Future Proofing Integration : How To Convince Your Customer to Migrate from SAP PI/PO to SAP CPI

As organizations strive to stay competitive in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, integration remains a cornerstone of their IT strategy. SAP Process Integration (PI) and Process Orchestration (PO) have long been trusted solutions for connecting systems and processes. However, with SAP announcing the retirement of PI/PO by 2027, businesses face a crucial decision: continue with legacy systems or embrace the next-generation integration platform, SAP Cloud Integration (CPI).

This blog delves into why migrating to SAP CPI is a strategic necessity, how to approach the transition, and what best practices can ensure a seamless journey.

Why is SAP PI/PO Being Retired?

SAP’s shift towards cloud-centric solutions reflects the broader industry trend toward scalability, agility, and cost efficiency. SAP PI/PO, while robust, is an on-premise solution designed for an era where cloud adoption was nascent.

With its retirement, SAP is encouraging businesses to move to SAP CPI, a modern Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) that aligns with its broader cloud strategy. CPI offers a suite of tools and capabilities designed to meet the demands of hybrid, cloud, and multi-cloud environments.

Continuing with PI/PO post-2027 poses significant risks:

End of Support: SAP will cease updates and support for PI/PO, leaving businesses vulnerable to security threats and operational disruptions.

Rising Costs: Maintaining legacy systems often results in higher operational and maintenance costs.

Innovation Gap: Organizations sticking with PI/PO risk falling behind competitors leveraging modern integration platforms.

Key Benefits of SAP CPI

1. Cloud-Native Architecture

Designed for cloud-first enterprises, CPI integrates seamlessly with on-premise and cloud applications.

Its scalability ensures businesses can handle growing integration demands without heavy infrastructure investments.

2. Pre-Built Integration Content

CPI offers over 2,000 pre-packaged integration flows for common scenarios, reducing implementation time and effort.

These content packages are regularly updated to support the latest SAP and third-party applications.

3. API Management and Connectivity

CPI supports API management, enabling businesses to expose, monitor, and secure APIs efficiently.

It provides extensive connectivity options, including REST, SOAP, OData, and JDBC adapters.

4. Cost Efficiency

As a cloud-based solution, CPI eliminates on-premise hardware costs and reduces maintenance overhead.

Its subscription-based pricing model offers predictable costs.

5. Enhanced Monitoring and Analytics

CPI’s intuitive dashboards and advanced monitoring tools provide real-time visibility into integration processes.

This ensures faster issue resolution and improved operational efficiency.

---

Building a Migration Proposal

To convince stakeholders to transition to SAP CPI, a well-structured migration proposal is essential. Here’s how to create one:

1. Assess the Current Integration Landscape

Perform a detailed audit of the existing PI/PO setup, identifying integration scenarios, performance metrics, and pain points.

Highlight challenges such as outdated technology, scalability limitations, and potential compliance risks.

2. Align CPI Benefits with Business Goals

Map CPI’s features to the client’s objectives. For example:

Objective: Faster time-to-market for new products.

Solution: Leverage CPI’s pre-built content and agile capabilities to accelerate integration delivery.

Objective: Cost reduction.

Solution: Demonstrate savings from reduced infrastructure and maintenance costs.

3. Present a Phased Migration Roadmap

Phase 1: Pilot migration for low-complexity scenarios to showcase quick wins.

Phase 2: Gradual migration of critical integration processes.

Phase 3: Decommissioning of PI/PO and full adoption of CPI.

Include timelines, milestones, resource requirements, and risk mitigation strategies.

4. Leverage SAP Migration Tools

Use SAP-provided tools such as the Integration Assessment Capability and SAP Integration Suite Migration Factory.

These tools help automate and streamline the migration process, reducing effort and minimizing errors.

5. Conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis

Compare the total cost of ownership (TCO) for PI/PO versus CPI.

Highlight long-term savings from CPI’s lower operational costs and reduced downtime.

6. Address Change Management

Offer training programs to upskill the client’s IT team on CPI.

Propose a change management plan to ensure smooth adoption and minimal resistance.

Best Practices for a Smooth Migration

1. Start Early

Avoid last-minute migrations by initiating the transition well before 2027. Early adopters can also gain a competitive edge.

2. Engage Experts

Work with experienced SAP CPI consultants to design and execute the migration strategy.

3. Leverage Hybrid Integration

Use CPI’s hybrid capabilities to maintain connectivity between on-premise and cloud systems during the transition.

4. Continuous Monitoring

Utilize CPI’s monitoring tools to ensure integration processes are running smoothly post-migration.

5. Test Rigorously

Conduct extensive testing at every phase to identify and resolve issues before going live.

Migrating from SAP PI/PO to SAP CPI is not just a technical necessity but a strategic opportunity to future-proof your integration landscape. SAP CPI empowers businesses with agility, scalability, and innovation, enabling them to thrive in a cloud-driven world.

By starting early, leveraging SAP’s tools, and following a structured migration approach, organizations can ensure a seamless transition while unlocking the full potential of SAP’s cloud integration capabilities.

As trusted advisors, it’s our responsibility to guide our clients through this transformation, ensuring they remain competitive and ready for the future. The time to act is now—let’s build a robust, future-ready integration strategy with SAP CPI.

If you’re looking to upskill in SAP CPI and learn how to handle real-world migration projects, our CPI Training Program is here to help. At Delta Learning Hub, we offer comprehensive training on SAP CPI, including migration strategies, project-specific scenarios, and hands-on guidance to ensure you’re ready to lead successful transitions.

Visit our website www.deltalearninghub.com or connect with us on WhatsApp at +91 9016297973 for more details. Take the first step toward mastering SAP CPI and future-proofing your integration skills!