SAP AIF

SAP Application Interface Framework (AIF)

There are applications that nobody misses, but once they are in use, nobody wants to do without them. The Application Interface Framework (AIF) is one of them.

SAP AIF – What is it about?

AIF is a tool to configure and monitor all kinds of interfaces (file and RFC interfaces, IDOC’s, proxies, Odata interfaces etc., with or without PI (or PO)). Such a tool saves development time: You can dispense with a self-developed monitoring system for monitoring the transferred data. Previously, it was necessary and common to have a separate and individual tool for monitoring for each interface and thus 10 to 20 days of development time, which can be eliminated with AIF.

SAP AIF – Sophisticated interface monitoring

The task of interface monitoring is to monitor the transferred data, display the status of a data record (successful processing or error, etc.) and, if necessary, other technical and application-specific messages. Monitoring provides a restart option, displays the input and mapping data, and with a Monitoring Deluxe, also the mapping logic. There are options for filtering by date, processing status, document number, and so on. AIF offers all of this to an extent that goes far beyond the possibilities of self-developed programs. The possibilities to check and map input data is a complex issue and impressively solved.

SAP AIF – Versionability of interfaces

Another AIF highlight is the versioning of interfaces: You can operate an interface in version 1 and develop and implement version 2 in parallel, but only activate it on a key date, for example.

AIF offers – if desired – an “interface workflow”, which allows qualified errors to be automatically forwarded to the responsible department. This simplifies support and saves resources. The integration into the SAP standard and with it direct access to other tools (for example, the Business Rule Framework (BRF+)), allows you to maintain an overview of even complex interfaces and to guarantee maintainability.

Many interfaces? Then AIF is worthwhile!

Conclusion: We expect AIF to establish itself as one of the central SAP tools in system landscapes with an increasing number of interfaces.

The downside: SAP’s licensing model: AIF licenses are expensive. An introduction is currently only worthwhile if many interfaces are in use. We hope and assume that SAP will adapt the pricing model as soon as AIF has a wider distribution.

We have made AIF one of our core competences and will support you during the introduction, but also coach you if you want to carry out your projects on your own.