Business Technology Platform: The "Swiss army knife" for your SAP system

Part I of our blog series: The SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) is a powerful cloud platform that helps companies drive their digital transformation and develop innovative business applications.

Plattling, November 15, 2023

SAP BTP

BTP offers a wide range of tools, technologies and services that enable companies to modernize their IT landscape, use data intelligently and optimize their business processes. With SAP BTP, companies prepare themselves for the future and gain strategic competitive advantages.

A modern, intelligent ERP environment is only possible with BTP
SAP S/4HANA as the "digital core" and all other standard business software solutions from SAP (such as SuccesFactors, Ariba, etc.) map a company's core business processes better than almost any other solution on the market. Nevertheless, every company "ticks" a little differently. Differentiation in the market can only be achieved through individual processes in detail, smart automation and integration, as well as intelligent use of all available data. SAP refers to this as an "Intelligent Enterprise". By seamlessly connecting SAP BTP with the core business applications, following the idea of the "Intelligent Enterprise", companies can expand their business processes in a targeted manner, automate them end-to-end and optimize them. This leads to greater efficiency, faster decisions and a better customer focus.

Integrating new technologies
BTP is characterized above all by its extensive range of technical services and functions. The aim is always to support processes and the handling of business data - technology should not be an end in itself. SAP groups the technological capabilities of BTP into extension/development (also via low-code/no-code), process automation (e.g. with RPA and workflows, supported by process mining with SAP Signavio), integration (also "state-of-the-art" with APIs and events), analytics (and planning) and AI (both with ready-made models and the option to train and manage your own AI models).

By using these technologies, companies can tap into new business opportunities, make data-driven decisions and develop innovative applications. What is particularly important here is that, unlike other PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) providers on the market, SAP also offers extensive ready-made business content - and not just pure technology. For example, hundreds of connectors, integration scenarios, workflow templates and RPA bots are available, which can be adapted to your own needs if required. The additional out-of-the-box connection to SAP's backend applications guarantees a short "time to value".

SAP customers using BTP will also benefit from future technology innovations on an ongoing basis and without delay. While the existing NetWeaver-based platforms, such as PI/PO for process integration, will be in maintenance mode for a few more years, new functions, such as ChatGPT-like scenarios based on "Generative AI", will be made available via the BTP and can be used immediately.


Covering individual requirements
Another key advantage of SAP BTP is its flexibility and scalability. Companies can adapt and expand the platform according to their individual requirements. SAP BTP also supports hybrid and multi-cloud scenarios, allowing companies to take advantage of different hyperscalers (such as Microsoft Azure or AWS) while ensuring seamless integration.

In addition, SAP BTP offers a comprehensive range of development and integration tools. Developers can draw on a variety of tools and programming languages to develop customized applications and integrate existing systems. Simple applications can also be created by tech-savvy users, so-called "citizen developers".


Low hurdles make it easier to get started
The functions of BTP are very diverse and can provide added value in a wide range of areas. Many companies therefore find it difficult to find the right entry point. SAP has recognized this and has made the hurdles for implementing the first prototypes as low as possible. Especially financially: with a "pay-as-you-go" license model in which only the services that are actually used are invoiced. And additionally a "free tier" for most BTP services, which allows test scenarios to be implemented free of charge. So there is no reason to hesitate and the right time to take the first steps is: Now!

P.S.: This is the first part of a T.CON blog series on the SAP Business Technology Platform. Over the next few weeks, we will be presenting the BTP functions from the following subject areas in detail:


Let's get in touch.

Ernesto Flores, Headquarters Plattling

Contact
Contact
References