Back 
Bridging the gap between ERPs and AP processes can be tedious and confusing. Cut out the confusion and streamline processes today.
Third-party integrations expand the functionality of SAP Business One, increasing efficiency and productivity. This article explains the benefits of SAP Business One integration and covers some software integrations to consider that work seamlessly with SAP Business One.
What is SAP Business One?
SAP Business One is an affordable ERP system for SMBs and non-profits that offers functionality for accounting, sales, inventory, supply chain management, procurement, CRM, and MRP for manufacturers. SAP Business One is customizable and has mobile device app access.
The top industries for SAP Business One are Manufacturing, Wholesale & Distribution, and Retail & Ecommerce. SAP Business One is used in many other industries.
In addition to SAP Business One (SAP B1), SAP products include high-end ERP systems, including the SAP ERP (core system and modules) and SAP S/4 HANA Cloud, which are used by large enterprises and some midsize companies with high computer software budgets.
Understanding SAP Business One Integration
SAP Business One uses the SAP Business One integration framework (SAP B1if) to connect SAP and non-SAP systems, web and cloud-based applications, and services. It can be used with the SAP HANA platform and Microsoft SQL Server Database, either deployed on-premises or Cloud-hosted as types of ERP systems.
SAPB1if uses integration standards, including XML And XSLT (eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) for XML. It provides security and message and error handling.
Options Available for SAP Business One Integration
SAP Business One Integration Service is the functionality within Business One for connecting and exchanging data with external software applications and systems. It includes using SAP Business One Integration Framework as a middleware platform.
SAP Business One Integration Framework includes four types of integration:
- Integration Scenarios
- Integration Hub
- Subsidiary Integration
- Intercompany Integration Solution
Integration Scenarios
The SAP Business One integration scenarios framework is a development environment and runtime for SAP and non-SAP predefined integrations, such as third-party add-on software. Integration Scenarios are also used for dashboards, mobile apps, SAP Customer Checkout (point of sale/POS software), and web services.
Integration Hub
The Integration Hub consists of preconfigured templates for integrating cloud-based business applications and services as ready-made integration scenarios. These preconfigured templates include email marketing automation, shipping carriers, payment, expense report, and other third-party applications, including SAP Business One eCommerce integration with Shopify and Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento).
Subsidiary Integration
Subsidiary integration for SAP Business One lets your company Integrate, manage, and consolidate SAP Business One used by subsidiaries with SAP Business Suite software for the company’s headquarters. It also provides business process standardization.
Intercompany Integration Solution
The SAP Business One integration framework works for multiple SAP B1 databases to streamline and automate intercompany transactions and processes.
Within the pillars of the SAP Business One Integration Framework, businesses and non-profit organizations can use API (application programming interface) integration and other standards like SFPT (Secure File Transfer Protocol) for transaction-related data file transfers to establish an add-on connection and sync data with SAP Business One.
The Benefits of Integrating with SAP Business One
Benefits of SAP Business One ERP integration include:
- Expanding the capabilities of SAP Business with SAP and third-party add-ons
- Increasing efficiency for cost reduction through automation
- Adding financial controls, real-time spend visibility with AI-assisted queries, global regulatory compliance, tax compliance, and payment status updates
- Using best practices
- Eliminating manual data entry and paper documents with digital transformation
Optimize AP workflows with Tipalti’s SAP Business One integration
Digitally transform your payables and global payouts with Tipalti’s seamless SAP Business One integration, saving time and reducing hiring needs.
How to Set Up Business One Integration
To set up Business One integration with third-party software applications, use the capabilities of the middleware platform in SAP Business One called Integration Framework.
SAP Business One Integration Framework
Set up SAP Business One integration (SAP B1 integration) by using its Integration Framework to establish connections to other applications with parameters, authentication, and data mapping. In its integration platform, Business One has a DI API connector or Service Layer with a DI Core to exchange information and data between SAP Business One and integrated third-party software.
Working only with the SAP HANA platform database, Business One Service Layer is an extension API for consuming SAP Business One data and services that uses core protocols including HTTP and OData. SAP B1 Service Layer exposes business objects on top of a Web server and is used by software developers building add-ons for SAP Business One.
Service Layer has a DI Core, which is the same as used by SAP Business One DI API. For data integration, the SAP B1 Integration Framework can use an API to retrieve data from the sending system when data isn’t provided in the inbound message.
Types of Data Sources
Three types of data sources included in the SAP Business One software developer kit (SDK) are:
- DBDataSource
- UserDataSource
- DataTable
Integration Scenarios
Software developers build scenarios for integration through a SAP Business One menu and submenus for creating scenario packages as New packages, and assigning scenario steps.
The scenario package is the software logistics unit. Scenarios can be used for a wide range of integrated process structuring. Uses for integration scenarios include master data synchronization for data exchange integration and eCommerce platform Web shop integration order processing that creates sales orders in SAP Business One. A scenario step is the technical unit that performs message processing (as one transaction at runtime).
Mobile App integration
In addition to setting up SAP Business One’s mobile app integration, your business can also set up SAP Business One integration with external mobile apps using iOS and Android operating systems.
Pre-Configured Integrations
Some software providers like Tipalti, Salesforce, Microsoft (Teams), and Amazon have pre-configured integrations and offer implementation team services or business partner consultant referrals for SAP Business One to make the integration process easier.
6 Integrations to Maximize the ROI on Your Business One Software
SAP Business One integrates with award-winning Tipalti finance automation software and some other integrations for consideration in your software evaluation for accounts payable automation and global payments. Tipalti also has SAP integration with its higher-end software products.
Tipalti
Overview
Tipalti is cloud accounts payable and finance automation software with SaaS pricing that includes AP automation, Mass Payments, Expenses, Procurement, and advanced FX products, Multi-FX and FX Hedging for payables. Tipalti also offers a corporate spending card with rewards called Tipalti Card to approved users for card-assigned employees to control non-PO spending.
Tipalti AP automation software eliminates paper and manual processes, provides operational efficiency for cost reduction, and reduces fraud and errors when making global payments to suppliers. Tipalti also provides real-time spend visibility to help you control business spending and improve cash flow.
Features
Tipalti AP automation features include:
- Self-service supplier onboarding with tax form collection and choice of payment method
- Digital invoice capture by headings and line items
- 3-way or 2-way invoice matching to PO and receiving data
- AI-generated account coding
- Supplier validation for fraud reduction
- Error checking with 26,000+ payment rules
- Automated global regulatory compliance with OFAC sanctions list screening
- Routed approvals and communications
- Global payments to 196 countries in 120 currencies
- Automated payment status for suppliers
- Real-time automatic payment reconciliation
- Syncing with ERP system
- Audit trail
- Simplified tax preparation reports with optional eFiling through natively-integrated Zenwork Tax1099 software
- Multi-entity
- Business intelligence with Ask Tipalti AIâ„ and real-time spend visiblity
- Integrates with other Tipalti finance automation platform products
Best for fast growth small businesses and mid-sized companies making global payments and controlling spending
DOKKA
Overview
DOKKA offers cloud-based, AI-driven accounting automation software to eliminate manual Crocesses, including AP Automation, with SAP Business One integration. DOKKA doesn’t include payment processing but indicates the Paid or Not Paid status from the synced ERP to tag the invoice status.
Features
- Real-time AI-driven insights and technology
- Extracts data by line item from emailed vendor invoices received
- Automated invoice processing
- 3-way Invoice matching
- Invoice coding
- Approvals workflow automation
- Posting
- Document management with search via keyword
Best for mid-size companies not needing automated payment processing
OpenText
Overview
OpenText is a SAP Business One integration that connects business data knowledge with actions to improve SAP process efficiency and decision-making. OpenText also provides solutions that integrate with higher-end SAP software products.
Features
- OpenText brings together decision-making data from disparate Business One data sources
- Automates information capture and distribution for added process efficiency
- Seamless access to current and historical data for cost reduction
- Provides a unified user interface for applications
Best for companies seeking efficiency and better decision-making through a common user interface
Yooz
Overview
Yooz is a cloud-based software solution with real-time procure to pay (P2P) software integrating with SAP Business One, including SAP Business One EDI integration (for business document exchange, including POs and e-invoices). Yooz is a paperless system for automation. Yooz’s customers are small businesses and medium-sized companies.
Features
Yooz P2P automation functions include:
- Workflows to create and approval purchase requisitions and purchase orders
- Capture invoices, with multiple methods of receipt
- Automated general ledger coding and invoice matching
- Automated multiple-level approval (or rejection) routing using a customized approval matrix, with mobile access to approvals
- AI-driven fraud detection
- YoozPay automated payments
- Exports to ERP
Best for P2P solution with mobile access for invoice approvals
Stampli
Overview
Stampli, which integrates with SAP Business One, offers an AP automation platform featuring an AI copilot, Billy the Bot.
Features
- Invoice data extraction by Billy the Bot upon invoice receipt
- 2-way or 3-say invoice to PO matching at the line level
- Approver invoice review and documentation checking
- Unlimited multi-entity
- Audit trails
- Invoice-centered channel for AP messaging
- Analytics and reporting
Best for companies seeking an invoice-centered communication experience for accounts payable
DocuPhase
Overview
DocuPhase offers intelligent accounts receivable and accounts payable automation and document management software with SAP Business One integration. It is a cloud-hosted platform. DocuPhase can also function as a standalone workflow automation system without ERP integration to another database.
DocuPhase began as a document management company. DocuPhase acquired Clearwater Payments in 2021 for end-to-end AP and AR automation, and it also acquired iPayables in 2023 for enterprise company accounts payable automation and supplier management.
Features
DocuPhase AP automation features include:
- Invoice data capture by line item with accurate OCR
- Automated 3-way invoice matching for invoices, POs, and receipts
- One-click assigning and look-up of general ledger codes for automatic GL coding of invoices
- Error detection and discrepancies flagging
- Instant digital invoice approval routings with email notifications for making approvals
- Limited self-service access to DocuPhase by external auditors for requested information
- Global payments with a choice of vendor’s preferred payment method
Best for large enterprises and some smaller companies with advanced document management needs
How To Get Started
Businesses and nonprofits can fill functionality gaps in the last mile of SAP Business One through third-party software integration, including Tipalti + SAP Business One integration for finance and AP automation. To get started, explore more about bridging the last mile of ERP for global payables digital transformation.
