CMIS in the SAP environment: From wallflower to shooting star

Current studies show that more than 40 percent of companies switching to S/4 are opting for a public cloud strategy. A further 20 percent prefer the private cloud, while just under ten percent choose the traditional on-premises variant. These figures illustrate a clear trend towards cloud-based solutions, which is gaining additional momentum thanks to SAP's strategic focus.

With the announced end of mainstream support for Business Suite 7 in 2027, many companies are under pressure to realign their SAP landscape. The switch to S/4 is not just a technical upgrade, but an essential foundation for the modernization of business processes and digital transformation. S/4 Hana is seen as a key technology to meet the requirements of the future and offers companies the opportunity to simplify their IT infrastructure and increase their ability to innovate at the same time.

Already 85 of the world's 100 largest companies are using S/4. The pioneering role of these companies illustrates how SAP S/4 is being used as an integral part of a future-oriented IT strategy. The changeover is increasingly taking place as part of a cloud-first strategy, as more and more companies appreciate the flexibility and scalability of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. The public cloud in particular offers the advantage that companies can flexibly adapt their IT resources and optimize costs at the same time. However, globally distributed working and the private cloud have also promoted the acceptance of cloud solutions.

The trend towards the cloud is also driven by the changing demands on IT infrastructure and the increasing need for agility and speed in the digital economy. Companies are forced to continuously adapt their business models and take advantage of new market opportunities. S/4 Hana in the cloud offers the necessary flexibility and enables innovations to be implemented more quickly. The decision to rely on a cloud-based solution is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage.

At the same time, many companies see the switch to S/4 as an opportunity to optimize their business processes and make them more efficient. The modern architecture of S/4 makes it possible to use real-time data to make informed decisions and react more quickly to market changes. By integrating AI and machine learning, companies can also better exploit automation and analysis potential.

However, the switch to S/4 requires careful planning and a clear strategy. Companies need to analyze their existing processes, identify potential hurdles and get the right partners on board to make the transition a success. The choice between public cloud, private cloud and on-premises depends on individual requirements, for example in terms of data protection, compliance and specific industry needs.

Overall, the switch to S/4 marks the beginning of a new era for many companies. It is an opportunity to redesign their own IT landscape and set the course for a successful digital future. Given the increasing importance of cloud solutions and SAP's strategic direction, the decision to switch to S/4 is likely to become a decisive step in the digital transformation of many companies.

CMIS: The new cloud standard

The transformation to S/4 and the shift to the cloud entail considerable changes for companies. The transition from established interfaces such as ArchiveLink to modern standards such as CMIS (Content Management Interoperability Services) is particularly challenging. SAP relies on CMIS for its cloud offerings, which presents companies with new challenges.
ArchiveLink and SAP Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) remain relevant for on-premises and private cloud solutions. Companies that operate their SAP S/4 environment in the private cloud, i.e. host it independently via a hyperscaler, can still use ArchiveLink. However, integration via CMIS in conjunction with the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) is becoming increasingly important and will be indispensable in the long term.

With the introduction of S/4 Hana in the public cloud, where SAP hosts the system centrally for all customers, the rules of the game are changing fundamentally. In this environment, CMIS is the only available interface for document-based processes, while ArchiveLink no longer plays a role. This presents companies with the challenge of adapting their existing archiving strategies.

The CMIS standard offers numerous advantages compared to ArchiveLink. It is more modern and allows the transfer of additional metadata for archived documents, which is particularly relevant for use in other systems. However, this part of the CMIS standard is not supported by the SAP CMIS implementation, which means that CMIS is currently - and, according to SAP, will continue to be - "just as limited as ArchiveLink". This means that companies have to develop their own solutions in order to utilize the full functionality of CMIS. This gap is a hurdle that must be overcome in order to take advantage of the new interface. However, ImageMaster offers a function with which the metadata can be synchronized from SAP to ImageMaster. This works for documents stored via ArchiveLink and CMIS.

For companies, the switch to CMIS is an important step in the further development of their document management systems. It is crucial to plan this changeover strategically and take appropriate measures to ensure a smooth transition. Choosing the right partners and technologies plays a central role in this.

Another critical point in the migration is adherence to compliance requirements, such as the ten-year retention period for invoices in accordance with the German Commercial Code (HGB) or Tax Code. Companies must ensure that their new systems continue to meet these legal requirements in order to avoid legal risks.

It remains to be said that the CMIS standard will play an important role in the future of SAP landscapes. Companies moving to S/4 and using the cloud as a strategic platform should take advantage of the benefits of CMIS, but at the same time not underestimate the challenges involved. The future of document management at SAP is closely linked to CMIS, and companies must set the right course now to successfully master this transformation.

Approaches for SAP users

For companies that already use an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system in combination with SAP, it is crucial to check whether their solution has an SAP-certified CMIS interface. SAP offers a current list of certified solutions on its website. However, it is clear that significantly fewer ECM solutions are currently certified for CMIS than for the previously common ArchiveLink interface. This raises the question of when it makes sense to switch to CMIS. A migration to CMIS should be carefully considered and only makes sense when the interface can be used without restrictions. This can be achieved either through necessary adaptations by SAP itself or through the use of third-party archive solutions that fully support the CMIS interface. One example of such a solution is ImageMaster, which, in addition to CMIS certification, has had the ability to comprehensively synchronize index data for years.

ImageMaster in the public cloud

ImageMaster is a solution that is not only CMIS-certified, but also ensures that SAP data remains usable in other systems, such as customer web portals. This ability to transfer and use index data is crucial to ensure the seamless integration of data into a wide range of business processes.

In combination with S/4 Hana, ImageMaster also offers the potential for sustainable cost savings and optimized document management. If a company consistently relieves its S/4 database with an archive solution, it saves on license and maintenance costs. And the demands on the cloud infrastructure are also reduced. An SAP system with 1,000 users can save several million euros over twelve years. T-Systems' many years of experience in implementing such solutions has already helped numerous customers to successfully migrate their systems to SAP S/4.

Conclusion

The introduction of CMIS in the SAP environment opens up many new opportunities, but also brings challenges. Companies must carefully consider whether and when a migration makes sense. It is important to ensure that all compliance and legal requirements continue to be met.

With a well thought-out strategy and solutions such as ImageMaster, companies can fully exploit the advantages of CMIS and at the same time realize long-term savings. With ImageMaster, T-Systems offers a future-proof solution and provides comprehensive support from consulting to implementation to guide companies safely through the transition.

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