SAP PO and SAP CPI: Differences, Features and How to Choose

SAP PO (Process Orchestration) and SAP CPI (Cloud Platform Integration, now part of SAP Integration Suite) are SAP's two primary middleware integration platforms. Understanding the differences between them is essential for any organization planning or optimizing their SAP integration architecture.

Back in the day, connecting SAP to other systems used to be complicated and expensive. But now, with so many types of software on the market that need to be connected with each other, integration services are crucial and widely sought out by all modern businesses. SAP provides us with two middleware integration options: SAP PI/PO and SAP CPI.

SAP PI (SAP Process Integration) and SAP PO (SAP Process Orchestration) are widely used by companies as on-premise integration platforms. However, with the widespread use of cloud-based solutions, SAP designed SAP Cloud Platform Integration (SAP CPI) as a cloud-based solution. Both offer similar functions as middleware, but they have significant differences between them.

What Exactly is Middleware?

Middleware is software used for different applications and systems to communicate with each other. It acts as a bridge between different tools, databases and technologies and creates seamless integration. In the simplest sense, SAP middleware enables applications to exchange and integrate with other applications, operating systems, or networks.

SAP's first middleware product was SAP Exchange Infrastructure (SAP XI): an on-premises solution for integrating SAP systems to other SAP or non-SAP systems. XI then evolved into Process Integration (PI) and later Process Orchestration (PO). With the world's swift transition to the Cloud, SAP provides us with Cloud Platform Integration (CPI), a middleware for integrating SAP systems with third-party applications. For a detailed look at the full evolution, see our guide on SAP XI/PI/PO.

What is SAP Process Orchestration (SAP PO)?

SAP PO has been around the block. From XI to PI and now to PO, this middleware has been widely adopted for its seamless integration with SAP, comprehensive set of adapters, and user-friendly graphical interface. With SAP PO you can:

• Create synchronous and asynchronous communication for integrating your SAP ERP to other SAP/non-SAP systems,
• Build end-to-end integration scenarios and iFlows,
• Register SAP back-end systems in the System Landscape,
• Integrate heterogeneous systems across your IT landscape,
• Monitor your all your interfaces' run-time step by step.

SAP PO is a solid, reliable platform with over 15 years' worth of updates and a large developer community. For now, its road map extends to 2030. SAP PO is the go-to software for organizations that handle a large amount of internal integration traffic.

Migration from SAP PO to SAP Integration Suite

SAP Process Integration (SAP PI)

SAP PI is an enterprise integration platform that provides seamless integration between SAP and non-SAP systems. SAP PI enables the creation of the following integrations: B2B Integration, A2A Integration, SAP and non-SAP systems, Asynchronous and synchronous communication, and Business process management between components.

SAP Cloud Platform Integration (SAP CPI)

Cloud Platform Integration (CPI) is SAP's cloud-based middleware that integrates cloud and on-premise applications with third-party SAP and non-SAP products. SAP includes a set of prebuilt adapters with its Cloud Platform Integration, which allow you to easily leverage integration for A2A/B2B processes, SAP and non-SAP systems, on-premise and cloud-based applications, and synchronous/asynchronous scenarios.

SAP Cloud Integration payment plan comes in two options: consumption-based pricing and subscription-based pricing. For the latest pricing and service plan comparison, see our article on SAP Integration Suite Service Plans.

SAP PI/PO vs. CPI: Key Differences

Features of SAP CPI

• Cloud Based Integration: Easy to deploy, requires minimal maintenance and has easily scalable features.
• Prebuilt Content & Pre-built Connectors: Quickly complete integration projects and reduce development costs.
• User Friendly Interface: Allows users without deep technical knowledge to easily create integrations.
• Rich Set of Features: API management, data integration, microservice support — not available in PI/PO.

Features of SAP PO/PI

• On-Premise Deployment: Preferred by businesses using legacy systems that cannot be moved to the cloud.
• Advanced Features: Business Rules Management (BRM) and Business Process Management (BPM) for complex processes.
• Flexibility: A customisable platform for specific integration needs.
• Strong Support for SAP Environments: Pre-built connectors for SAP, integrates with SAP NetWeaver seamlessly.

Conclusion

Whether you're considering migration or just getting started with SAP, we're here to help! We offer consultancy services for SAP PI/PO and SAP CPI. Talk to us about your business needs to make the most out of your IT use.