SAP SE, with its cloud user base of over 280 million users and one of the largest cloud portfolios, has established itself as a leader in enterprise resource planning (ERP). There’s no doubt that SAP offers robust and best-of-breed ERP systems for all lines of business (LoB) at every size and scale. But utilizing SAP’s capabilities to its fullest will require business process automation platforms that specialize in SAP integrations.
Still, given how the BPA market has grown in recent years (with a CAGR growth prediction of 12.80% till 2030), businesses often find themselves navigating through too many options when looking for a robust SAP integration and business process automation tool.
So after assessing many top BPA tools and software along with features, benefits, limitations, and trusted reviews, we’ve curated a list of the 10 best business process automation tools known for their seamless integration with SAP ERP products. By choosing the right BPA platform, businesses can enhance their operational efficiency and maximize the benefits of their ERP system.
Table of Contents
Understanding Business Process Automation
Business Process Automation (BPA) is the use of technology to perform manual and repetitive tasks, thereby automating business processes and freeing up your valuable employee. It aims to improve efficiency, reduce human error, and frees up your employees to focus on more strategic tasks that will directly impact business growth and streamline business process management.
What is a Business Process Automation Platform?
Business Process Automation tools are software solutions that help businesses bring life to process automation. Whether its simple bidirectional data sync or complex workflows, these tools are equipped capable of connecting applications and their respective business operations to ensure that certain aspects of your business will run on auto-pilot. Then again, in today’s age, this isn’t new information.
But we must also acknowledge that ‘business process automation’ is a broad, umbrella term that encompasses many elements. And enterprises must be specific with what automation means to them to better understand BPA tools and their use cases, we need to focus on some of their primary features and capabilities.
Essential Features of Business Process Automation Platforms
When selecting a Business Process Automation software for integrating SAP with other applications, it’s crucial to look for the following key features:
- Workflow Automation: The BPA platform must automate processes efficiently to remove manual intervention, increasing process accuracy and efficiency. This ensures that business processes run smoothly and consistently.
- Stability and Security: The platform should be stable and secure, with maximum uptime. It should also sync data in real time to prevent any delays or disruptions in business processes.
- Integration Capabilities: A critical feature is the platform’s ability to integrate SAP with a wide range of non-SAP applications. This flexibility ensures that businesses from different industries and with varying requirements can benefit from seamless integration.
- Expert Support: The platform should be backed by a team of experts who can provide support if any issues arise with integrated and automated processes and workflows. This ensures that businesses can rely on the platform to address any challenges that may arise.
- Ease of Use: Despite its advanced features, the platform should be user-friendly and easy to use. This ensures that businesses can quickly adopt the platform and start leveraging its benefits without extensive training or expertise.
Benefits of Using a Business Process Automation Software
As mentioned in the previous statistics, the BPA market is booming, which is a clear indicator that more and more businesses are realizing its benefits, such as:
Improved Efficiency
By automating repetitive tasks and workflows, a BPA platform reduces the time and effort required to complete them. Automation also reduces the risk of human error, leading to more accurate and reliable results.
Cost Saving
Automation reduces the need for manual intervention, resulting in cost savings in terms of time and resources which businesses can reallocate to more strategic and impactful areas.
Greater Visibility and Control:
A BPA platform provides businesses with greater visibility into their processes and workflows so they can identify bottlenecks, optimize processes, and make informed decisions.
Scalability:
BPA platforms are scalable, allowing businesses to easily adapt as their workload and requirements change. This ensures that organizations can continue to operate without hiccups as they grow and expand.
Enhanced Customer Experience:
Integrated systems work efficiently and accurately, eliminating errors and mistakes that may frustrate customers. While the integration works silently behind the scenes, your customers enjoy seamless, uninterrupted service from your end which takes their experience to the next level. This will also have a profound impact on your retention rates.
Takeaway: Implementing a Business Process Automation software not only enhances operational efficiency and reduces costs but also provides businesses with greater control, scalability, and the ability to deliver an enhanced customer experience through seamless integration processes.
Why Enterprises Need Business Process Automation Tools for SAP Integration
SAP offers native integration solutions like Cloud Platform Integration, B1 Integration Framework, and the SAP Integration Suite. These are effective for connecting SAP to SAP applications, but they have certain limitations when it comes to hybrid integration between SAP and non-SAP apps.
These solutions are more suited for businesses that wish to develop their integration scenarios and may not offer as many pre-defined scenarios and connectors for non-SAP applications. Integrating with these native solutions can be challenging in many aspects, and even SAP SE themselves have acknowledged such challenges.
Limitations of SAP’s Native Integration Solutions
Time-Consuming
Integrating SAP with non-SAP applications using native SAP solutions can be a time-consuming process, often taking weeks to months to complete. This prolonged integration period can disrupt business operations and delay the realization of benefits from the integrated systems.
High Resource and Cost Requirement
Implementing native SAP integration solutions requires a significant investment in terms of resources and costs. Businesses need to allocate high-level SAP experts to oversee the integration process, which can be expensive. Additionally, the time commitment from these experts can divert their focus from other critical business activities.
Limited Pre-Defined Scenarios
Native SAP integration solutions may not offer a wide range of pre-defined integration scenarios and connectors for non-SAP applications. This limitation forces businesses to develop custom integration scenarios, which can be complex and time-consuming.
Risk of Disruption with Updates
SAP regularly releases updates and new versions of its products to enhance functionality and security. However, these updates can pose a risk to existing integrations. If a major update is released, businesses may need to completely rework their integrated workflows to ensure compatibility with the new version, leading to disruptions in business processes.
These limitations highlight the challenges businesses face when integrating SAP with non-SAP applications using native SAP solutions. To overcome these challenges, businesses often turn to middleware Business Process Automation (BPA) platforms, which offer more efficient and cost-effective integration solutions.
Success Story: Leading Sporting Goods Company Achieves near 100% Efficiency Through Business Process Automation
A leading sporting goods company, Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB), improved efficiency and accuracy by synchronizing 99% of its bulk orders with APPSeCONNECT integration. WTB, a prominent player in the US bikes market, used Shopify Plus eCommerce and SAP Business One DI-Server ERP for their operations.
However, they faced challenges related to the DI-Server, which caused multiple integration issues. Transitioning to SAP Business One Service Layer and integrating with Shopify Plus through APPSeCONNECT enabled WTB to automate their business processes and operations, improving their overall efficiency and scalability.
For more details, you can check the complete case study below.
Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) Success Story with APPSeCONNECT BPA Platform
Top 10 Business Process Automation Platforms for SAP Integrations
APPSeCONNECT
APPSeCONNECT is an intelligent, low-code business automation platform that lets businesses connect their SAP applications with other enterprise software like CRM systems and eCommerce platforms. We specialize in SAP integrations, particularly for SAP Business One and SAP S/4HANA users, offering pre-built connectors and packages so businesses don’t need to set up their integration from scratch.
Key Features:
- Low-code platform makes it easy to operate, even for non-technical executives.
- In-depth process automation capabilities that can sync even complex workflows and intricate business operations seamlessly in real time.
- Constant back-end support from experts to ensure the integrated processes run smoothly after implementation.
- Highly secure and stable platform, with regular updates to further enhance security.
What Users Say about APPSeCONNECT
The platform’s versatility, real-time synchronization capabilities, and the option to define synchronization processes with data transformation are highly appreciated by users. These features have notably increased efficiency and minimized the need for manual intervention.
The platform offers advanced integration better suited for larger enterprises with extensive business processes, but it also can be a feasible option for smaller businesses.
Cleo
Cleo is a leading business process management and automation software that specializes in cloud integrations. With its advanced features and user-friendly interface, Cleo has emerged as a top choice for businesses looking to streamline their operations and maximize the benefits of their SAP ERP system.
Key Features
- robust workflow automation capabilities, allowing businesses to automate complex processes.
- good on-boarding experience for customers.
- streamlined end-to-end integrations.
- user-friendly interface makes it easy to work with.
What Users Say about Cleo
Users have praised Cleo for its user-friendly interface and cloud integration capabilities. However, many have expressed their concerns over the platform’s poor customer support, especially when resolving occasional platform issues.
Alluvia
Alluvia is a platform that provides integration solutions for e-commerce businesses. It offers tools to connect SAP with different platforms, such as Shopify, Amazon, and eBay, allowing businesses to automate workflows and synchronize data.
Key Features:
- plug-and-play automated integration for SAP.
- cost-effective and budget-friendly platform.
- ease of use – can automate basic workflows easily to perform repetitive tasks.
- flexible offerings with options to add or remove additional services.
What Users Say about Alluvia
The platform is easy to use and offers quick, ready-made integrations which is great for emerging businesses who are just getting started with SAP integration. However, it’s not meant for enterprises with more complex integration requirements
SAP Integration Suite
SAP Integration Suite is a comprehensive integration service made by SAP, for SAP users. It enables businesses to quickly integrate on-premise and cloud-based processes, services, applications, events, and data.
Key Features:
- reliable integration, being SAP’s native solution.
- includes the Integration Advisor capability, which helps accelerate the development of business interfaces and mappings.
- provides a central layer to govern, manage and meter APIs.
- supports event-driven process integration patterns.
What Users Say about SAP Integration Suite
Customers have praised SAP Integration Suite for its ability to simplify integration processes, enable access to new marketplaces, improve efficiency, and save costs through automated integration tools. But many users have also stated how it requires high-level SAP experts for implementation and is limited in terms of integration between SAP and non-SAP systems
Boomi
Boomi, LP is a well-known integration and business process automation software that supports SAP integrations. With its user-friendly, low-code platform, Boomi has emerged as a reliable choice for businesses seeking seamless integration solutions for their SAP systems.
Key Features
- Boomi’s AtomSphere platform offers a visual integration builder.
- supports integrations with a wide range of applications catering to diverse businesses.
- the platform is designed to be self-managing, self-learning, and self-scaling.
- Boomi’s Integration Center of Excellence (ICoE) service provides reusable frameworks and industry guidelines
What Users Say about Boomi
Users have praised the platform’s user-friendly interface, comprehensive connectivity, and ability to facilitate seamless integrations and data management across different systems and applications. On the downside, there have been frequent concerns regarding their complicated pricing. Also, the platform is more suitable for SAP users looking to build and manage their own integration. For pre-defined integrations and connectors, businesses might want to look for other options.
Workato
Workato is a leading integration and automation platform that empowers businesses to connect their applications, automate workflows, and streamline processes across cloud and on-premises systems. With its intuitive, low-code approach, Workato has become a popular BPA tool for businesses seeking efficient SAP integration solutions.
Key Features
- user-friendly, low-code interface to build integrations.
- leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to streamline complex processes.
- also offers monitoring tools to gain business insights.
- a community library where other developers also publish their workflow automation (which they call ‘recipes’) which can be useful for businesses seeking specific features.
What Users Say about Workato
Customers have commended Workato for its technically sound and stable integrations and the flexibility to include more automated workflows from other developers through the community library. But on the other hand, many users have also stated that the platform can have a steep learning curve for new users during initial implementation, so it might be challenging for enterprises that require quick implementation and ease of use
Alumio
Alumio is a cloud-native automation platform designed mainly for digital commerce businesses. It enables integration between SAP and other SaaS applications and like most platforms in this list, is also riding the wave of ‘low code’ automation with a user-friendly interface for customers to work with.
Key Features:
- integrates both cloud apps and on-prem systems.
- simple integrations that companies can deploy hassle-free
- API-first approach to integration with various SAP connectors
- also equipped with data transformation capabilities
What Users Say about Alumio
Users have praised Alumio for its ease of use, flexibility, and advanced data transformation capabilities. However, some users have noted that the platform lacks more advanced features and underlying infrastructure to better support more complex integration scenarios.
Exploring APPSeCONNECT for Seamless SAP Integrations
APPSeCONNECT stands out as a leading name in the BPA market, particularly for SAP integrations. Our expertise extends beyond just developing integrations; we have a deep understanding of SAP’s various ERP products and their capabilities. But why should businesses consider us for their SAP integrations?
Advanced Integrations Made Easy
One key reason is our ability to offer advanced integrations that are remarkably easy to implement and use. Often, with BPA tools, the ones that are easy to use tend to be basic in their abilities, while the more advanced automation tools can get overly complex for non-technical users.
But with APPSeCONNECT, users don’t face this problem as we provide highly advanced integrations that work efficiently and seem super simple and intuitive on the surface. With our platform, even complex integrations between multiple apps with intricate workflows can be executed smoothly. Once set up, these integrations run seamlessly behind the scenes so you don’t even lift a finger.
Expertise and Presence in the SAP Ecosystem
When choosing a BPA platform for SAP integrations, it’s crucial to consider the provider’s knowledge and involvement in the SAP ecosystem. In this regard, APPSeCONNECT excels.
We are not just a platform; we are a recognized brand within the SAP community. Our strategic role in the global SAP ecosystem is evident from our participation in events like the recent SAP Partner Summit for SMEs 2024 in Madrid and Phoenix, where we were a Solution Services Partner Sponsor. This strong presence and strategic involvement demonstrate why many businesses trust APPSeCONNECT for their SAP integrations.
Comprehensive Approach to Integrations
While most BPA tools for SAP integrations typically offer end-to-end integrations, APPSeCONNECT goes above and beyond. We offer complete integration packages with multiple endpoints and mapped-out processes. These packages can be set up with plug-and-play simplicity, ensuring quick implementation.
What sets us apart is our incredible customer success team and in-house SAP experts, who don’t just integrate your applications; they analyze your entire business processes, ensuring that your integrations are tailored to your unique requirements. Our journey with our customers extends beyond just setting up integrations; we ensure they achieve true business process automation through our integrations.
So to sum things up, choosing APPSeCONNECT as the BPA tool for your SAP integrations means enjoying the benefits of a robust integration platform that is easy to operate, backed by a team of industry experts, trusted by 1000+ organizations, and holds a prominent position in the SAP community!
But don’t just take our word for it!
Witness How Real Businesses are Succeeding with APPSeCONNECT’s SAP Integrations
APPSeCONNECT’s excellence in SAP integrations becomes evident through our customers’ success journeys. Take the example of NaturesPlus– a renowned producer of vitamins and supplements.
The key challenge faced by them was the need to integrate three critical systems: Shopify for eCommerce, SAP ERP for back end operations, and ShipWorks for shipping. Each system had unique requirements, leading to a complex integration environment. And so they turned to APPSeCONNECT for a solution that would enable real-time bidirectional data synchronization between these systems, streamlining product catalog updates, order management, inventory tracking, and shipment information all at once.
Despite the complexities, APPSeCONNECT was able to deliver the desired solution, successfully integrating all three systems. As a result, NaturePlus achieved significant improvements in process automation, such as:
- Significant reduction in fulfillment costs and shipping charges
- Visible improvements in customer experience, relationship, and satisfaction
- Decrease in the number of order cancellations due to non-availability
You too can experience similar growth and positive transformations in your business process management by choosing APPSeCONNECT to integrate your SAP systems.
Interested to know the details of NaturesPlus and their growth experience with APPSeCONNECT?
Click here for the complete case study.
Conclusion
Since SAP does not have reliable native solutions to integrate its ERP system easily with other enterprise apps and tools, BPA platforms emerge as the best way to configure such integrations. And even among the various tools available in the market, APPSeCONNECT stands out as a top choice for SAP integrations due to our powerful, secure and stable platform and integration packages, complemented by unmatched customer success and support and proven expertise with SAP’s products.
Unlock the potential of intelligent and effortless automation with our cutting-edge, low-code SAP integration platform. Seamlessly integrate your ERP system with a wide range of SaaS applications and enterprise software, all within a single and secure Business Process Automation platform, and propel your business toward exponential growth.
