With the new version of the EPO XML Connector EPO Consulting brings a unique functionality to the market:

Each SAP function module is directly accessible as Web Service (WSDL) from outside.
The uniqueness of this function is that really all SAP function modules are available directly, instantly. An additional contribution to simplicity is the identical structure of all WSDL's. All competing solutions, including SAP XI / PI are limited to RFC-enabled SAP function modules (BAPI) due to their architecture. This technological advantage is expressed not only in quantity (about 12 times more functions) but also in quality. Quality here means
-> better performance due to lower complexity and
-> increased stability due to the use of SAP NetWeaver® ABAP server.

Other important changes in this release are:
Enhanced monitoring functionality: At runtime or periodically all integration are monitored and automatically alerts including transaction data are sent to defined recipients via SAP mail or e-mail.
A new documented API: Using this API all interfaces with SAP can be monitored. This is particularly useful for existing interfaces and IDOC / EDIFACT interfaces.
Improvements in the EPO Client: With the help of the EPO Client web services can easily be used in SAP. The EPO Client also allows to create files and sent them via ftp or other transfer methods.

The next major functional extension
will be the integral support of SAP IDOC's and their conversion into foreign formats such as EDIFACT, XML / EDIFACT, X12 for incoming data and vice versa for sending data out.

Business implications and opportunities
The business implications are enormous, since it has now become possible for the first time to access SAP functions directly as web services. For SAP integration projects such as Portals or connection of external partners, this means that worldwide always uniform WSDL's are available now. For software vendors it means that they can produce SAP integration much faster, cheaper and more stable. An example: EPO Consulting has solved for Metastorm BPM not only the integration with SAP using the EPO XML Connector on SAP side. But with the B2B Web Services Integrator, EPO Consulting has also produced a solution for importing those WSDL’s into Metastorm BPM.

For further questions please contact EPO Consulting. If you want to see the WSDL for a specific SAP function module, please send us your request