIs, and enable integration with external systems and partners.
14.Mobile Development: SAP BTP provides mobile development capabilities, such as mobile app development platforms, mobile backend-as-a-service (MBaaS), and mobile analytics, which can help businesses develop and deploy mobile applications quickly and efficiently.
15.Security: SAP BTP offers a wide range of security capabilities, such as identity and access management (IAM), data encryption, threat detection, and compliance, which can help businesses protect their data and applications from cyber threats and ensure regulatory compliance.
16.Robotic Process Automation (RPA): SAP BTP provides RPA capabilities, which allow businesses to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks and processes, and increase efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
17.Integration and Connectivity: SAP BTP offers a range of integration and connectivity services, enabling businesses to easily connect their existing systems and data sources to the cloud. This can help businesses streamline their operations, improve data accuracy, and reduce the risk of errors.SAP BTP offers seamless integration with other SAP solutions and third-party systems, allowing businesses to easily connect and collaborate with partners, suppliers, and customers.
18.SAP BTP Event Mesh is a cloud-based event bus that allows real-time event-driven communication between various applications and services across different systems and cloud environments. It provides a publish-and-subscribe model, where events are published by a sender and received by interested subscribers in a decoupled manner.
The key benefits of SAP BTP Event Mesh are:
- Scalability: SAP BTP Event Mesh can handle a large volume of events with low latency and high throughput, making it suitable for high-performance and mission-critical scenarios.SAP BTP Event Mesh allows for the scalability of event-driven applications, allowing for the addition of new services and components(consumers) without the need for manual intervention.
- you can easily add more capacity when needed.
- Flexibility: SAP BTP Event Mesh allows for the flexibility of event-driven applications, allowing for the addition of new services and components without the need for manual intervention.
- Additionally It supports various event formats, protocols, and endpoints, including HTTP, AMQP, MQTT, JMS, SAP Message Server, SAP Event Mesh Service, and SAP Event Bus. This makes it easier to connect applications and services with different technologies and protocols.
- Reliability: SAP BTP Event Mesh provides a resilient messaging infrastructure and secure event-driven architecture, allowing for the reliable delivery of events across multiple services and components, that is designed to ensure high availability.
- Decoupling: It enables loosely coupled integration between applications and services, which reduces dependencies and increases agility. This means that changes made in one application or service do not affect the functioning of other applications or services.
- Improved performance: Event Mesh helps to reduce latency and improve throughput by providing a distributed messaging infrastructure that is optimized for high-performance event-driven applications.
- Security: SAP BTP Event Mesh provides an additional layer of security for event-driven applications, ensuring that only authorized users and services can access and process events.It provides secure and reliable communication through end-to-end encryption, access control, and message validation.
- Monitoring and Management: It offers comprehensive monitoring and management capabilities through the SAP Cloud Platform cockpit, including event tracking, tracing, and error handling. This allows developers to troubleshoot and resolve issues quickly and easily.
- Cost Savings: SAP BTP Event Mesh helps to reduce the cost of development and maintenance of event-driven applications,by eliminating the need to maintain and manage separate messaging infrastructure for each cloud provider.
Overall, SAP BTP Event Mesh provides a flexible, scalable, and secure solution for event-driven communication that can help organizations streamline their application integration and improve their business agility.
19.SAP BTP DevOps Services provide a set of tools and services to help development teams automate the software development lifecycle in the cloud. These services include continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), testing, monitoring, and feedback gathering. DevOps Services help to increase collaboration between development and operations teams, improve software quality, and accelerate time-to-market. Some examples of DevOps Services are
19.1 SAP Automation Pilot: This service provides an end-to-end automation solution for SAP applications, allowing teams to accelerate application delivery and improve quality by automating repetitive tasks and processes. The service offers a visual flow designer, integration with popular DevOps tools, and support for a variety of automation use cases, including testing, deployment, and release management.Refer : SAP Automation Pilot
19.2 SAP BTP Alert Notification: This service provides real-time alerts and notifications for SAP applications, allowing teams to proactively monitor and respond to issues. The service offers a wide range of notification channels, including email, SMS, and chat, as well as customizable alert rules and threshold levels. With SAP BTP Alert Notification, teams can quickly identify and address issues, improving application availability and performance.
Refer : SAP Alert Notification Service for SAP BTP
Other SAP BTP DevOps services available in the BTP Service Marketplace include SAP BTP Continuous Integration and Delivery, SAP BTP Test Suite, and SAP BTP Release Dashboard, among others. These services provide tools and capabilities to support various aspects of the DevOps process, from testing and quality assurance to deployment and release management. By leveraging these services, teams can streamline and automate their DevOps workflows, improving efficiency, quality, and agility.
The guide concludes by underscoring the pivotal role of SAP BTP in addressing the diverse needs of IT leaders, managers, technology executives, business analysts, functional consultants, and developers. It meticulously details the platform’s specific offerings such as database services, analytics services, integration services, and development tools. Through this comprehensive exploration, SAP BTP emerges as an all-encompassing solution tailored for businesses aspiring towards innovation, efficiency, and sustained growth.
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