SAP BTP Architecture Reference
Platform Overview
SAP BTP provides a three-tier architecture:
- Presentation Layer: SAP Fiori/SAPUI5 frontends
- Logic Layer: CAP (Node.js/Java) or ABAP Cloud
- Persistence Layer: SAP HANA Cloud
Data Protocols:
- OData (transactional data)
- InA (analytical data)
Core Services Catalog
Persistence & Data
| Service | Purpose | Details |
|---|---|---|
| SAP HANA Cloud | Database-as-a-Service | Relational, document, geospatial, vector data |
| HANA Data Lake Files | Object storage | Large-scale data storage |
| SAP Datasphere | Cross-application analytics | Data federation and warehousing |
HANA Cloud Optimization Features:
| Feature | Description | Free/Trial | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native Storage Extension (NSE) | Store infrequently accessed data on disk | No | Yes |
| Elastic Compute Nodes (ECN) | On-demand scaling for peak workloads | No | Yes |
| Table Partitioning | Enhanced query performance | Limited | Yes |
| Native Multi-Tenancy | Up to 1,000 isolated tenants per instance | No | Yes |
| Free Tier | 16GB memory at no cost | Yes (16GB) | N/A |
Note: Feature availability varies by plan. See SAP HANA Cloud Capacity Units for detailed tier comparison.
Integration Services
| Service | Purpose | Supported Scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| SAP Event Mesh | Event distribution | Cross-application eventing |
| SAP Integration Suite | API Management, Cloud Integration | B2B, A2A, API publishing |
| SAP Master Data Integration | Central data hub | SAP One Domain Model |
| Cloud Integration Automation | Guided workflows | Automated integration setup |
Identity & Security
| Service | CAP | ABAP |
|---|---|---|
| SAP Authentication and Trust Management | Yes | Yes |
| Identity Authentication | Yes (SSO, on-prem) | Yes (SSO, on-prem) |
| SAP Credential Store | Yes (secrets via REST) | Communication Management |
| SAP Audit Log Service | Yes | Security audit logging |
| Identity Provisioning | Yes | Yes (business user provisioning) |
Workflow & Automation
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SAP Task Center | Unified inbox across applications |
| SAP Build Process Automation | Workflow, RPA, decision management |
| SAP Job Scheduling Service | REST APIs, recurring schedules (CAP) |
| Application Jobs | Integrated scheduling (ABAP) |
Observability
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SAP Cloud ALM | Central monitoring (RUM, health, integration) |
| SAP Cloud Logging | Logs, metrics, traces (OpenSearch-based) |
| SAP Alert Notification | Event subscriptions, multi-channel delivery |
| Technical Monitoring Cockpit | ABAP on-stack analysis |
Extensibility Services
| Service | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SAP S/4HANA Cloud Extensibility | Side-by-side extensions |
| SAP SuccessFactors Extensibility | HR solution extensions |
| SAP Build Work Zone | Business sites, central entry point |
Client Libraries
CAP (Non-ABAP)
- SAP Cloud SDK: OData/OpenAPI clients, Destination, Connectivity services
- Languages: Java (Spring Boot), JavaScript, TypeScript (Node.js)
- Guaranteed Node.js/Java version compatibility
ABAP
- Service Consumption Model: Generates local APIs for OData, SOAP, RFC
- Communication Management: System integration with credentials
- Native RAP event support
User Interface Options
Web Development
| Approach | Description | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| SAP Fiori Elements | Predefined templates (List Report, Object Page) | Standard business apps |
| Flexible Programming Model | Fiori Elements + custom extensions | Selective customization |
| Freestyle SAPUI5 | Full UI control | Highly custom interfaces |
Mobile Development
| SDK | Platform |
|---|---|
| SAP Mobile Development Kit | Cross-platform |
| SAP BTP SDK for Android | Android native |
| SAP BTP SDK for iOS | iOS native |
Features: Offline sync, push notifications, mobile security
Central Access Points
| Application Type | Entry Point |
|---|---|
| CAP Applications | SAP Build Work Zone, HTML5 Repository |
| ABAP Applications | SAP Fiori Launchpad for BTP ABAP Environment |
Analytics Capabilities
CAP
- SAP Analytics Cloud (embedded dashboards)
- SAP Datasphere (cross-application analytics)
ABAP
- SAP Analytics Cloud on InA-enabled CDS models
- Dragonfly-based multidimensional reporting
- SAP Datasphere via ABAP SQL Service
System Landscape Management
Unified Customer Landscape
- Auto-discovery of associated systems
- Manual system registration
- Support for S/4HANA, Ariba, SuccessFactors, third-party
ABAP-Specific
- Landscape Portal for system hibernation
- Pre-upgrade nomination for quarterly releases
Low-Code/No-Code Options
SAP Build Suite:
- SAP Build Apps (enterprise applications)
- SAP Build Process Automation (workflow, RPA)
- SAP Build Work Zone (business sites)
- Prebuilt connectors for SAP and third-party
Infrastructure Automation
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Terraform Provider for SAP BTP | Resource provisioning automation |
| SAP Automation Pilot | Operational task automation, database lifecycle |
Key Design Principles
- API-First: Follow SAP Business Accelerator Hub guidelines
- Compliance: Accessibility, theming for all UI components
- Observability: Central unified operations experience
- Consistency: Unified solution experience across customer base
- Enterprise Standards: Prefer SAP BTP services over custom solutions