SAP Netweaver

SAP NetWeaver

As SAP grew from being a monolithic ERP to a comprehensive business platform with diverse components, there was a critical need for all the components such as finance, supply chain management (SCM), customer relationship management (CRM), and human capital management (HCM) to connect to each other, as well as to connect to non-SAP systems and partners. Hence, the need for a server platform arose, and SAP acquired what is now known as SAP NetWeaver from an Israeli company and offered it as its application and integration platform.

SAP NetWeaver

As SAP grew from being a monolithic ERP to a comprehensive business platform with diverse components, there was a critical need for all the components such as finance, supply chain management (SCM), customer relationship management (CRM), and human capital management (HCM) to connect to each other, as well as to connect to non-SAP systems and partners. Hence, the need for a server platform arose, and SAP acquired what is now known as SAP NetWeaver from an Israeli company and offered it as its application and integration platform.

SAP announced that, along with SAP Business Suite 7, mainstream maintenance for SAP NetWeaver 7.5 has been extended until the end of 2027 and extended maintenance will be offered until the end of 2030 with a price premium.

What is SAP NetWeaver?

SAP NetWeaver is a technology platform that allows organizations to integrate data, business processes, and other elements from a variety of sources into unified SAP environments. It also allows users to manage the complexity and costs of integrating these systems, applications, and services in their SAP environments.

SAP NetWeaver Components

SAP NetWeaver encompasses a variety of components that enable functionality in SAP environments. Many of these components have moved to the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), including SAP Business Warehouse, SAP Business Intelligence, SAP Enterprise Portal, SAP Exchange Infrastructure, SAP Knowledge Warehouse, SAP Master Data Management, and SAP NetWeaver Process Integration. All of these components help rollout updates, upgrades, and integration and maintain data quality and knowhow.

SAP NetWeaver Architecture

SAP NetWeaver forms the foundation of the SAP technology stack used by SAP developers. It is the platform used for ABAP and Java applications.

SAP NetWeaver uses ABAP or Java servers to support applications. As an application server, SAP NetWeaver forms the foundation of the on-premise versions of SAP Business Suite and other applications. It’s the foundation for the on-premise SAP S/4HANA next-generation business suite, with SAP HANA serving as the sole underlying database.

SAP NetWeaver 7.5 offered integration with SAP HANA and SAP Cloud Platform, allowing on-premise applications on ABAP or Java application servers to connect with cloud services and take advantage of SAP HANA’s in-memory computing functionality. Today, it also enables technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile services, big data, and advanced analytics.

It is safer for SAP clients to plan the upgrades to SAP NetWeaver given SAP’s upcoming end of maintenance. Read this article from an SAP leader, Technical Guide: Planning Your SAP NetWeaver Upgrade.

Vendors that can help SAP customers with SAP NetWeaver include: AWS, Red Hat, Boomi, ServiceNow and SUSE.