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Extending Efficiency: Automating IBP RTI Connectivity steps with SAP CIAS

attila_eschwig-hajts
Advisor
Advisor
‎2025 May 26 10:15 AM
680

The SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) released the first CIAS workflow in late 2023 marked a significant milestone by providing a guided setup for real-time integration connectivity. This breakthrough offered substantial benefits for both customers and partners, simplifying integration processes, reducing errors, and accelerating deployments. If you are new to CIAS in context of SAP IBP Real-Time integration setup, please check out this article: Fast track your SAP IBP Real time integration journey 

What's new?

With the release of IBP 2505, the existing solution has moved even further, bringing automation to the forefront of integration tasks. Most IBP setup steps have now been automated, thanks to CIAS, significantly reducing manual work and the potential for human errors.

Key Automations with IBP 2505

Here's a summary of what's been automated with the latest IBP 2505 via CIAS:

Connectivity Setup – IBP Inbound Integration:

  • SAP_COM_0769 and SAP_COM_0770: These integrations have seen a full automation overhaul. The setup steps involved in establishing inbound connectivity are now seamlessly handled by CIAS.
  • Communication User and Communication System Creation: The automation process includes creating new communication users and systems, ensuring these essentials are efficiently managed without manual intervention.
  • Communication Arrangement Creation: Quickly establish communication arrangements with full automation, reducing configuration time significantly.

Connectivity Setup – IBP Outbound Integration:

  • SAP_COM_0684 and SAP_COM_0685: These integrations also benefit from CIAS's automated setup, streamlining outbound connectivity processes.
  • Communication Systems and Arrangements: Similar automations in creating necessary communication systems and arrangements are found here, allowing for swift and precise configuration.

Please be aware the Communication System for SAP_COM_0684 requires one manual step currently! Follow the Automation Instructions carefully during this step, maintaining efficiency and accuracy while leveraging CIAS's automated capabilities.

Prerequisites

The SAP_COM_0A31 communication scenario, introduced with IBP 2505, is a prerequisite for utilizing automation steps in IBP Cloud system. CIAS offers detailed manual instructions for activating this scenario seamlessly as part of the workflow.

How to run automated steps?

Workflow includes both manual steps and steps that can be executed as automated steps. You can easily recognize if there is automation for a step, you'll see:

  • "Automation Instructions" chapter appears for the step
  • "Execute Task" button appears beside "Task Completed" button

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Follow these steps to execute automation effectively:

  • Enter mandatory parameters: Fill in any mandatory parameters that may be required.
  • Execute Automation: Click the "Execute Task" button.
  • Initial Setup for New IBP Systems, if it's the first time executing automation for a specific IBP system:

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  • Navigate to the System Access tab
  • Click the "Setup" button on the right.

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  • Follow manual instructions to configure SAP_COM_0A31. In each screen you can use the navigation link to open the application where you have to perform the steps.

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  • Re-execute Task: Click the "Execute Task" button again.

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  • Monitor Execution Status: The status icon will change content and color during execution:
    • To be Executed
    • In Process
    • Success or Error

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  • Error Handling: If an error occurs, check the execution log for details

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  • Complete the workflow by clicking on the "Task Completed" button and confirm to move forward to the next Step
  • If you click on the "Show/Hide" button you can display the technical parameters that the workflow uses as input from the previous steps. These fields are always read only fields.

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These steps ensure a smooth integration process, leveraging CIAS's automation capabilities and manual instructions when necessary.

Conclusion: Enhancing Integration Efficiency

SAP's CIAS is a robust tool that empowers businesses by delivering comprehensive automation in cloud integration tasks, speeding up the system configuration process, and significantly reducing the likelihood of errors. 

For SAP customers and partners, these advancements symbolize a crucial step forward in optimizing integration workflows, offering a newfound ease and efficiency in navigating the complex landscape of cloud-based integrations.