SAP XI/PI

Introduction

SAP PI (Process Integration based on Exchange Infrastructure). It takes the responsibility of integrating different SAP and non-SAP systems in the network of different computers.

SAP PI acts as SOA Middleware and forms the backbone of SOA in SAP environment. Process Integration can be used as a Middleware Engine to communicate in a distributed environment.

The heart of SAP PI is Integration Engine that is used for integrating different technologies using Standard Messaging techniques, e.g. XML. Different mapping tools are available for mapping the distributed system which can be mapped without having any expertise of Technical Details. As a real world example, PI can be helpful in integrating different banks with SAP R/3. SAP PI also support previous releases of SAP R/3 like 4.6C and have many more adapters to communicate with legacy systems.

SAP PI is more than just an Integration Broker, it delivers cross-component BPM functionality. SAP PI is an integration technology and platform for:

• SAP and Non-SAP systems.
• A2A and B2B scenarios.
• Synchronous and Asynchronous communication.
• Cross component Business Process management.
• The goal of SAP PI is to provide single point of integration of all systems inside and outside the corporate boundary across technologies and organizational boundaries.
• The important feature of PI is openness, flexible and transparency to the integration process. It supports SOA.
• The overall key concept of SAP PI is to drive integrated business process across heterogeneous and highly dynamic landscapes in a more manageable cost effective way.