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SAP integration · Lesson

PI/PO

Quick answer

PI/PO remains in use in many on-premise/hybrid landscapes, but for new integration SAP directs customers to the cloud Integration Suite.

Key takeaways

  • PI/PO receives messages from a sender, transforms them (mapping between formats/structures), and routes them to receivers, handling…
  • Integration Directory & Repository: configuration and design.
  • Mappings: transform between message structures.
  • Watch out: Wrong tool for the integration style.

What PI/PO does

PI/PO receives messages from a sender, transforms them (mapping between formats/structures), and routes them to receivers, handling many protocols (IDoc, RFC, SOAP, REST, file, JDBC). It centralises integration so systems do not connect point-to-point, and provides monitoring of message flows.

Key aspects

  • Integration Directory & Repository: configuration and design.
  • Mappings: transform between message structures.
  • Adapters: connect protocols (IDoc, SOAP, file, JDBC, REST).
  • Message monitoring for troubleshooting.

When to use it

PI/PO remains in use in many on-premise/hybrid landscapes, but for new integration SAP directs customers to the cloud Integration Suite. Knowing PI/PO is valuable for existing estates and migrations.

Common pitfalls

  • Wrong tool for the integration style.
  • Ignoring monitoring/error handling.
  • Point-to-point instead of governed integration.

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Check your understanding

  1. Which statement is true of PI/PO?

    • A. It centralises integration so systems do not connect point-to-point, and provides monitoring of message flows.
    • B. SAP CO (Controlling) is the module for internal management accounting, tracking, planning and analysing costs…
    • C. SAP is not a single product but a broad portfolio built around the ERP core.
    Show answer

    A. It centralises integration so systems do not connect point-to-point, and provides monitoring of message flows.

    Covered in the “What PI/PO does” section of this lesson.

  2. Which of these also applies to PI/PO?

    • A. Learning features, not the end-to-end process.
    • B. Loose tolerances letting through wrong invoices.
    • C. Knowing PI/PO is valuable for existing estates and migrations.
    Show answer

    C. Knowing PI/PO is valuable for existing estates and migrations.

    Covered in the “When to use it” section of this lesson.

  3. Which part of the Learn SAP curriculum covers PI/PO?

    • A. SAP release notes
    • B. SAP labs
    • C. SAP integration
    Show answer

    C. SAP integration

    This lesson sits in the SAP integration section of the Learn SAP course.

Frequently asked questions

What does PI/PO stand for in SAP?

SAP PI/PO (Process Integration / Process Orchestration) is SAP’s classic on-premise integration middleware, connecting SAP and non-SAP systems with routing, mapping and protocol conversion. It is being succeeded by the cloud Integration Suite.

What does PI/PO exchange data with?

PI/PO receives messages from a sender, transforms them (mapping between formats/structures), and routes them to receivers, handling many protocols (IDoc, RFC, SOAP, REST, file, JDBC).

What is worth remembering about PI/PO in practice?

PI/PO remains in use in many on-premise/hybrid landscapes, but for new integration SAP directs customers to the cloud Integration Suite.

What tends to go wrong with PI/PO?

Wrong tool for the integration style. Ignoring monitoring/error handling. Point-to-point instead of governed integration.
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