SAP-Notes-Integration

A combination of Lotus Notes and SAP is established in many companies. Hereby most data parts between these frameworks are synchronized manually, which is a process prone to fault as well as that it is time-consuming. In addition the redundant keeping of data reduces the IT-Systems efficiency. Consolidating all processes into one framework is seldom the best solution. The applications of both systems have grown historically with the companies demands, so as they can not be released without enormous technical and financial investment.

Overview

Integrating Heterogeneous Systems
Example: Authorization Workflow
Integration And Automation
Example: Field Staff
SAP Java Connector
it.smart-connect
it.smart-listener
it.mta
Solution Modules
Data Transfer Via Interface
Your Demands!

Further Material

SAP-Notes-Integration for CRM and GEDYS IntraWare (PDF)

Integrating Heterogeneous Systems

A combination of Lotus Notes and SAP is established in many companies. Hereby most data parts between these frameworks are synchronized manually, which is a process prone to fault as well as that it is time-consuming. In addition the redundant keeping of data reduces the IT-Systems efficiency.

Consolidating all processes into one framework is seldom the best solution. The applications of both systems have grown historically with the companies demands, so as they can not be released without enormous technical and financial investment.

Migrating to one single SAP-System is also not always viable, as several uses might not be represented in SAP, such as the mail- and fax functions in Notes or the facility to connect remotely to centrally held data.

Example: Authorization Workflow

One example is a procurement- or authorization workflow with subsequent accounting in SAP. To keep access to Notes mail functionality and to sustain the users accustomed surface, the workflow has to remain on the Notes side.

In most instances the Notesapplication was used long before the introduction of SAP in the company.

The process will for example operated up to the purchasing. Then usually the data is copied manually into the SAP-Application to generate a purchasing order. A cycle containing various sources of error. Should an approved transaction be stopped, the appropriate order has to be laboriously searched for in the SAP system.

This procedure will be eased by means of SAP-Notes-Integration. At the push of a button all data will be transferred to the SAP-Application and automatically inserted into a purchase requisition. The corresponding purchase requisition number will be returned to Notes and as such the order can be found in SAP at any time.

Integration And Automation

Optimizing internal workflows and thereby reducing effort and expenses for data management is the great advantage of automating processes and integrating Lotus Notes Applications into SAP. It provides a comprehensive interconnection, controlling technical communication, flow and translation of data.

The higher the amount of interfaces between SAP and Lotus Notes, the more effective this connection will be.

Example: Field Staff

As sales representatives are always on the go, they rarely have access to the central SAP-System to gain necessary information. To dial into the system via ISDN or even UMTS is impractical and usually slow.

The perfect solution is to provide the information locally onto the employees notebook. Data such as preferred customer information or price-lists can be regularly synchronized via the SAP-Notes-Interface and distributed to the field staff by Notes-Replication.

SAP Java Connector

Based on the SAP Java Connector there are modules comfortably controlling in- and outbound connections between SAP and Lotus Domino available. The JCo consist of a flexible high-performance API, which among other things is able to process iDocs. This enables Java- Applications to communicate with any SAP-System.

SAP Java Connector is the basic technology for accessing SAPSystems via J2EE-Applications.

it.smart-connect

On this technology it.smart-connect is built. Utilizing a user-friendly interface, RFCs, IDocs and tables can be addressed and read out. Notes data fields and -formulas can be comfortably and easily assigned to the appropriate SAP-Structures.

Every data set is referenced with an unique process-id, thus ensuring fast access to any transaction between the two systems. As a central communication node this solution saves all transferred data and logs all transfers in detail.

it.smart-listener

A major drawback of many tools for SAP-Notes-Integration, is the unidirectional initiation of information transfers. We deliver a solution for this problem: it.smartlistener is an interface which receives requests from SAP and forwards them to Notes. Thus the replication of data from the SAPSystem can be initiated, concerning recent modifications to newly created or modified documents.

it.mta

Until SAP R/3 Release 4.7 it was impossible to send messages from SAP-Systems. For previous releases, it.mta (Mail Transfer Agent) is a custom-made solution to receive and send external mails to SAP. Containing the basic functionalities of it.smart-connect and it.smartlistener, it operates an automated connection between the mailboxes of both, the Domino Server and the SAP-System.

Solution Modules

The integration of solution modules into an existing framework cost little for development and does not demand any additional hardware purchasing. The SAP Java Connector is included in the SAP-License and thus ideally coordinated with this system.

Data Transfer Via Interface

The easiest way of exchanging small amounts of data from Lotus Notes to SAP or the other way round is the implementation of self-contained import- and export-functionalities on either side. Between these functionalities information can be carried by an ASCII-File.

As this type of interface is statically defined, it can be integrated into an existing system quickly and with little working expense. A File-Interface is particularly suitable for periodically synchronized data which needs not to be obtainable in real-time. Such as distributing SAPData via Notes-Replication.

Your Demands!

The introduced solutions offer a variety of possibilities to cover the extensive requirements of our customers and ensure an ideal basis for working professionally with Lotus Notes and SAP-Systems.

Benefit from a connection between Lotus Notes and SAP. Handle your business processes efficiently and without redundant data management.