Integrating XML Into SAP Business Connector
- Introduction and Benefits -

Introduction

Corporations of all types are searching for the most efficient mechanism for acquiring and selling goods and services at lowest total cost over the Internet. SAP�s response are Business Connectors which nterlink the SAP systems with the Internet. The Business Process Connectors for SAP systems supports for the dynamic integration between the application processes and server systems thus facilitating in faster and efficient functioning of SAP R/3, SAP Portals and MySAP solutions. In the current model, SAP Business Connector Framework uses XML schemas to dynamically generate a JSP that can be assessed from any web browser, so that one can test and deploy integration tools between the application server environment and SAP systems immediately. Convergence of XML schema approach to the SA Business Connector facilitate in adding flexibility to all the SAP standards. Thereby the customers can leverage the power and flexibility of XML into their business documents with an enhanced efficiency and improved cost-effectiveness.

Integrating Business Connectors with XML

SAP BC integrates RFC server and the client and provides an XML layer over R/3 functionality. That is, it comes with an XML automation that converts SAP�s RFC format into XML and supports both synchronous RFC and asynchronous RFC protocols such that there is no requirement of SAP R/3 automation at the receiving end. Also, SAP BC has a built in integration support for SAP�s specification of IDOC-XML and RFC-XML standards. Hence, whenever dealing with the messages conforming to the same standards it supports the integration.

Benefits of XML Integration

End-to-End Web Business Processes

Internet bridges the gap between different businesses, systems and users and facilitates them do business via web. SAP BC makes this communication easier by its XML conversions. Through its integration with XML it enables the exchange of structured business documents over the Internet by providing common standard for different applications and IT systems to communicate and exchange business data.

SAP Business Connector uses hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to exchange XML-based documents over the Internet. This makes the process of data transfer a lot easier by providing a common structure for all business documents. It also ensures secure exchange of documents with the help of its Security Socket Layer (SSL) technology and allows implementation of maps, branches and loops without any coding by using developer tool. In addition, SAP BC provides openness and flexibility to comply with emerging business semantics that continuously keep on changing.

SAP BC makes all mySAP.com solutions accessible via XML based business documents. It supports all major existing interfaces that are provided by SAP with the help of XML-based Interface Repository (IFR) and empowers SAP customers to benefit from SAP functionality over the Internet. This IFR gives the option for downloading XML schemas for operational use and provides a uniform XML interface representation despite different implementation technologies such as RFC, IDOC and BAPI. Also with SAP BC, XML messages are translated into corresponding SAP internal call whenever required and converted back into XML format when received from SAP system enhancing the existing programming model for distributed applications formed by ALE. In addition, SAP BC extends business scenarios across firewalls enabling secure flow of business documents without requiring changes to establish security infrastructures.