SAP PI/PO End-of-Life 2027 – Integration Strategies and EDI Opportunities

The announcement of the end of maintenance for SAP PI/PO in 2027 marks a decisive turning point for companies using this middleware solution. With the end of support, SAP will no longer provide security updates, patches, or regulatory adjustments – a situation that presents both technical risks and compliance challenges. Given these developments, many companies are now asking which alternatives are practical, future-proof, and cost-effective.

SAP PI/PO: An Established Standard with an Expiration Date

SAP PI (Process Integration) and SAP PO (Process Orchestration) have been considered reliable middleware platforms within SAP-based IT landscapes for many years. They enable cross-system communication, data processing, and process automation. The shift to cloud-based architectures, combined with the official end of maintenance, is now forcing companies to realign their integration strategies.

Alternative Integration Paths: SAP and Third-Party Solutions

SAP offers the Integration Suite as a modern successor platform. This solution primarily targets companies that want to retain and modernize their existing SAP system landscape. The Integration Suite supports both on-premises and cloud scenarios and offers a comprehensive range of features, including API management, parameterizable interfaces, and pre-built integration content.

However, switching within the SAP ecosystem is not always the most obvious or economical solution for every company. Especially for organizations with heterogeneous or historically evolved IT landscapes, there are limitations when it comes to flexibility, scalability, or cost structures.

Limitations of the solution:

• Dependence on available functionalities within the SAP ecosystem
• Some communication protocols not yet available, e.g., OFTP2
• Limited flexibility in heterogeneous IT environments
• High complexity with custom system structures
• No pre-built, reusable integration interfaces out of the box
• Initial decisions regarding the development of custom integration components can only be revised or adjusted with great effort
• Extensive know-how required for implementing integration requirements
• Does the IT strategy of developing EDI in-house align with the company’s strategy and intended growth?

EDI Providers as a Neutral Alternative

Specialized EDI providers offer a platform-independent way to modernize your integration architecture. They typically take care of the entire implementation and operation, acting as powerful and independent partners.

Advantages of external EDI solutions:

• Platform independence: Independence from vendor solutions and flexibility in connecting any systems (SAP, non-SAP, legacy)
• Scalability: Needs-based solutions for growing or internationally operating companies
• Expertise: Dedicated experts handle implementation, operation, monitoring, and further development of integration processes
• Cost transparency: Predictable costs through usage-based billing models
• Legal compliance and regulatory certainty: Ensuring legal requirements and industry-specific standards
• Resource management: Allowing internal IT resources to focus on higher-level and strategic tasks

Use cases:

• Exchange of business data in a B2B environment
• Centralized integration across multiple company sites
• Rapid scaling to support business growth
• Integration with cloud applications and platforms
• Support with industry-specific compliance requirements

Thanks to their specialization in electronic data integration (EDI), these service providers offer tailored solutions, especially for companies with high data exchange volumes, complex partner structures, or international operations.

Criteria for Decision-Making

When choosing a successor solution—whether within the SAP ecosystem or through an external EDI provider—the following aspects should be individually evaluated:

• Company & IT strategy: “Make” or “Buy”
• Integration complexity and volumes
• Architecture and existing system landscape
• Requirements for security, compliance, and monitoring
• Future readiness and innovation potential of the solution
• Cost-effectiveness and implementation effort
• Strain on internal resources given increasing project numbers

Now Is the Right Time for Strategic Decisions

The end of maintenance for SAP PI/PO is not just a challenge, but also an opportunity: it allows for a realignment of your integration strategy in line with digital transformation goals.

Companies should start their evaluation early—considering both SAP’s own offerings and specialized EDI providers. The goal must be to establish a future-proof, high-performance, and economically viable middleware architecture that will meet the digital demands of the coming years.

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