Pitfalls of SAP to Salesforce Integration in Ecommerce

Why Integrate SAP with Salesforce?

Integrating SAP with Salesforce combines the strengths of two powerful platforms. SAP is well-known for its extensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) features, which manage everything from financials and operations to human resources. Salesforce, in contrast, specializes in enhancing customer engagement and managing relationships, offering essential tools for personalized marketing and sales tactics, especially in e-commerce. Additional information about Salesforce Commerce Cloud can be found in the Salesforce Commerce Cloud Implementation guide.

By connecting SAP with Salesforce, companies can gain a unified view of their operations and customer interactions. This complete perspective supports better strategic choices and can lead to an increase in sales.

However, due to the complexity of both systems, merging them is not without its challenges. It requires meticulous planning and skilled execution to ensure success. Integrating these systems can streamline workflows and improve efficiencies, making the effort worthwhile for businesses aiming to enhance their operational and customer insights.

Advantages of Integrating Salesforce with ERP Systems Like SAP

Salesforce platforms such as Sales Cloud or Service Cloud often operate without crucial data from other systems, forcing users to switch between applications to gain a comprehensive understanding. This inefficient process can drain employee productivity and increase the likelihood of expensive mistakes. If you are working with Consumer Goods, and looking for employees check out the latest Salesforce Consumer Goods Cloud Accredited Professional article.

Key benefits you get when integrate SAP and Salesforce:

• Enhanced Data Quality: Seamless sharing between Salesforce and SAP improves data accuracy and reduces duplication.
• Increased Efficiency: The integration streamlines business operations, automates data entry, and minimizes manual errors, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
• Better Decision Making: With integrated visibility into customer data across sales, marketing, customer service, and billing, business users can make informed decisions and enhance customer interactions.
• Improved Collaboration: Real-time access to vital customer information fosters better teamwork across sales, marketing, and customer service teams.
• Cost Savings: Automating data processes saves time and reduces errors, lowering operational costs and freeing up sales teams to focus more on selling and less on administrative tasks.
• Revenue Growth: Improved customer insights can enhance customer experiences, potentially increasing revenue and promoting business expansion.

An example of this integration at work is Salesforce’s Customer 360, which offers insights into customer interactions within Salesforce. However, crucial details like credit status, payment history, and invoices remain housed in SAP. A robust integration between Salesforce and SAP is essential to unlocking these insights and fully leveraging the capabilities of both systems.

Salesforce SAP Integration Steps

Integration Approaches

Integration can be implemented in various ways, typically falling into three primary categories.

Custom Development 

In a custom development approach, the project can be carried out independently of an integration platform. On the Salesforce side, this method would utilize the following APIs:

• REST API
• SOAP API
• Streaming API
• Web Service callouts
• Salesforce Connect

Opting for direct integrating Salesforce and SAP from the ground up means there are no additional costs for licenses or subscriptions other than your existing Salesforce and SAP licenses. However, this approach demands the most in terms of implementation effort and carries the highest risk of project complications. Additionally, Salesforce does not natively support direct integration with SAP standards like RFC (Remote Function Call), which could limit your integration capabilities.

IPaaS Solutions 

Integrating through an IPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) presents several advantages over custom development. IPaaS solutions generally include pre-built adapters for SAP, eliminating the need to develop these components from scratch. These platforms manage essential aspects such as connection handling, authentication, and security, simplifying the integration process.

Here are some popular IPaaS options for integrating SAP with Salesforce:

MuleSoft: This Salesforce-owned platform excels in integrating with Salesforce and provides templates specifically for SAP integration. It streamlines the connection between Salesforce apps and SAP systems, making it a robust choice for Salesforce-centric organizations.

SAP CPI (Cloud Platform Integration): As SAP’s native integration solution, CPI supports all SAP protocols and includes pre-configured templates for Salesforce integration. This makes it an ideal option for businesses deeply embedded in the SAP ecosystem.

Jitterbit, Dell Boomi, IBM App Connect: These platforms also facilitate Salesforce integration with SAP but are less commonly used compared to MuleSoft and SAP CPI. Each offers unique features:

• Jitterbit is known for its user-friendly interface and strong automation capabilities.
• Dell Boomi offers a drag-and-drop interface and extensive connectivity options.
• IBM App Connect excels in automating workflows and connecting applications, data, and devices across multiple environments.

Choosing the right IPaaS depends on your specific integration needs, the complexity of your IT environment, and your existing technology stack.

SaaS Integrations for Seamless Connectivity 

Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions not only offer platforms for integration development but also come equipped with ready-to-use applications. This feature significantly decreases the time and cost typically associated with lengthy and complex integration projects. Users can swiftly deploy these integrations, with many going live in just a few weeks. Access to these solutions is typically through a subscription or license fee, which includes continuous support and updates, ensuring the system remains effective and current.

Key players in this area include Enosix and Vigience Overcast, both of which specialize in seamless integrations between Salesforce and SAP:

• Enosix: Focuses on creating intuitive user experiences and offers immediate access to SAP data within Salesforce, enhancing productivity and user satisfaction.
• Vigience Overcast: Boasts a robust catalog of more than 150 ready-to-use integrations with SAP as well as other ERP systems like Microsoft Dynamics and Oracle NetSuite. Overcast also provides the flexibility to develop custom integrations to meet unique business requirements.

When choosing your Salesforce and SAP integration strategy, consider the maintenance it will require once operational. Custom development tends to need the most ongoing maintenance, whereas SaaS options like Enosix and Overcast typically require less, thanks to their comprehensive support and regular updates. This maintenance is crucial to adapt to new releases from Salesforce and SAP, ensuring your integration continues to function smoothly.

Top Salesforce AppExchange Apps That Can Help You with Salesforce SAP Integration

Salesforce-SAP Connector

Salesforce-SAP Connector is a Salesforce integration tool that allows for the replication of both Master and Transactional SAP data into Salesforce, either in batches or in real-time. It supports the following types of SAP data:

• Customer, Material, Equipment
• Sales Order, Quotation, Invoice
• Pricing, Inventory, Work Order
• Bill of Materials (BOM), Location

Key features:

• Customizable mappings for Salesforce Objects right out of the box.
• Ability to add custom fields specific to client needs without any coding.
• An easy framework that allows replication of any SAP table with just a few clicks.

Additional capabilities:

• Supports full and incremental data loads.
• Operates in both real-time and batch-processing modes.
• Compatible with SAP ECC on-premise and S/4HANA systems.
• Includes over 100 pre-delivered SAP APIs.

Offered by GyanSys Inc., this tool starts at $4,000 USD per SAP instance per month, with discounts available for nonprofit organizations. It applies to industries such as automotive, engineering, construction, real estate, and manufacturing, focusing on data management and data cleansing needs. This app is compatible with Data Cloud for Marketing, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Revenue Cloud CPQ.

SIP – The SAP Integration with the Salesforce Platform

Presented by Deloitte Digital Austria, the SIP application facilitates the rapid integration of SAP and Salesforce, reducing a process that typically spans weeks to just a few hours.

Pricing: Starts at $1,000 USD for a one-time company payment

Integration Features:

Looking to integrate Salesforce with SAP? Our SIP platform provides an efficient, proven integration solution that connects these systems quickly. Equipped with pre-configured templates and ready-to-use content, the platform enables fast, plug-and-play deployment.

Additional capabilities:

• Seamless navigation between SAP and Salesforce with direct SAP record access in Salesforce and quick ERP switching via the Jump2SAP function.
• Capability for enhancements using SAP-specific extensions like ABAP, XSLT, and Z-fields.
• Customer-specific, pre-designed integration templates on a reliable, high-capacity platform.

The platform is well-versed in a variety of SAP modules, including SD, MM, FI, CS, PM, QM, CO, and PS, ensuring comprehensive integration capabilities. It allows for straightforward synchronization of SAP customizing, making predefined SAP structures for SAP entities readily available in Salesforce.

Webservicer, by Anodius

WebServicer enables you to connect Salesforce.com with SAP or any other external system or application using SOAP WebServices—completely code-free and without the need for middleware.

Pricing: 

• Cost: Free
• Access: Unlimited use without any payment.

Simply upload the web service definition (WSDL) file, map the object fields to the web service inputs and outputs, and you’re set to perform callouts to update records. This process requires no coding at all.

You maintain full control over your data; updates are made on-demand and only for individual records as needed. WebServicer operates directly with external web services, eliminating the need for any middleware.

Planning and Implementing Effective SAP-Salesforce Integration

Like any successful software project, beginning with a well-defined specification is crucial for an integration project. Here are some foundational steps to guide you:

Identifying What to Integrate

SAP encompasses a vast array of business processes, objects, and data. It’s vital to pinpoint exactly what information is essential. To understand your users’ needs, consider conducting interviews or, more effectively, shadowing their daily processes and activities. This approach helps capture details they might overlook or deem obvious, providing a comprehensive view of their operational needs.

Document how your users interact with both Salesforce with SAP —note the information they input into each system. Identify where they are currently copying and pasting data between systems, and consider where they could benefit from real-time insights.

Choosing Between Data Replication and Real-Time Access

Integration can generally be divided into two types:

Data Replication: This involves copying data from SAP to Salesforce. The data can be integrated into either standard or custom Salesforce objects. Typical use cases include:

• Syncing SAP Business Partners to Salesforce Accounts
• Transferring SAP Material to Salesforce Products
• Migrating SAP List Prices to Salesforce Price Books

Real-Time Access: In this model, data is not stored within Salesforce but is requested from SAP when needed. This method is often necessary for several reasons: the data changes frequently, the volume of data is too large to store efficiently, or the SAP business logic required to process the data is complex. Real-time integrations are used for dynamic tasks like price calculations or checking material availability directly from SAP.

In some scenarios, a hybrid approach may be effective. For example, equipment data from SAP’s customer service might be replicated to Salesforce assets, while characteristics and measurement readings are fetched in real time to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

Further Considerations

When planning your integration, also consider the technical capabilities of both platforms. Salesforce offers various APIs and tools for integration, such as the Bulk API for large data volumes and the Streaming API for real-time updates. Similarly, SAP’s NetWeaver platform provides a range of integration options including IDocs for asynchronous communications and RFCs for direct remote function calls.

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Choosing the right method and tools will depend on your specific data requirements and business processes, ensuring that the integration not only supports but enhances your operational workflows.

Final Thoughts

SAP and Salesforce integration presents a powerful opportunity to bridge the gap between two vital business systems, enhancing data transparency, improving decision-making, and fostering better collaboration across departments. While the SAP to Salesforce integration process can range from straightforward to complex, involving various approaches like custom development, IPaaS solutions, and SaaS platforms, each method offers distinct advantages. Custom development allows for tailored solutions but requires significant resources and maintenance. IPaaS options provide flexibility and ease of use with pre-built adapters and managed services, ideal for organizations seeking rapid deployment and minimal upkeep. On the other hand, SaaS integrations offer ready-to-use solutions with quick implementation times and reduced operational disruption.

Choosing the right integration strategy involves a careful assessment of the business’s specific needs, the technical capabilities of both platforms and the potential for future scalability. Despite the challenges, the benefits of SAP Salesforce integration—such as increased efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced customer insights—are substantial and can lead to significant business growth. As such, businesses must consider their integration options carefully, ensuring they select a solution that aligns with their strategic goals and delivers the greatest return on investment.

Dorian Sabitov

Dorian is a 5X Certified Salesforce Developer and Administrator with a start in the IT world as a CRM Admin in 2020. Since diving into Salesforce in 2021 via Trailhead and Focus on Force, he has achieved a Ranger Rank, earned several Superbadges, and bagged certifications including the Salesforce Certified Administrator, Platform App Builder, Associate and Platform Developer I by 2023. In 2024 he also became Salesforce Certified AI Associate. Dorian is very keen on continuous learning, always looks for fresh ways to improve his knowledge. He enjoys running, boxing, kickboxing and reading diverse kinds of books in his free time.