New ways to access CRM information from portal

[Former Member]

I'm wondering if there's any way to access CRM information through portal other than transaction, business package or BSP iViews or a web dynpro development.

I'm asking because I'm currently working in project where SAP NW Portal is going to serve as an access point for customers to buy new services.  I have recommended the CRM team to implement the "buying" process using something like B2B E-Commerce or CRM Web User Interface so that I can integrate them later on on portal using BSP iViews.

I have always worked these kind of integrations this way, calling existing processes using transaction, crm business package, BSP and web iViews.  But now I'm wondering if I, as a nw portal administrator, can offer more options on these kind of integrations (any iView I haven´t heard of or possible web services, etc).

Am I limited to these kind of integrations or can I offer more without the need of web dynpro devolopment?

Thank you all for your time and help.

Best Regards,

Gerardo Arrambide

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Gerardo,

I think what you have already recommended sounds good. I have seen some customers implement custom portal iViews (connect via Java Connector and RFC/BAPI to ABAP system) in addition to what you mention with Transactions, BSPs and Web Dynpros. I would however not recommend that approach.

Of course you could also use web services (enterprise services or more lightweight ones) - but then you get no UI layer, so you would need to build that yourself and that could be a lot of effort. I know that SAP now has the Web Channel Experience that is replacing the old Internet Sales (Web Shop)... you might want to look in to this too.

Hope that helps,
Simon

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Simon,

Thanks for the fast reply and recommendation.  I'm definitely going to take a look into custom portal iViews. 

For some time I have wanted to learn on more ways to bring content into portal so I have decided to learn more about web dynpro and visual composer (my experience with both has been limited).  Currently reading "The Developer's Guide to SAP NetWeaver Composition Environment",  hope it guides to the basics.

Once again, thanks for the reply and recommendation.

Best Regards,

Gerardo Arrambide