INTERFACE

METHODS IDoc (Intermediate

Document)
01

RFC (Remote 02
Function Call)

BAPI (Business
Application Programming 03
Interface)

ALE (Application 04
Link Enabling)

Many More -CPI, 05

REST API,

Avnikant Singh
IDoc (Intermediate Document):
What :
A mature and reliable method for exchanging
g h
standard business
S i n documents.
t
an
WhyA ? vn
i k

A mature and reliable method for exchanging

standard business documents.

Example : nt S in g h

a
i k to automatically
A manufacturing company uses IDocsn
v
A ERP system
send production orders from their
(potentially non-SAP) to SAP for material reservation
and production planning.
 RFC (Remote Function Call):
What :
Enables direct communication between SAP functions and
functions in external systems, allowing for real-time data
exchange. g h
i n
S
Why ? nt
i k a
v n
A
RFCs offer real-time interaction, ideal for scenarios
requiring immediate data exchange for monitoring and
potential adjustments.

Example :
A factory uses RFCs to receive real-time g h machine data
i n
(e.g., sensor readings) from machine t S controllers and
a n
i
update production status in SAP. k
n v
A
 BAPI
(Business Application Programming Interface)

What :
A standardized interface based on RFCs, offering pre-
defined functions specific to SAP g h Manufacturing objects.
i n
t S
n
Why ? Av
ni k a

BAPIs provide pre-built functions, saving development

time and ensuring consistency in communication with SAP
Manufacturing objects.

Example : h
n g
A company uses BAPIs to integrate their CAD Si software
n t
with SAP. Design changes are automatically i k a reflected
v n
in the bill of materials within SAP, Aensuring production
uses the latest specifications.
 ALE (Application Link Enabling):

What :
Application Link Enabling g hwas a very common technology
i n
used in SAP to transfer t S master and transactional data
a n
between different i k Logical Systems.
v n
A
Why ?
ALE is ideal for complex data exchange scenarios within a
large SAP landscape. like earlier in ECC we used to have
HR system and other disystem in diff .boxes.)

Example :
A multi-plant manufacturing company uses ALE hto
g
synchronize production data (e.g., material t Sin
a n
requirements, finished goods) between theirik central
v n
A
SAP system and plant-specific SAP systems.
More Interface Methods
REST: REST stands for Representational State
Transfer which is an architectural style for
designing networked applications.
g h
n
SAP PI/PO/CPI-t Si
a n
i k
A vn
SOAP -Simple Object Access Protocol
leverage HTTP protocol and Web Service.
Description Language (WSDL)

OData - Open Data Protocol g h

i n
OData is also connected to the SAP system t S via
a n
HTTP protocol. ik
vn A