How to use XML APIs from an external system for integration into portal

[Former Member]

Hello SDNers,

We are trying to show HR time related data from an external system (Kronos aka Workforce Central) in our SAP Portal.

Kronos publishes around 500 XML APIs that use SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and WSDL (Web Services Description Language) to ease integration with third party applications and ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, and others.

http://www.kronos.com/workforce-management-suite-integration.aspx

How should we go about integration of the data using these XML APIs ?

If any one has worked on a similar requirement, it would be really helpful to me if u can guide me in the right path. Any links or documents that discuss about this ?

Thank You,

Jaya

[Former Member]

Hi,

Does Kronos offer a web interface? This would be the eaiest type of integration at the most basic level you could achieve Single Sign On.

You can build a frontend to Kronos to display in the portal and I would recommend if you decide to use SOAP based webservices to consider using WebDynpro Java or ABAP rather than developing portal components.

Be careful when integrating very tightly via API's as you will tie yourself in and find it hard to make changes moving forwards. Can I ask what are you objectives to integrate Kronos into SAP Portal? That would help me help you.

Thanks,

Simon

[Former Member]

Hi Simon,

Thank you for your comments.

The requirement is to show the time related data of a given employee in SAP Portal. Since the employees are already using SAP portal for other HR related self services, we wan't to bring the time data also into the portal.

Kronos does offer a web based interface. We are considering the basic SSO approach (may be creating a URL iview) and link the Kronos web ui to SAP Portal. Like you said, this would be the simplest thing to do.

For the custom frontend scenario, we were considering to use Webdynpro for Java.

If we decide to build a frontend using Webdynpro for Java, how would we go about using the XML APIs ?

I have experience consuming Web Services (WSDL) in Webdynpro applications before. I am not sure what would be the difference between consuming web services versus using XML APIs in Webdynpro applications.

Please throw some light into this area.

Thank You,

Jaya

[Former Member]

Hi Jaya,

I have never used Kronos before but I had a quick look on their site and found this: http://www.kronos.com/AssetInfo.aspx?id=1391

The PDF describes the integration options. My suggestion is that if you want to use the XML APIs you should develop your portal screens in the Kronos J2EE environment and deliver only HTML back for display in the portal. This keeps all the Kronos fucntions in one place and means you could more easily move from one portal to another in the future if you needed to.

So basically it looks like you can use SOAP based web services and build the UI in WDJ or you could build "portal safe" html fragments that you integrate using URL iViews into the portal.

Hope this helps,

Simon