SAP Business Technology Platform

Definition: What is SAP BTP?

The SAP Business Technology Platform is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) from SAP. The platform can be used to create, integrate and manage applications. In addition, SAP BTP can be used to link data and business processes and to gain insights from data.

How long has the SAP Business Technology Platform been available?

The name SAP Business Technology Platform has been in use since the fall of 2019. Previously, the solution was called "Digital Platform".

The renaming to SAP BTP was accompanied by an expansion of the solution - for example, with regard to the integration of non-SAP applications into business processes.

At the beginning of 2021, the services and functions of the SAP Cloud Platform were also transferred to SAP BTP. SAP has deleted the brand name and the SAP Cloud Platform product.

What are the core components of the SAP Business Technology Platform?

The SAP Business Technology Platform consists of five core components:

1. application development
2. integration
3. automation (robot process automation)
4. data management and analysis
5. artificial intelligence

These technology portfolios each contain a wide variety of products and solutions.

What solutions are available with SAP BTP?

With the help of the SAP Business Technology Platform, companies can drive forward their digital transformation. SAP refers to this as the development towards the “intelligent enterprise”. Numerous SAP solutions and products are available in four categories for this purpose.

The database and data management solutions can be used to manage master data, link data, reduce data redundancies and provide data. For example, the following solutions are available:

• SAP HANA Cloud
• SAP Master Data Governance
• SAP Data Intelligence (is replaced by Datasphere or, depending on the use case, by SAP AI Core)
• SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise
• SAP SQL Anywhere
• SAP Data Services
• and others

SAP BTP's analytics solutions provide companies with deeper insights into their data, processes and workflows. This enables them to better evaluate certain situations, visualize and simulate scenarios and optimize planning. Specifically, the following solutions are available at SAP BTP:

• SAP Analytics Cloud for Business Intelligence (BI)
• SAP Datasphere
• SAP BusinessObjects BI
• SAP Business Planning and Consolidation
• SAP BW/4HANA
• SAP Crystal Reports
• and others

SAP BTP also provides companies with access to intelligent technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and the Internet of Things (IoT). These technologies can be used, for example, to improve and automate processes and develop new business models. Robotic process automation (RPP) can also be used to automate business processes. Companies can use virtual software robots (bots) to perform manual and time-consuming tasks. Companies can use the following solutions in this area:

• SAP Joule
• SAP AI Core
• SAP AI Launchpad
• SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation
• SAP Conversational AI
• SAP Internet of Things
• AI Business Service Document Information Extraction
• and others

What is SAP's strategy with the SAP Business Technology Platform?

With SAP BTP, SAP wants to create a uniform technology platform for all SAP applications and digital transformation. SAP speaks of the "platform for the intelligent enterprise".

To this end, SAP is providing a cloud environment "as a service" with SAP BTP - in other words, SAP is taking care of the management and updating.

Above all, the platform is designed to give companies more flexibility and agility: through quicker and easier extensions via cloud-based apps, through embedded analytics, and through access to technologies such as artificial intelligence.

In this way, SAP BTP helps companies turn data into value and thus derive greater benefit from it, map business processes end-to-end, and develop and integrate applications more quickly and easily.

Who is the SAP Business Technology Platform suitable for?

SAP BTP is suitable for all companies that want to become faster and more flexible and want to derive added value from their data - regardless of size and industry.

The SAP Business Technology Platform is a modular combination of individual services and solutions. SAP or non-SAP solutions and cloud services can be easily integrated into business processes via API interfaces.

The SAP BTP is open to a wide range of cloud infrastructure providers. It can be operated on any hyperscaler cloud environment (multicloud openness).

The platform also supports various environments and programming languages: for example, open source solutions such as Cloud Foundry and Kyma, as well as the SAP programming language ABAP. It is also available for different regions.

Is an SAP S/4HANA system a prerequisite for using SAP BTP?

No, SAP S/4HANA is not a prerequisite for using SAP BTP.

The advantage of SAP BTP is that the numerous available services and extension options can be used via the cloud even though, for example, a classic on-premise SAP ECC system is still in operation in a company.

The development and connection of new or existing solutions is thereby easier and faster to implement with the help of the cloud platform and via contemporary interfaces than would have been possible in the past.

And no development is lost: After the switch to SAP S/4HANA, all applications developed on SAP BTP remain intact. Companies can continue to use them without restriction via the cloud.

What is the difference between the SAP Digital Platform, the SAP Cloud Platform and the SAP Business Technology Platform?

• The only solution still in existence today is the SAP Business Technology Platform - it replaces previous offerings and products in the cloud environment.
• The SAP Digital Platform was the predecessor of the SAP Business Technology Platform until fall 2019.
• The SAP Cloud Platform, which previously existed in parallel with SAP BTP, was discontinued as a product and brand at the beginning of 2021 - the services were transferred to SAP BTP.

How can internal applications and external systems be integrated using the SAP Business Technology Platform?

SAP BTP provides companies with the SAP Integration Suite - an Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) - for the integration of applications, data and processes.

With the help of SAP Integration Suite, applications and data from SAP and non-SAP systems can be seamlessly connected to the ERP system used.

Preconfigured workflows and connectors make the connection faster and easier than ever before - regardless of whether an on-premise, cloud or hybrid landscape is used. SAP takes care of the maintenance and management of the preconfigured processes and APIs.

How does the SAP Business Technology Platform harmonize with non-SAP apps?

SAP Business Technology Platform and SAP Integration Suite enable both SAP applications and non-SAP solutions and data sources to be seamlessly connected to an existing landscape.

More than 2,000 ready-made integration solutions are already available for this purpose. In addition, there are several hundred open connectors to integrate third-party cloud applications.

How does the SAP Business Technology Platform integrate with my on-premises system landscape?

The existing on-premise landscape in a company can be extended with the help of SAP BTP.

The classic implementation of a new solution in an existing landscape is often very time-consuming, costs a lot of money and increases complexity. SAP BTP, on the other hand, simplifies the expansion through cloud-based apps and applications.

The applications are connected via up-to-date interfaces. This allows new functions to be integrated and used much more quickly and easily than before.

What programming languages are used to develop on the SAP Business Technology Platform?

SAP BTP supports various development environments: SAP Cloud Foundry, Kyma and ABAP Environment.

SAP Cloud Foundry (open source) allows the use of various programming languages, such as Java, JavaScript, Node.js, Python and - in line with the “Bring Your Own Language” approach - any other language.

To what extent does the SAP Business Technology Platform support digital transformation in the company?

The SAP Business Technology Platform supports companies in developing new business models and bringing them to market. Today, these are often business models that focus on a new or better service for customers.

On the other hand, SAP BTP creates the possibility to further simplify, accelerate and personalise existing processes and offers in the interest of customers or employees. An example of this would be SAP Concur, an app for travel and expense management.

Does SAP Business Technology Platform support mobile devices?

Yes, cloud-based apps can be developed via the SAP Business Technology Platform, hosted on a hyperscaler, connected to the existing system landscape - and then used on the move. In addition, around 1,800 SAP mobile apps are already available in SAP's App Center.

Which commercial models are available for the SAP BTP?

SAP offers two commercial models for the SAP Business Technology Platform: a consumption-based model and a subscription-based commercial model.

• The consumption-based commercial model gives companies access to all current and future services available for this model. Companies can add or switch off individual services and switch between services. The model is available in both Cloud Platform Enterprise Agreement (CPEA) or in future BTPEA (Business Technology Platform Enterprise Agreement) and Pay-As-You-Go for SAP BTP.
• If a company opts for the subscription-based commercial model, it subscribes only to the services it wants to use. These are then available at a fixed price and for a fixed period (usually 1 to 3 years).

What accounts are available for SAP BTP?

Companies can manage SAP BTP via accounts. SAP distinguishes between global accounts, subaccounts and directories.

• A Global Account stands for the contract that a company or partner has concluded with SAP. This account contains all authorizations for the platform resources and services, groups together the corresponding sub-accounts and is used to manage members. SAP still differentiates between paid enterprise accounts and free test accounts in the global accounts. Test accounts can be used to get to know the platform.
• Subaccounts are used to further organize and structure the global accounts. Depending on requirements, a company can create subaccounts in which, for example, certain applications are available. The subaccounts are independent of each other. Global accounts and subaccounts are also independent of user accounts.
• Directories can be used to organize and manage the subaccounts - up to a depth of five levels between the global account and the lowest directory level. Both subaccounts and directories can be combined in one directory. The use of directories is optional.

Can I try SAP Business Technology Platform for free?

SAP provides companies with a test version to try out - the SAP BTP test version.

New customers receive free access to test and get to know SAP BTP. The pay-as-you-go principle applies: customers do not enter into any commitment, can use individual services and also terminate use whenever they wish.

Existing SAP customers with an existing Cloud Platform Enterprise Agreement (CPEA) or in future BTPEA (Business Technology Platform Enterprise Agreement) or Pay-As-You-Go contract can also use SAP BTP and its services free of charge and get to know them. If they decide to use it productively, this is possible without any major detours.

Is SAP BTP just a rebranding of SAP Cloud Platform?

No. The integration and extension functions of the SAP Cloud Platform, which was discontinued as a product and brand, have been transferred to the SAP Business Technology Platform.

Together with the solutions from the areas of database and data management, analytics and intelligent technologies, SAP has created a central and uniform platform for all SAP applications with SAP BTP.

What advantages does the SAP Business Technology Platform offer for integration?

With SAP Integration Suite (iPaaS), SAP enables the integration of on-premise and cloud applications.

Data, processes and applications from SAP or non-SAP sources can be connected with each other - whether in an on-premise, cloud or hybrid landscape.

Thanks to preconfigured integration workflows and connectors, integration can be implemented more quickly than was previously possible.

In addition, SAP Integration Suite provides the ability to design, publish, and manage API interfaces - in other words, comprehensive API management.