Middleware

[trooper]

Hi, we will use a middleware for integrating sap and third party warehouse system, does anyone know any middleware such as mercator or open SCS.

Regards

[Guest]

Just curious, but why would you "want" to use middleware?

[trooper]

We are implementing both SAP AFS and SAP Retail systems, we will also make Afs-Retail integration, maybe we can use standart integration or third party product will do this, but also we have a warehouse but it's not belong to us so there is a different system, there is an integration between current system and warehouse system that is developed inhouse, so as result we need a middleware to do all these stuff

[Guest]

Interestingly, I worked on the original development of AFS in the late 90's, but I've not seen it for some time now since they combined it with Retail.

At any rate, back to your original issue. My query was intended to see if you really needed a middleware product to also integrate some non-SAP systems. Based on your response, you are only interested in the integration points into SAP. As such, you might consider an integration tool that is native to SAP vs. one that adds a layer of compexity to your architecture. The advantages are many, but you would need to lay out the differences for your specific business case. Currently, I only know of one solution, but you may find others: http://www.amprofessionals.com/solutions/ecs.html

[Guest]

Hi there,

there are plenty of middleware providers out there, all providing out of the box adapters into and out of SAP.

Some names are: webMethods, Mercator, WebLogic, SeeBeyond, MQ (WebSphere) etc.

All these systems seem to have their little foibles, but generally speaking, work very well once the foibles of your particular implementation have been ironed out.

Of course, middleware doesn't just provide a way of connecting existing systems and vendors/customers/warehouses. It decouples the data from the applications and processes, providing a middle ground to transform and route data messages, and enabling disparate systems within a heterogenous environment to communicate.

If further systems are brought on board, or for instance, if the company acquires another company, the middleware enables you to create interfaces into those systems without changing any of the existing flows. The middleware does away with the "spaghetti" of traditional point-2-point interfaces, which can quickly become cumbersome and expensive to maintain.

Maybe I'm teaching granny to suck eggs here - please let me know if none of this is of any interest to you, or if you need any further info.

Best of luck.

Mark

[Guest]

Why implement propritary EAI technology?? You should be using adapters (e.g. http://www.librados.com) with an application / web server such as Weblogic, Websphere etc.

[Guest]

Hi trooper,

there is a nice middleware from Siemens available.
You can find further information on their homepage
http://www.industry.siemens.de/siemensi ... ices%20EuC

[Guest]

Another one decision to connect to/from SAP systems - http://www.decisionlogicservices.com/?id=products
At least, you can use Oracle-R/3 connection in any side, plus access to R/3 from Windows apps.

[Vardhan]

Dear trooper,

I have recently implemented is-afs and is-retail interface. U dont need an middlewae interface. I have used standard edi technology and all afs-retail supported idocs.
for information on this , contact me.

Vardhan