Abstract
As we approach the end of 2024, SAP Commerce Cloud continues to embrace change and innovation by rolling out an exciting array of features and enhancements designed to transform business operations and elevate the customer experience.
This blog post examines the key feature updates from version 2211.16 (released in December 2023) to version 2211.30 (released in October 2024), which serves as a preview for the upcoming 2211.32 version set to launch in December 2024, and also the version 2211.31 (released in November 2024, mostly maintenance improvement). These updates showcase a variety of advancements tailored specifically for Business Users eager to harness the full potential of our state-of-the-art e-commerce platform. Read on to discover these new capabilities and their potential impact on your business.
(Please note that preview releases, such as 2211.30, are intended solely for non-productive testing purposes and are NOT authorized for deployment in live environments.)
Additionally, this blog post can serve as a study guide for the forthcoming 2411 version of the Stay Certified program for SAP Commerce Cloud Business Users (link to be added later).
If you are interested in understanding the updates from a technical user's perspective, be sure to check out the other blog post: SAP Commerce Cloud Updates in 2024: A Not-So-Brief Summary for Technical Users.
Introducing SAP CX AI Toolkit
Launched publicly in Q2 2024, the SAP CX AI Toolkit introduces a groundbreaking cloud-native solution that integrates generative AI with advanced data analysis into the SAP CX ecosystem. Specifically designed for SAP Commerce Cloud, this toolkit empowers businesses to transform basic product data into engaging and personalized content. It enhances customer engagement and seamlessly guides users through their purchasing journey, ultimately boosting satisfaction and loyalty.
Key features include Intelligent Q&A, Visual Search, AI Product Tagging/Descriptions, AI Product Images, and more. For a comprehensive and continuously updated list, please refer to the features overview table on the SAP CX AI portal page.
Preview of Important Technical Updates & Deprecation
Several technical updates and deprecations will help streamline processes and align with modern development benchmarks:
1. JDK 21 & Spring 6 Upgrade
In September 2025, SAP Commerce Cloud will upgrade to JDK 21 and Spring 6. Please note for all the on-going projects, the validity of the current version with JDK 17 will be extended from six to twelve months, providing security fixes until the end of Q2 2026.
2. Deprecation Notifications
All the Accelerator UIs and related addons, as well as OCC template extensions have been deprecated since the 2205 release, with a deletion date scheduled for Q3 2028.
All the phased-out Cockpit extensions (cockpit, admincockpit, cmscockpit, productcockpit, etc.) will be officially removed by Q3 2025.
3. Enhanced Security with OAuth Update
As of September 2025, the OAuth extension will shift to the Spring Authorization Server, adopting more current OAuth2 security practices. Especially the Resource Owner Password Flow and Implicit Flow are deprecated and discouraged. Any existing uses of these flows should transition to the Authorization Code Flow.
4. SmartEdit Upgrade
SmartEdit has seen an upgrade from Angular 15 to Angular 17 in 2211.24, with plans for further enhancement to Angular 19 by June 2025. Existing SmartEdit customizations need to be tested and updated to ensure continued functionality.
Core/Platform & Framework Enhancements
1. Upgrade to Tomcat 9
To enhance security and maintain compatibility with future updates, we have upgraded from Tomcat 8.5.x to Tomcat 9.x. Notably, the 8.5.x version is set to reach end-of-life in March 2024, making this upgrade a necessary step. Be sure to study the migration steps to ensure a smooth transition to Tomcat 9.
2. JUnit 5 Support
In response to user demand, SAP Commerce Cloud now supports JUnit 5, offering a more modern testing framework for your development projects. This support enhances testing capabilities, making it easier to execute and manage your test cases effectively.
3. Library Updates
We’ve made significant updates to various libraries to keep your framework modern and efficient. Major updates include:
- Jersey: 2.34 to 2.43
- FastUtil: 6.5.16 to 8.5.13
- Spring Session: 1.3.5 to 2.7.4
- Microsoft Azure Storage Client SDK: 8.6.6 to selected Microsoft Azure Java Client 12.x libraries.
4. Validation of Attributes for Multiple Languages
One of the notable improvements is how we validate attributes across multiple languages. In previous versions, the most restrictive constraint was validated universally for each language. Now, each language's attribute constraints are validated separately, enabling more precise control and consistency.
5. Control Behavior During Data Create Error
You can now manage how SAP Commerce Cloud responds to create data errors during an upgrade or initialization process. By setting the property 'system.setup.create.data.fail.on.error=true, you can choose to halt the process if errors occur, ensuring that configurations and project data are processed correctly.
6. Disabling FlexibleSearch Restrictions
In version 2211.30/32, you can globally disable FlexibleSearch restrictions that are defined for individual users, opting to retain only user group restrictions. This feature not only streamlines access but also enhances system performance by reducing unnecessary database calls.
7. Open Payment Framework Module
Introducing the Open Payment Framework Module in version 2211.30/32! This low-code platform allows seamless integration of your preferred digital payment service providers into your transactional and acceptance payment flows, enhancing your commerce platform's efficiency and flexibility. It offers an intuitive user interface to support integration and customization with payment service providers. Does this mean we are moving away from the extension-based approach for enhancing payment functionality? Let’s look forward to the new developments in Q1 2025!
Security Improvements
1. Strengthened Password Security
Several older password hashing algorithms, including MD5, PBKDF2, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512, are now deprecated and deactivated by default. The Argon2 algorithm has been adopted as the new default password hashing function, replacing bcrypt. Additionally, a configurable rehashing mechanism during login is introduced: any attempt to utilize insecure password encoders will trigger an exception in the logs, ensuring your system remains secure.
2. One-Time Password (OTP) Functionality
We now offer the capability to create and validate one-time passwords, bolstering two-factor authentication (2FA). This provides enhanced security by verifying the ownership of an email during customer logins. As a result, even if credentials are compromised on other platforms, your customer's accounts remain secure. This feature is also implemented in Composable Storefront, check the Login with Verification Token for more details.
3. Mutual TLS (mTLS) Support
Mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS) has been integrated, providing bi-directional authentication for environment endpoints. This feature allows for more secure client access through certificate utilization and domain configuration, ensuring specified endpoints are only accessible from designated sources, such as your Content Delivery Network (CDN).
4. Improved Brute Force Attack Protection
We’ve introduced new measures to further protect against brute force attacks:
- SAPBruteForceOAuthLoginAttempts Model: This new model captures failed login attempts specifically for OAuth clients, while standard attempts are tracked in the existing BruteForceLoginAttempts model. Please note, a database update via a new build is required for activation.
- Admin Login Disabling: In versions 2211.30/32, administrators can now disable login for the admin user as a brute force attack prevention measure. This greatly enhances security by protecting admin privileges from potential brute force exploits.
Innovations in SAP Commerce Cloud in the Public Cloud
1. Self-Serviced Scalable Sandboxes
You can now independently manage the capacity of your non-production environments through the Cloud Portal, no need to rely on SAP Support. You can adjust the number of instances, CPU, and memory requirements to optimize your setup.
Key benefits include:
- Database & Node Pool Scaling: Scale the database and node pools to facilitate e.g. performance tests to be run on non-production environments.
- Service Resource Scaling: For each scalable environment, define the resource limits, configuration parameters, and base replica count for each individual service.
2. Consumption Credits
Consumption credits are now available as Capacity Units, enabling you to self-scale your non-production environments with ease. Plus, the Capacity Units Estimator offers insights into your scalable sandboxes.
3. Consumption Reports
Gain valuable insights into your Commerce storefront with the new consumption reports. These reports provide detailed information on order metrics and resource utilization, accessible only to authorized users.
4. Canary Deployments
Enhance your deployment strategy with canary deployments. This feature builds upon blue-green deployments by allowing you to gradually redirect portions of live traffic to a new green deployment. Once you have completed your testing phase, you can confidently transition the green deployment to take over as the blue deployment.
5. New Scheduled Activity APIs
We are introducing new APIs for the scheduled activity feature. Here are some key functionalities:
- Managing Upgrades: With the new scheduler feature in the Cloud Portal, you can select a convenient date and time for upgrading your environments when updates to SAP Commerce Cloud are necessary.
- Scheduling Disaster Recovery Upgrade: You can now schedule an upgrade for your disaster recovery package for your environments at your convenience.
6. Individual Pod Restart
Introducing the self-service option to restart individual service pods within your Kubernetes clusters. This new capability helps you quickly resolve issues without disrupting overall services.
7. Private Link Enhancements
The Private Link feature is enhanced to facilitates secure connections between SAP Commerce Cloud and customer-owned Azure subscriptions. You can now create:
- a Private Link Endpoint to connect SAP Commerce Cloud endpoints to endpoints and services in a customer-owned Azure subscription
- a Private Link Service to connect endpoints in one or more customer-owned Azure subscription to SAP Commerce Cloud endpoints and services.
8. Web-based Two-Factor Authentication
Secure your sign-in process with the addition of web-based two-factor authentication, complementing the time-based one-time password (TOTP) method.
SAP Commerce Cloud, composable storefront Updates
1. New Version Format
Starting February 2024, with the release of version 2211.19, the versioning and update policies of the Composable Storefront has been aligned with the broader SAP Commerce Cloud framework. Instead of having 6.x, we'll have Composable Storefront 2211.x. This change not only standardizes the release cycles, but also simplifies the upgrade process for users, ensuring you have access to the latest features and improvements.
2. Preview: Mandatory Update to Angular 19
To maintain optimal performance and benefit from the newest features, starting in February 2025, all users must upgrade to the latest version of the Composable Storefront that includes Angular 19. This update will enhance the functionality and performance of your storefront, ensuring a smoother and more engaging experience for your customers.
3. Enhanced Security with CAPTCHA Support
To enhance online security, a new CAPTCHA system has been introduced to verify user authenticity before granting access to specific online functions. This includes a Generic CAPTCHA Provider Plug-In to replace the deprecated Google ReCAPTCHA integration. This update not only strengthens protection against brute force attacks but also allows the CAPTCHA OCC APIs to integrate with any CAPTCHA provider.
Backoffice Enhancements
1. Improved Deep Linking Copy
Now, you can easily generate and copy deep link URLs directly from the Backoffice UI. With the new "Copy Deep Link to Clipboard" button, simply navigate to your desired page, click the button, and the automatically generated URL of the current page and perspective will be at your fingertips. This functionality streamlines navigation and sharing within your team, making collaboration smoother than ever.
Product Content Management Improvements
1. Multi-Dimensional Products
Multi-Dimensional Products are now supported within the Composable Storefront. This new feature allows customers to seamlessly select products with their preferred dimensions, enhancing their shopping experience. However, it's important to note that users cannot combine multi-dimensional products with variant features simultaneously in the Composable Storefront.
2. Product Visibility Control
In 2211.30/32, Product Visibility Control is improved. This feature allows businesses to restrict the visibility of specific products based on categories and catalog versions directly within the Backoffice. This capability is particularly beneficial for managing multiple product catalogs tailored for B2B customers, fostering enhanced work efficiency and driving customer satisfaction.
Commerce Module (Search & Promotions) Upgrades
1. Solr Upgrades
The default version of the Solr application has been updated to Solr 9.5, while Solr 9.2 has been deprecated for new builds. Existing projects using Solr 9.2 will remain unaffected, but you can no longer select this version for new builds.
Additionally, Solr 9.7 is supported officially in 2211.31 (and is also available in the preview release 2211.30/32). We recommend upgrading to Solr 9.7 as soon as possible because it:
- is the most secure version of Solr.
- offers overall performance improvements, especially for customers with a large number of collections.
Please note that migrating to Solr 9.7 will require some effort. For more details, refer to the documentation on Upgrading to Solr 9.x.
2. Keyword Redirects
Keyword Redirects are now supported for SAP Commerce Cloud's composable storefront. This feature allows you to define specific keywords that will direct customers to targeted search results, such as URLs or individual products and categories, enhancing their shopping experience.
3. Promotion Engine upgrade
Promotion Engine has received an upgrade with the transition of Drools from version 7 to 8. With Drools 7 reaching end-of-life in May 2024, this upgrade fortifies security, improves GDPR compliance, and expands functionality. Make sure to check Upgrading to Drools 8 for more details.
Customer Support / Assisted Service Module Updates
Enhancements has been rolled out to the Assisted Service Module (ASM) within the SAP Commerce Cloud, composable storefront, designed to empower customer service teams with real-time sales and support capabilities:
- Improved Customer 360-Degree View: Customer support agents can now access product reviews exclusively for products within the product catalog of the current site.
- Improved Customer Search: For B2B sites, agents can only view B2B customers, preventing any potential issue where a support agent might perform operations on behalf of B2C customers. This improvement addresses previous checkout errors that occurred for B2C customers on B2B sites, ensuring a smoother operational flow.
B2B Commerce Improvements
"Commerce Quotes" is now supported on the SAP Commerce Cloud composable storefront, empowering B2B buyers to create personalized quotes and engage in negotiations to finalize order pricing directly on the platform. With Commerce Quotes, businesses can streamline their purchasing processes and enhance overall efficiency. This not only improves the customer experience but also fosters stronger business relationships.
Intelligent Selling Services Updates
1. Recent Searches Support
Recent Searches is now supported and integrated into the search box in SAP Commerce Cloud, composable storefront. This intuitive addition allows users to view previously used search terms, facilitating quick access to relevant results. By implementing recent searches support, you can expect an increase in conversion rates as users are more likely to make purchases when they can easily revisit and refine their recent queries.
2. Trending Search Terms
Trending Search Terms are supported in the search box of SAP Commerce Cloud's composable storefront, allowing the display of the most popular search terms even before users begin typing. This feature assists shoppers in quickly discovering relevant products, enhancing the customer experience, and boosting sales.
3. Guided Tours for Enhanced User Experience
Explore the new SAP Companion guided tours to learn how to effectively use Intelligent Selling Services alongside the UI elements:
- First Steps in Intelligent Selling Services: This tour guides you through creating the essential components of Intelligent Selling Services.
- Product Mix Creation: Learn how to create your first product mix within Intelligent Selling Services.
- Strategy Creation: Develop your strategy to align Intelligent Selling Services with your business goals and customer preferences.
- A/B Test Creation: Set up A/B tests to compare the performance of different product mixes, allowing you to optimize your offerings based on data-driven insights and make informed decisions that resonate with your audience.
Summary
This blog post summarizes significant feature updates of SAP Commerce Cloud from version 2211.16 (released in December 2023) to version 2211.31 (released in November 2024, please note that 2211.30 is a preview of 2211.32 expected in December 2024 and also included in the blog post). It highlights advancements across various critical areas especially for Business Users. The post covers enhancements introduced by the SAP CX AI Toolkit, important technical updates and deprecations, core platform improvements, security upgrades, innovations specific to the public cloud, updates to the composable storefront, key backoffice enhancements, product content management improvements, upgrades in the commerce module, advancements in customer support, B2B commerce enhancements, and developments related to intelligent selling services.
SAP Commerce Cloud is committed to continuous improvement and innovation to elevate business processes and customer experiences. Stay informed with these latest advancements to make the most of your SAP Commerce Cloud journey in 2024 and beyond!
For more information on all these released and upcoming features, check the detailed SAP documentation linked throughout this post, as well as the official portal of What's new in SAP Commerce Cloud in the Public Cloud.
Thank you for reading, and happy learning!
