Environments Are Merging—Cloud Integration for Hybrid Architecture

The future belongs to hybrid IT landscapes. But how can you combine your on-premise environment with new cloud solutions? This blog post presents an overview and evaluation of the most essential integration technologies.

On premise is dead. Long live on premise! Despite businesses increasingly migrating their IT to the cloud, the on-premise model is still alive and kicking. This is because so many tailor-made solutions have been developed over the years, and compliance is an ever-present issue. However, departments’ expectations are growing and tailored cloud solutions are the best way to meet these new demands quickly. This is especially important in the digital age, as enterprises can no longer afford to spend time on lengthy implementation projects. The question is how best to integrate a variety of tools within a single IT landscape.

The Challenges of Hybrid

There are several integration platforms on the market, but which are the most suitable? Should I run mine on premise or in the cloud? What connectors are available and which ones do I need? Which data format should my applications use? And how do the various maintenance cycles affect operations?

SAP customers have two options: the SAP HANA Cloud Platform, integration service (formerly SAP HANA Cloud Integration) and SAP Process Orchestration—a combination of the SAP Process Integration and SAP Business Process Management solutions. Each offering serves a different purpose and comes with its own advantages.

It comprises:

Connectors for communication between systems, allowing processes to overcome traditional limitations
An ETL tool for transferring large volumes of data to the cloud, including mapping and filtering functions
OData, which supports the use of SAP Fiori UX throughout the entire landscape
Prepackaged integration content for quickly connecting standard scenarios—half of which also support non-SAP systems

Integration platforms for SAP customers

No One-Size-Fits-All Solution

At present, SAP Process Orchestration is best suited to integrating on-premise systems. However, it is also possible to combine it with cloud solutions. Choosing the right platform depends on several factors: existing architecture, standardized content, cost, desired go-live date, connectivity options, the expectations of various corporate functions, and more.

It is therefore crucial for companies to thoroughly analyze their current situation before selecting an integration platform. NTT DATA Business Solutions runs workshops to aid this decision, with experts assessing system landscapes, interfaces, IT strategy, and target architecture. By the end of the meeting, participants will have a clear idea of which solution best fits their needs.