Using Side-by-Side Extensibility with SAP Business Technology Platform

Side-by-side extensibility refers to developing an app or extension on a different platform, then integrating the custom development with the target SAP S/4HANA Cloud system. SAP's development platform is the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), and we have both low/no-code and code-based development solutions.

SAP BTP enables developers to implement loosely coupled extension applications securely, thus implementing additional workflows or modules on top of the existing SAP solution they already have. Loosely coupled extensions provide the most flexibility, because they are built in a platform fundamentally separate from the core ERP system. Development on SAP BTP can solve difficult customer requirements easily, although it often requires bringing in additional resources to support the development efforts.

SAP Build is our primary low/no-code development solution, which customers have access to through their GROW with SAP enablement package. It includes SAP Build Apps, Build Process Automation, and Build Work Zone.

SAP Business Application Studio (BAS) is our primary pro-code development solution, which requires an additional license to use. With BAS, developers can use common languages like Java, JavaScript, and Python to build and run SAP business applications using the Cloud Application Programming (CAP) model.

Software Developer Kits (SDKs) are libraries of content intended to reduce the effort of building applications for many different use cases. For example, there are SDK libraries for Java, JavaScript, iOS mobile, android mobile, and many others. Other services that can be used in side-by-side extensibility scenarios are documented in the SAP Discovery Center.

Configuration experts specializing in different lines of business are NOT responsible for using SAP Build or SAP Business Application Studio to develop solutions that address requirements identified in the Fit-to-Standard Workshops. If requirements are identified that cannot be addressed through the in-app key user capabilities, escalate the requirement to the project manager(s) for further discussion and a decision. The options are:

• Bring a resource on the partner project team to support custom extensions using in-app developer extensibility with ABAP. This person should already have experience with older versions of SAP ERP and be very comfortable with ABAP development.
• Bring an internal resource on the customer project team to support custom extensions using in-app developer extensibility with ABAP. This person should already have experience with older versions of SAP ERP and be very comfortable with ABAP development. Ideally, this person would have gained their ABAP knowledge while working in the existing organization so they are familiar with the internal workings of the business.
• Bring a resource on the partner project team to support custom extensions using side-by-side extensibility with either SAP Build (no coding background necessary), or SAP Business Application Studio (coding background required).
• Bring an internal resource on the customer project team to support custom extensions using side-by-side extensibility with either SAP Build (no coding background necessary), or SAP Business Application Studio (coding background required).