Reference Architectures

Mermaid Diagrams

Architecture Components

Architecture Center

Canonical reference architectures and reusable diagram components for SAP solutions. Each template is aligned with SAP's Clean Core principles, BTP extensibility guidance, and the official SAP Architecture Center.

Overview

The Architecture Center provides seven canonical SAP reference architecture diagrams, each authored using only SAP official terminology and aligned with the SAP Architecture Center (architecture.sap.com). All diagrams are Mermaid-based — view the source with the Source toggle on each card and copy it directly into your own project.

Four reusable React components are available for use across all module pages:

Enhanced Mermaid wrapper with category badge, description, source code toggle, and copy-to-clipboard. Accepts a template object or individual props.

CSS-based tier and layer stack. Renders each architecture layer as a coloured band with typed node pills — no JavaScript required.

System landscape row (DEV → QAS → PRD) showing hosting type, version, and included services for each tier.

Linear step-by-step flow diagram. Horizontal or vertical direction. Each step carries a type variant (source, gateway, process, store, target).

S/4HANA Reference Architectures

Three deployment models for SAP S/4HANA — on-premises, RISE with SAP (Private Cloud Edition), and GROW with SAP (Public Cloud Edition). Each has a distinct extension model aligned with the SAP Clean Core 3-Tier Framework.

InfrastructureS/4HANA On-Prem

Reference architecture for SAP S/4HANA deployed on-premises. Shows the ABAP application server, SAP HANA in-memory database, SAP Fiori front-end, and the SAP BTP side-by-side extension pattern via Cloud Connector and SAP Integration Suite for process integration.

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InfrastructureS/4HANA PCE (RISE)

RISE with SAP landing zone for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition (PCE). S/4HANA runs as a dedicated tenant on a customer-chosen hyperscaler (AWS, Azure, or GCP), fully managed by SAP. SAP BTP is embedded for Fiori, Integration Suite, and Cloud Identity Services. Customers extend via BTP subaccounts using CAP, Kyma, or SAP Build.

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InfrastructureS/4HANA Public Cloud

GROW with SAP architecture for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition (multi-tenant, Standard Edition). No ABAP modifications are permitted — extensions are done via Key User Extensibility tools (Tier 2) in-system, or via SAP BTP side-by-side applications (Tier 3) consuming released public OData V4 APIs.

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S/4HANA On-Premises — System Landscape

DEV

Development

On-Premises·S/4HANA 2023

Eclipse ADTBASCTS+

QAS

Quality Assurance

On-Premises·S/4HANA 2023

Integration TestsPerformance Tests

PRD

Production

On-Premises·S/4HANA 2023

24x7 OperationsHA / DR

RISE with SAP (PCE) — System Landscape

DEV

Development

Private Cloud·S/4HANA 2023

BASADT RemoteCTS+

QAS

Quality Assurance

Private Cloud·S/4HANA 2023

Integration TestsUAT

PRD

Production

Private Cloud·S/4HANA 2023

SAP-Managed OperationsHA / DR

GROW with SAP (Public Cloud) — System Landscape

SBX

Sandbox

Public Cloud·Latest Release

TrialExploration

QAS

Test

Public Cloud·Latest Release

Integration TestsUAT

PRD

Production

Public Cloud·Latest Release

SAP-ManagedAutomatic Upgrades

SAP Business Technology Platform Architecture

SAP BTP is the unified platform for application development, integration, data management, and AI. The architecture is structured around four capability pillars on a shared foundation of Identity, Connectivity, and Authorisation services.

PlatformSAP BTP

SAP BTP is the unified cloud platform for application development, integration, data management, and AI. Built around four capability pillars — Application Development and Automation, Integration, Data and Analytics, and AI — on a shared Foundation layer of Identity, Connectivity, and Authorisation services.

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SAP BTP — Capability Layers

AI and Automation

SAP Joule

Generative AI Copilot

Generative AI Hub

LLM Gateway

SAP AI Core

ML Training and Serving

Data and Analytics

Business Data Cloud

AI-Ready Data Fabric

SAP Datasphere

Data Integration and Modelling

SAP Analytics Cloud

BI and Planning

SAP HANA Cloud

In-Memory Database

Integration

SAP Integration Suite

Cloud Integration

API Management

Gateway and Developer Portal

SAP Event Mesh

Async Messaging

Application Development and Automation

SAP CAP

Cloud Foundry Runtime

SAP Kyma Runtime

Kubernetes

ABAP Environment

ABAP Cloud

SAP Build Apps

Low-Code / No-Code

Build Process Automation

RPA and Workflow

Foundation Services

Cloud Identity Services

IAS + IPS

Destination Service

Connectivity

Authorization and Trust

XSUAA / IAS

SAP CAP Architecture

SAP CAP (Cloud Application Programming Model) is the recommended programming model for cloud-native SAP BTP services. CDS-first design, OData V4 protocol adapters, and event-driven handler layers deployed on Cloud Foundry or SAP Kyma Runtime.

DevelopmentSAP CAP

SAP CAP is the recommended programming model for building cloud-native business services on SAP BTP. Built on Core Data Services (CDS) for data and service modelling, with Node.js and Java runtimes. Exposes OData V4 and REST endpoints consumed by SAP Fiori Elements and external applications. Bound to SAP BTP services (XSUAA, HANA Cloud, Destination) at deploy time.

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SAP CAP — Architecture Layers

Consumers

SAP Fiori Elements

Auto-Generated UI from CDS

External Applications

Mobile, Third-Party

Protocol Adapters

OData V4 Adapter

Fiori and RAP Consumption

REST Adapter

Microservice APIs

Event Handler Layer

Before Hooks

Input Validation

On Handlers

Business Logic

After Hooks

Post-Processing

CDS Layer — Core Data Services

Data Model

.cds schema files

Service Definition

.cds service files

Persistence Layer

SAP HANA Cloud

Production

SQLite

Local Development

SAP Joule Architecture

SAP Joule is the generative AI copilot embedded across SAP applications. User intents are classified by the Skill Router, dispatched to pre-built or custom skills, augmented by the Generative AI Hub (LLM Gateway), and resolved via released OData V4 APIs. Identity is propagated via SAP Cloud Identity Services.

AI & AutomationSAP Joule

SAP Joule is the generative AI copilot embedded across SAP applications. A user intent (natural language) is classified by the Skill Router, dispatched to the matching pre-built skill, which calls the relevant SAP backend via OData V4 released APIs, optionally augmented by the Generative AI Hub (LLM Gateway on SAP BTP). Identity and access are propagated via SAP Cloud Identity Services.

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SAP Joule — User Request to Backend Response

End User

Fiori / Work Zone

Skill Router

Intent Classification

Skill Catalogue

Pre-Built + Custom

Generative AI Hub

LLM Gateway

SAP Backend

OData V4 Released API

SAP Joule — Architecture Layers

User Interface Layer

SAP Fiori Application

S/4HANA, Work Zone, SuccessFactors

SAP Joule Button

Launchpad Embed — Fiori Plugin

SAP Joule Core — SAP BTP

Skill Router

Intent Classification (NLU)

Skill Catalogue

Pre-Built + Custom Skills

Context Manager

Session and User Context

Generative AI Hub

LLM Gateway — Model Lifecycle

SAP Backend Systems

SAP S/4HANA

Released OData V4 APIs

SAP Ariba

Procurement Skills

SAP SuccessFactors

HCM Skills

SAP Integration Suite Architecture

SAP Integration Suite (iPaaS on SAP BTP) covers end-to-end process integration across SAP and non-SAP systems. Cloud Integration (CPI) handles iFlow-based mediation; API Management provides the north-bound gateway; Event Mesh handles async messaging; Open Connectors provides pre-built connectors for 170+ third-party SaaS applications.

IntegrationIntegration Suite

SAP Integration Suite (iPaaS on SAP BTP) delivers end-to-end process integration across SAP and non-SAP systems. Cloud Integration (CPI) handles iFlow-based mediation; API Management provides the north-bound API gateway and developer portal; Event Mesh enables async messaging; Open Connectors bridges 170+ third-party SaaS via pre-built connectors.

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Integration Suite — North-Bound Message Flow

Consumer App

Mobile / BTP App

API Management

Policy Enforcement

Cloud Integration

iFlow Mediation + Mapping

Event Mesh

Async Fan-Out

SAP S/4HANA

System of Record

SAP Integration Suite — Architecture Layers

North-Bound — API Consumers

Mobile and Web Apps

End Users

SAP BTP Applications

CAP, SAP Build

Partner Systems

Third-Party

SAP Integration Suite

API Management

API Gateway + Developer Portal

Cloud Integration

iFlow Designer + Adapters

SAP Event Mesh

AMQP / MQTT / REST

Open Connectors

170+ Pre-Built SaaS

South-Bound — Systems of Record

SAP S/4HANA

RFC, OData V4, SOAP

SAP Ariba

REST API

SAP SuccessFactors

REST API

Third-Party SaaS

Salesforce, Workday, ServiceNow

Template Quick Reference

All seven architecture templates are available for use on any module page via getArchTemplate(id) from @/data/architecture.

Template ID	Short Name	Category	Availability	Route
`s4hana-on-prem`	S/4HANA On-Prem	Infrastructure	ga	/s4hana
`s4hana-private-cloud`	S/4HANA PCE (RISE)	Infrastructure	ga	/s4hana
`s4hana-public-cloud`	S/4HANA Public Cloud	Infrastructure	ga	/s4hana
`sap-btp`	SAP BTP	Platform	ga	/btp
`cap`	SAP CAP	Development	ga	/cap
`joule`	SAP Joule	AI & Automation	ga	/joule
`integration-suite`	Integration Suite	Integration	ga	/integration-suite

Usage example

import { ArchDiagram, LayeredDiagram, LandscapeCard } from '@/components/architecture'
import { getArchTemplate } from '@/data/architecture'

const template = getArchTemplate('sap-btp')

// Full diagram with source toggle
<ArchDiagram template={template} />

// Layered tier stack
<LayeredDiagram layers={template.layers} title="BTP Capability Layers" />

// System landscape (DEV → QAS → PRD)
<LandscapeCard systems={template.landscape} title="System Landscape" />

SAP Official Architecture Resources

SAP Architecture Center

Hundreds of validated reference architectures, solution patterns, and whitepapers published by SAP architects.

SAP Discovery Center

SAP BTP service catalogue with reference architectures, missions, and guided learning paths.

SAP BTP Solution Diagrams (GitHub)

Open-source SVG icon library and Lucidchart / draw.io stencils for SAP BTP architecture diagrams.

RISE with SAP Reference Guide

Technical reference for RISE with SAP: PCE landing zone setup, BTP connectivity, and migration guidance.

SAP CAP Documentation

Official CAP documentation covering CDS modelling, service handlers, BTP deployment, and best practices.

SAP Integration Suite Help

Full documentation for Cloud Integration, API Management, Event Mesh, Open Connectors, and Integration Advisor.

All architecture diagrams use SAP official terminology and are aligned with the SAP Architecture Center (architecture.sap.com). Roadmap items are clearly marked with their availability status. Verify current availability for your release and deployment model via SAP Help Portal and SAP Discovery Center before implementation decisions.