is it possible to replace complete ESB (PI or any middleware) layer with datahub

[Former Member]

Hi,

Our client has existing middleware system(PI) which they want to replace with datahub. In existing system following master data is replicating from PI to hybris:

Product/Price/Customer data

we have seen datahub capabilities to replicate master data to hybris platform but i am not sure how can be managed transactional data flows with ERP/CRM systems in best way with datahub.

I have gone through with couple of links in wiki where it is shown that data flow is possible at both end (hybris and SAP ERP systems) but in asynchronous way.

My question is how best we can leverage datahub in such scenario ?

or one more thing , Can we leverage both in parallel , PI - for webservice calls and datahub - for master data replication in parallel , would it be good idea ?

Any guidance is much appreciated with this implementation.

-Kapil

[Former Member]

Hi Kapil,

First of all SAP PI is not a middle ware in a true sense. While it has capability to host webservice and do data transformation but it doesn't carry intelligence for process orchestration. So I would still not consider PI as a middleware solution. Coming to the point on data hub, It is meant for asynchronous data transfer not just from SAP ERP/CRM back ends but any back end for that matter. All you need to do is define relevant mapping between source and target systems.

It has 2 step transformation:

1. Raw to Canonical

2. Canonical to Target

Datahub and PI can be used in conjunction. PI can be used for synchronous back end calls while data hub can be used for asynchronous data transfer from back end to hybris.

It will be unfair to say data hub is a replacement of PI unless your client is ONLY using PI for asynchronous integration with back end.

Another thing to note about data hub - Although it is good but still lacks reporting and monitoring capabilities. We may have that in future releases. so depending on how business critical application you are developing, you may take a call to use or not to use data hub.

Hope it helps !!

Saurabh

[Former Member]

Thanks Saurabh , pretty much clear !!