SAP Process Integration/Process Orchestration (PI/PO) has served as the trusted foundation for enterprise system integration for many years. Acting as the middleware workhorse for countless organisations, PI/PO provided a robust on-premise platform to connect SAP and non-SAP systems alike. With its extensive capabilities in message mapping, process orchestration, and centralised monitoring, it became a go-to solution for B2B and A2A scenarios. However, as cloud-first strategies take hold and digital transformation accelerates, businesses are reassessing whether this traditional approach still meets their evolving integration needs.
A look back at PI/PO
SAP PI/PO has been the backbone of enterprise integration in SAP environments for over a decade. Designed for on-premise deployment, PI/PO allows integration between SAP and non-SAP systems through adapters, message mappings, and process integration scenarios.
It provides a centralised platform for configuration and monitoring, supporting both B2B and A2A integration. The use of Integration Processes (iFlows) designed in the Enterprise Services Repository has enabled detailed orchestration of processes across systems.
Despite its reliability and wide adoption, PI/PO is tightly coupled with the on-premise world and requires significant effort to maintain, upgrade, and scale. It’s also not well-suited to modern cloud-first strategies.
The rise of BTP Integration Suite
SAP’s BTP Integration Suite is the evolution of integration in the cloud era. It brings together various services including Cloud Integration (CPI), API Management, Event Mesh, Open Connectors, and Integration Advisor into a single, unified platform.
This suite is designed specifically for hybrid and cloud landscapes. It enables businesses to build integrations using pre-packaged content, streamline development through a low-code interface, and support a wide range of integration types including APIs and events. The suite offers the flexibility to connect cloud, on-premise, and third-party applications while aligning with SAP’s broader vision of a modular and intelligent enterprise.
Key differences
The contrast between PI/PO and BTP Integration Suite is stark. PI/PO is a traditional on-premise solution, whereas BTP Integration Suite is a cloud-native service offering platform-level scalability and agility.
PI/PO requires hardware-dependent scaling and customer-led maintenance, while BTP Integration Suite benefits from SAP-managed infrastructure under a platform-as-a-service model. The user experience also differs greatly, with BTP providing a modern, web-based interface and low-code tools, making it easier to develop and manage integrations.
Furthermore, the content available for BTP is much richer, thanks to the SAP API Hub and ongoing innovation by SAP in this space, compared to the more static content libraries found in PI/PO.
Migration considerations
Migrating from PI/PO to BTP Integration Suite isn’t just a technical project – it’s a strategic shift. Businesses need to consider whether the move supports their goals around agility, cost optimisation, or digital transformation.
It’s important to assess internal capability, as cloud-based integration tools often require new skills and approaches. Existing integrations may need to be redesigned rather than simply migrated. Some organisations opt for a hybrid model during the transition, keeping PI/PO for legacy scenarios while exploring BTP for new use cases. This phased strategy can minimise risk and allow teams to build confidence in the new platform.
Benefits of making the switch
Organisations that have adopted BTP Integration Suite often report significant gains. Integration development cycles are typically faster, onboarding new applications is more seamless, and monitoring becomes more intuitive.
With BTP, businesses also gain access to cutting-edge capabilities such as AI-driven integration scenarios and event-driven architecture. These benefits contribute to greater operational agility and align with broader cloud transformation goals. Importantly, while SAP continues to innovate on the BTP platform, PI/PO has entered a maintenance phase, with mainstream support scheduled to end in 2030.
The decision between PI/PO and BTP Integration Suite depends on each organisation’s infrastructure, goals, and readiness for cloud. For businesses that remain heavily invested in on-premise environments, PI/PO still serves a purpose. However, those looking toward the future will find BTP Integration Suite more in tune with today’s demands for agility, scalability, and innovation.
