Getting Access to SAP ERP for Your First E-Commerce Platform

In recent years, e-commerce had a massive increase in demand as technology evolved faster. It has sped up during the pandemic as more transactions went online. Now, it continues to work in a fast-paced and competitive environment. As such, even smaller businesses are adapting to this trend. 

Given this, using the proper tools becomes a key to growth and continued success. Systems, Applications, and Products (SAP) software are becoming more accessible to cope with insatiable online business needs. With the different SAP apps and platforms, efficiency grows further. This article will look at the integration of your e-commerce business with SAP. 

SAP Business ByDesign

SAP Business ByDesign is a cloud software used for enterprise resource planning. With its designs and features, it appears to fit SMEs best. It covers a wide range from financials and human resources to business analytics. The HANA database uses a multi-tenancy enabled SAP NetWeaver stack. 

Now, thousands of companies use it, particularly those in the e-commerce industry. With over 40 languages in 140 countries, users can customize language versions. It is done with the Localization and Language Toolkit, also provided by SAP. As such, doing transactions online is fast, secure, and straightforward. 

How to Get Access to SAP Business ByDesign for Your E-Commerce

Despite the efficiency that SAP promises, it appears to be pretty tricky at times. First-timers may have a hard time using it. Integrating it via Cloud Connector involves a long process and can be tedious. But with patience and following the steps here, you can do so in the wink of an eye. Here is how to integrate your e-commerce platform with SAP. 

1. SAP Universal ID 

You can login and start the process if you already have your SAP Universal ID. But if you are a first-timer, I suppose that you do not have any yet. Don’t worry because it is an easy-peasy process. Here is how you go about doing it. 

1. If you are a first-timer, get an SAP Universal ID to proceed with the process. 
2. Input the necessary information in each box. 
3. After clicking submit, check your email for the six-digit code. Input it and you are now all set with your first SAP Universal ID. 
4. You may now upgrade it to a trial account in SAP BTP Cockpit. Enter your current location and phone number. Wait for a notification code from SAP and input it. You now have 30 days to navigate it for free. But, I suggest applying for a paid version to employ more useful apps and tools. 

2. Navigate SAP BTP Cockpit and Create a Subaccount 

Now, it is time to familiarize yourself with SAP. Here are the steps to start the process. 

1. Click Go to Trial Account if you think you know what to do. Otherwise, scroll down for more tutorials.
2. This is how your account appears for the first time. But, I suggest you create another sub-account. When you click Create, a dropdown list will appear. Click Subaccount.
3. When a new instance appears, input the necessary details and click Create. 
4. This is how your account will appear now. Go to the rightmost side. Click the box with three dots and Go to Overview. 

3. Enable Cloud Foundry and Add Spaces for Your Apps and Instances. 

This is where you start the process of integrating with the cloud connector. 

1. This is how your account overview looks like. Click Enable Cloud Foundry. 
2. A new instance to enable cloud foundry will appear. The details are automatically generated. Click Create to proceed and wait for a few seconds. 
3. You now have a Cloud Foundry Environment. Click Create Space because you will need it for your apps and instances. That is where you can find them. 
4. Input the space name, and tick the box beside each item to mark as checked. Once you click Create, this is how the Cloud Foundry Environment will appear. 

4. Create and Subscribe to Apps and Instances 

Now, you will have to subscribe to the necessary apps and them to your space. Here are the basic steps to do it. 

1. Go to the left side of your account. On the list, click the dropdown arrow beside Services and click Service Marketplace. 
2. From there, select the apps you think you will need most. For example, I chose connectivity. Create an instance for Destinations because you will need it in the next section. 
3. There will be another instance. Fill it out and click Next for Parameters or Create right away. 
4. Go to Instances and Subscription to check the status of the app you created. 

5. Destinations

At this point, you are now done with the onboarding. You will start to access SAP Business ByDesign. With Destination and installation of the Cloud Connector, this will be possible for you. Here are the basic steps to do it. 

1. Look up Destinations and Cloud Connectors on the List. And as you can see, you do not have a Destination and Cloud Connector yet. 
2. Now, click New Destination and Service Instance. Input the necessary details and click next. 
3. This is how the new Destination will appear. 
4. Click Check Connection to start with the authentication. Then, you have to create or edit a Neo file, which you will use for configuration. 

6. Install, Setup, and Configure Cloud Connectors  

You need to configure Cloud Connectors to integrate SAP with your business. As such, you can access SAP Business ByDesign with your e-commerce platform. The Cloud Connector can work with WordPress. It synchronizes details in SAP and WordPress. This is because the API-based connection can access details. These include products and services, orders, delivery information, and the client booking form. Here is how to do it. 

1. Install the Cloud Connector among the options. Choose what is compatible with your computer or laptop. 
2. Next, look for a compatible app to open it. It is better to use JavaScript since you will also need it for SAP Business ByDesign. 
3. Install and set up the Cloud Connector. 
4. Once installed, start the configuration process by logging in. 
5. Once logged in, choose the installation type and change the initial password. Once done, you will see the main page. Click here for more detailed steps to configure the Cloud Connector. 

7. Use Destination to Access SAP Business ByDesign 

Once you have set up the Cloud Connector, you can configure a route using Destinations. This route will give access to SAP Business ByDesign. It opens an instance or page in the server. 

1. You can now fix a route like this. /orders or  Set a specific parameter like this. /order/0824/invoices
2. From there, it will reach the target address. That is why you need to create a neo-app.json configuration file. This is how it will look like. 
3. With that, a route named steverogers has been created. It would prompt an authenticated and configured request. It would enable the use of destination steverogers. Now, you can have free access to SAP Business ByDesign. 
4. If you have an authentication error, click this link for further details. 

8. Integrate it with Your E-Commerce Platform 

You have created and subscribed to the proper apps and instances. With the proper process and tools, you can now integrate your e-commerce with SAP. It may appear pretty expensive, but there are various ways to do it. With lower fees and minimal setup, you can employ the following tools. 

• SAP Integration Suite- Basic Edition
• SAP Business ByDesign Standard APIs
• Your E-Commerce Platform 

1. As mentioned, the Cloud synchronizes SAP and E-commerce data. That is why you have to configure the Destinations and the Cloud Connector. 
2. This will now become an automatic process. For the subsequent ones, they will start once the first integration ends. With Cloud, automatic synchronizations start. 

Conclusion

Getting started with SAP Business ByDesign for your e-commerce can be time-consuming. This is more apparent for first-timers. Yet, the process is easy to follow with patience and focus. It will pay off as it makes costs inexpensive and promotes better communication.