How to do Data Exchange in SAP S/4 Cloud using Communication Management

What is all about?

When we talk about integration of any landscape to SAP Cloud, the first and foremost important question comes is how would I communicate my data from one system to another in cloud, and that too especially master data? In on-premise environment, end user has the feasibility to define various infrastructure level settings like logical ports, RFC destinations, distribution models, partner profiles, replication model, outbound implementation and so on, but in cloud system, how to do this setup for data exchange from and to a cloud system? Is there any simpler way to do this all in one go? To your luck, answer is yes. And the answer is Communication Management Fiori catalog.

Communication Management tiles help you to set up all the required infrastructure level settings which are necessary for inbound or outbound communication between two systems.

To have a basic overview of these tiles, read this blog.

 How does it work?

Let us take an example of setting up a communication arrangement for communication scenario SAP_COM_0009. This scenario is for Product Master Data Integration. This scenario supports MATMAS (IDocs), eSOA web service and OData interfaces for communication.

Before starting, make sure that you have created a business role by using the template SAP_BR_ADMINISTRATOR, and assigned this to the administrator in the SAP S/4HANA system. For more information, refer to official documentation to Maintain Business Roles.

After that, first step would be to create communication user which can be created as follows:

• Access the SAP S/4HANA system and log in as an Administrator.
• Choose Maintain Communication Users tile under Communication Management.
  
• Choose New.
  
•  Enter User Name and Description.
• Enter a password or upload a certificate of remote system to be connected.
  Tip – Think it similar to the technical user with which you want to connect the current system from remote system through RFC.
• Click Create.

Next step is to create a Communication system having details of remote system which will be the communication partner. A communication system can be created following these steps:

• Choose Communication Systems tile under Communication Management catalog from Fiori launchpad.
• In the next window that appears, choose New. The following screen appears.
  
• Enter System ID. Optionally you can enter the ID to recognize the integration system, which is connected with S/4 system. Enter any descriptive name in the System Name field.
• Choose Create.
  
• In the Host Name field, enter the SAP Runtime URL without HTTPS://
• Enter the Log System ID and Business System ID as the SAP tenant ID.
• Under the User for Inbound Communication, choose Add.
• Choose the Authentication Method that you chose while creating Communication User and select corresponding user from value help and Choose OK.
  Tip- Maintain the same credentials in the remote system for outbound communication to this system.
• User for Outbound Communication, choose the authentication method and create user accordingly. This user will be used to remotely log in to communicating partner system for outbound communication.
  
  
• Choose Create.
• Choose Save.After this, we are ready to create communication arrangement which can be done through following steps:
• Log on to the Fiori Launchpad as an administrator and open the app Communication Arrangement. 
• Click New.
  
  1. Choose the scenario SAP_COM_0009 from the value help.
  2. Enter an Arrangement Name.

  3. Click Create.
  
  

• Choose Communication System ID from the value help and select the one that you created in previous steps.
• Under Inbound Communication, choose User Name using value help. By default, the user which is associated with Communication System will be shown in the value help. Choose the same.
• Under Outbound Communication, Choose User Name using value help. By default, the user which is associated with Communication System will be shown in the value help. Choose the same.
• Under Outbound Services, select the interface you want to use, you must select the Service status field to make the interface active. At a time, either MATMAS or Web service should be made active.
• In the Job Execution Details section, you can specify the frequency for job execution by entering the relevant value in the Run Every field. If the job is scheduled, Job Status becomes Active. You can also specify the size of the objects that can be replicated in one job execution.
• Under Additional Properties, in the Replication Model field, enter the name of any replication model that you wish to create for this If you have enabled Job Execution, choose a Replication Mode.
• Choose an Output Mode. If the Job Execution is enabled, you have to choose output mode P.
• In the pick list available for System Filter field, select the relevant option based on your requirement to set it to active or inactive mode.
• Choose Save.
  And you are done! 🙂 

  Where I can get all info?

  You can find the latest and detailed configuration guide at the following path:

  SAP S/4HANA Cloud > SAP Best Practices -> SAP Best Practices for SAP S/4HANA Enterprise Management Cloud -> Data Management -> Master Data Integration (1RO).