At the heart of this confusion lies a fundamental question: What exactly is SAP BTP, and how does Integration Suite fit into the picture?‍

Here's the simple answer: SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) Integration Suite is SAP's cloud-based integration platform that connects different applications, data, and processes - both within SAP's ecosystem and with third-party systems.

But that definition alone doesn't address the real confusion: how BTP relates to Integration Suite, what happened to older tools like PI/PO, or what terms like CPI, API Management, and Event Mesh actually mean.

In this guide, you'll learn:

• The fundamental difference between SAP BTP and Integration Suite (and why it matters)
• How related terms like Cloud Integration (CPI), PI/PO, and API Management fit together
• A clear breakdown of SAP's integration ecosystem terminology
• Quick reference points to help you navigate conversations and make informed decisions

Whether you're a business leader evaluating integration solutions, an IT professional planning a migration, or simply trying to make sense of SAP's cloud landscape, this guide will bring clarity to the terminology that matters most. Let's cut through the confusion.

Core Relationship

What it is: SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) Integration Suite is SAP's cloud-based integration platform that connects different applications, data, and processes - both within SAP's ecosystem and with third-party systems.

SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform)

• The foundation/operating system - SAP's overall cloud platform
• Think of it as the "land" where SAP builds cloud services
• Includes: database, analytics, AI, development tools, integration, automation, and more

SAP Integration Suite

• The iPaaS that runs ON SAP BTP
• Specifically focused on integration capabilities
• Think of it as one "building" on the BTP land
• As opposed to SAP PO/PI, includes:
  
  • API Managements
  • Process Orchestration
  • Event Driven Architecture
  • Advanced integration tooling
  • Large Connectivity options through native adapters
• Analogy: SAP Integration Suite is the Swiss knife for connecting any to any system and across industries

Business Positioning:

• Purpose: Enables companies to break down silos between applications and create seamless end-to-end business processes, connecting SAP and non SAP systems together
• Business Value: Faster integration projects, reduced IT costs, and improved agility to adapt to changing business needs
• Use Cases: Connecting SAP S/4HANA with Salesforce, integrating cloud apps with on-premise systems, automating B2B partner connections and B2G processes such as integrations with tax authorities
• Future Readiness: offers modernization capabilities such as event based (real-time) integration, agentic AI and (third-party) connectivity to support and enable business today and in the future

IT Positioning:

• Cloud-native platform hosted on SAP BTP (the overall technology foundation)
• The logical first choice when migrating SAP PO to the Cloud
• Integration capabilities include:  
  
  • API Management (exposing and managing APIs)
  • Cloud Integration (connecting apps and data)
  • Third Party Connectivity Adapters (pre-built connections to third party applications)
  • Integration Content (Pre-built)
  • Integration Advisor (simplified B2B/EDI integration)
  • Event Mesh + Advanced Event Mesh (event-driven architecture)

Related SAP Cloud Terminology

Other Key BTP Services:

• SAP Build - Low-code/no-code development tools (apps, process automation, work zones)
• SAP HANA Cloud - Cloud database service
• SAP AI Core - AI/ML capabilities
• SAP Analytics Cloud - Business intelligence and planning

Integration-Related Terms:

SAP Cloud Integration (CI)

• The core integration engine WITHIN Integration Suite
• Often called "CPI" by practitioners
• Used to build integration flows (iFlows)
• Pre-loaded with adapters and pre-built integration content

SAP Process Integration/Process Orchestration (PI/PO)

• The older, on-premise integration platform
• Many companies are migrating FROM PI/PO TO Integration Suite
• Still widely used but in maintenance mode

SAP API Management (APIM)

• Component of Integration Suite
• Manages, secures, and monitors APIs

SAP Event Mesh and Advanced Event Mesh

• Component of Integration Suite for event-driven architecture
• SAP Event Mesh: Enables real-time event streaming between SAP applications and relevative simple scenarios, to get you started with event driven integration
• SAP Advanced Event Mesh: Enables advanced real-time event streaming scenarios between SAP and non-SAP systems for more complex and scalable enterprise wide use cases (powered by Solace)

Integration Advisor

• Component of Integration Suite
• Simplifies B2B/EDI/IDoc integration with mapping guidance

This guide should help clarify SAP's integration terminology and how these components work together. If you have questions about how these solutions apply to your specific environment, our integration experts are here to help. Feel free to reach out or schedule a consultation to discuss your integration needs.