Author: Miki Sato is a Product Manager, Product Management Team (Data Management) at Anaplan.
To drive accurate and agile planning, it’s critical to integrate actuals from SAP ERP systems (such as S/4HANA) into Anaplan in a structure aligned with its model framework.
This article compares three integration approaches — SAP Integration Suite, SAP Datasphere, and Anaplan Data Orchestrator (ADO) — and explores the strength and limitations of each tool — and why ADO may be the most aligned for planning-focused integration scenarios..
Note: This article reflects the perspective of the Anaplan product team and highlights why ADO is uniquely suited for planning-driven scenarios.
ADO (SAP Connector): Purpose-built for Anaplan planning integration
ADO is a no-code integration tool built with deep awareness of Anaplan's model structure — modules, lists, and hierarchies. It connects to SAP (e.g., S/4HANA) using OData v4 API and is optimized to transform incoming data into formats that Anaplan can directly consume. ADO enables business users to push data into Anaplan models directly from the UI.
Instead of building flows from scratch, users simply complete guided setup screens. Each step — from data connection to mapping — is configured in a structured form, and the visual flow is automatically rendered for reference. Only the necessary fields are shown, making it easy even for non-technical users to complete integration tasks.
Figure 1: ADO architecture and integration role
Figure 2: ADO’s flow visualization and parameter input UI
Only minimum parameters are required, and the configured flow is visualized automatically.
Key capabilities
- No-code GUI experience
→ Intuitive interface, no need for custom scripts or complex configuration
- Connects to SAP via OData v4
→ No code configuration for data extraction directly from the GUI
- Supports scheduling, delta loads, and visual lineage
→ Makes monitoring and operations easier and more transparent
- Built-in data catalog
→ Enables storage of transaction and master data as reusable assets for planning and consolidation purposes.
What’s next
The following items are part of our ADO roadmap for enhancing Anaplan–SAP integration:
- No native support for on-premise sources outside SAP (e.g., file servers)
→ Cloud options like S3 or Azure Blob are recommended
- Does not support real-time events or bidirectional sync
→ Cannot be triggered automatically by external events or systems
SAP Integration Suite: System-to-System API Hub
SAP Integration Suite is a robust iPaaS offering that supports cross-system integration, including non-SAP platforms. When integrating with Anaplan, the Anaplan Receiver Adapter enables external triggering of Import/Export Actions via Anaplan’s REST and Bulk APIs.
The tool allows for flexible flow design using its GUI, supporting event-based, scheduled, and conditional execution. While not optimized for Anaplan-specific structures, it excels in generalized data orchestration.
Note: The Anaplan Receiver Adapter is available only with an active SAP Integration Suite license.
Figure 3: SAP Integration Suite capabilities overview
Source: SAP SE, “What is SAP Integration Suite? © SAP SE. Image used for comparative explanation purposes.
Figure 4: Minimum flow setup and adapter parameters
Even a simple import requires manual setup of Action IDs and flow logic — making this approach suited for technical users only.
Key capabilities
- Connects to Anaplan APIs via official Adapter
→ Support both import and Export actions through Anaplan APIs
- Supports triggers, schedules, and complex flows
→ Enables complex orchestration logic and automation
- Rich connector catalog for SAP and non-SAP systems
→ Suitable for hybrid, multi-system integration environments
Limitations
- Requires technical configuration
→ Flow setup and maintenance are best handled by integration specialists
- No awareness of Anaplan model structure
→ Mapping is not aligned with Anaplan modules or hierarchies
- No built-in visual mapping
→ Data transformations require custom logic
- Separate license required
→ Adds cost for Anaplan-only integration scenarios
- More complex setup process
→ Multi-step design can slow down initial implementation
By contrast, Anaplan Data Orchestrator (ADO) delivers the same functionality through a fully no-code UI, making it significantly more accessible to business users.
SAP Datasphere: Persistent data layer for analytics
SAP Datasphere (successor to SAP Data Warehouse Cloud) is a cloud-native data fabric platform designed to centralize and harmonize SAP and external data for analytics and AI. It provides a persistent layer for modeling and enriching data—ideal for analytics, but not for real-time operational integration.
Unlike ADO or SAP Integration Suite, which focus on orchestrating and automating data movement and workflows across systems, Datasphere is optimized for batch and near-real-time analytical scenarios.
Figure 5: SAP Datasphere feature stack
Source: SAP whitepaper “Unleash the Power of Business Data with SAP Datasphere” © SAP SE. Image excerpted for product comparison purposes.
Figure 6: Visual modeling in SAP Datasphere
Source: SAP Developers Tutorial – “Create a Graphical View” © SAP SE. Image excerpted for illustrative/reference purposes.
Key capabilities
- Stores and transforms data from SAP and external sources
→ Centralized DWH with persistent storage
- Visual or SQL-based data flow builder
→ Build reusable transformation views
- Supports OData API and file-based access
→ Readable from external BI tools or systems
Limitations
- Not directly compatible with Anaplan actions or push
- Primarily designed for BI, not operational integration
→ Write-back and bidirectional sync require custom design
Feature comparison summary
The following table summarizes key differences across the three integration approaches. It provides a side-by-side view of capabilities, limitations, and ideal usage patterns — helping you assess which option best fits your planning, integration, or analytics needs.
Feature Category | ADO SAP Connector | SAP Integration Suite + Anaplan Receiver Adapter | SAP Datasphere |
|---|
Primary Purpose | Planning-centric integration to Anaplan | System-to-system orchestration | Persistent data foundation for analytics |
UI & Operation | No code (GUI-based interface) | Low code: GUI-based flow builder + scripting | GUI + SQL-based (Graphical View or SQL Editor) |
Connector Mechanism | ADO SAP Connector (OData v4); triggers Anaplan Import Actions only | Anaplan Receiver Adapter on Cloud Integration; supports Import & Export via REST/Bulk API | ✖ No native connector to Anaplan; requires iPaaS or export-file workflow |
Supported SAP Sources | S/4HANA, ECC, BW (via OData v4); optional CSV (e.g., S3) | S/4HANA, ECC, BW, and non-SAP via adapter catalog | S/4HANA, BW/4HANA, external DBs, SaaS (via federation/replication); no Anaplan write-back |
Direction | Inbound only (to Anaplan) | Bidirectional (to/from Anaplan) | Inbound only (Anaplan not supported as target/source) |
Data Transformation | GUI-based mapping optimized for Anaplan model (modules, lists, hierarchies) | Script-based logic; not Anaplan-aware | SQL or GUI transformation for analytics; no Anaplan model alignment |
Data Lineage | Visual traceability (source-to-target) via UI | Flow-based with conditional steps | SQL or graphical lineage (limited Anaplan traceability) |
Reusability | Dataset catalog (future: search/control) | Flow-level reuse | Analytical view reuse |
Execution Control | Scheduled / Manual / Delta updates via ADO UI | Scheduled / Event-triggered / Conditional | Scheduled / External trigger; limited internal logic |
Execution Granularity | Module/List level execution with workflow control (stop, pause on error) | Step-level orchestration with retry/branching; requires manual mapping of Action IDs | View-level execution only (no conditional logic) |
Data Persistence | ✔Persistent (catalogs/logs in ADO; imported planning data in Anaplan | ✖ Transient (middleware passthrough) | ✔ Persistent (data stored in Spaces) |
Primary Users | IT integrators, data engineers | IT integrators, enterprise architects | BI teams, data engineers, analysts |
Note: This comparison is based on current product capabilities as of July 2025.
Choosing the right tool based on use case
Each solution plays a different role, and in many cases, they complement one another. Here’s a high-level guide for selecting the right option:
Use Case | Recommended Tool | Reason |
|---|
Efficient Anaplan data loading | ADO | No-code GUI; optimized for Anaplan model structure via OData |
API-based bidirectional sync | SAP Integration Suite | Rich adapters; flexible orchestration logic |
BI/analytics data foundation | SAP Datasphere (via integration Suite or export) | Strong persistence, modeling, and BI connectivity to BI tools*; indirect connection to Anaplan |
*Note: SAP Datasphere does not connect directly with Anaplan. For scenarios involving Anaplan integration, it should be used in combination with SAP Integration Suite or a separate export workflow for API and metadata management.
Real-world integration examples: S/4HANA, SAC, and Anaplan
When organizations aim to visualize Anaplan data in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), here are three common integration scenarios:
- S/4HANA → ADO → Anaplan
Designed for structured data loads into Anaplan; ideal for planning scenarios. (Write-back may be possible in the future) - S/4HANA → SAP Integration Suite (Anaplan Receiver Adapter) → Anaplan
Best for bidirectional use cases with complex logic and retry steps. - Anaplan → SAP Integration Suite → Datasphere → SAC
Recommended for analytical reporting in SAC. Datasphere allows semantic modeling and metadata enrichment
Figure 7: End-to-End Integration Across Models, Systems, Semantics, and Analytics
Notes:
- ADO enables GUI-based integration with a single connector, whereas SAP Integration Suite and Datasphere typically require adapters on both the source and target systems.
- ADO cannot connect to Integration Suite via its SAP connector, as Integration Suite does not accept OData v4 requests from external systems.
The future of ADO: Evolving for planning integration
ADO will not only continue to evolve as a planning connector but is also positioned to become a central hub for managing external data connections across the enterprise.
Stay tuned as ADO continues to grow with your business.
Learn more
Anaplan Data Orchestrator
SAP Integration Suite
SAP Datasphere
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