In today’s digitally connected enterprise ecosystem, seamless integration between systems is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. SAP, a global leader in enterprise solutions, offers powerful integration tools to help businesses connect applications, streamline workflows, and ensure data consistency. Two such tools are SAP PI (Process Integration) and SAP PO (Process Orchestration).
At first glance, SAP PI and PO may appear interchangeable, but they serve distinct purposes and offer different levels of functionality. As organizations plan their IT transformation journeys—especially those considering upgrades or migrations—understanding the differences between SAP PI and SAP PO becomes essential.
This blog provides a clear, side-by-side comparison of SAP PI and SAP PO, helping you understand their capabilities, architecture, and strategic value. Whether you're an SAP consultant, developer, architect, or decision-maker, this guide will equip you with the insights needed to make an informed integration strategy.
Introduction to SAP PI and SAP PO
Architectural Differences
Functional Differences
Performance and Scalability
Licensing and Upgrade Path
Use Cases
Transitioning from SAP PI to SAP PO
Future Outlook: SAP PO vs. Integration Suite
Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?
SAP PI is a middleware platform that enables the integration of different systems across heterogeneous IT landscapes. Formerly known as SAP XI (Exchange Infrastructure), PI helps in data transformation, routing, and communication between internal SAP and external non-SAP systems.
Key features of SAP PI:
SAP Process Orchestration (PO) is an advanced integration platform that combines the functionalities of:
In essence, SAP PO is a superset that includes PI along with orchestration and business rule capabilities, allowing companies to design, execute, and monitor complex business processes.
| Feature | SAP PI | SAP PO |
|---|---|---|
| Components | Only PI (integration engine) | PI + BPM + BRM |
| Type | Middleware platform | Complete integration & process orchestration suite |
| Deployment | Dual-stack (ABAP + Java) or Java-only | Java-only |
| Tools Used | Integration Builder, Enterprise Services Builder | NWDS (NetWeaver Developer Studio), Process Composer |
| Adapter Engine | Central Adapter Engine | Advanced Adapter Engine Extended (AEX) |
| Capability | SAP PI | SAP PO |
|---|---|---|
| Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Process Modeling (BPM) | No | Yes |
| Business Rules Management | No | Yes |
| Human-centric workflows | No | Yes |
| Graphical process design | Limited | Extensive |
| Exception Handling | Basic | Advanced |
| Monitoring | Basic | Enhanced with BPM/BRM insights |
SAP PO has a modern, Java-only architecture, making it more lightweight and scalable compared to the older dual-stack PI version. With AEX, message throughput is significantly improved, and resource usage is optimized.
| Factor | SAP PI | SAP PO |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Licensed per integration usage | Licensed for broader orchestration |
| Upgrade Support | Limited for older dual-stack versions | Recommended by SAP for future use |
| SAP Roadmap | Being phased out | SAP’s long-term strategy for integration |
| Scenario | SAP PI | SAP PO |
|---|---|---|
| Basic system-to-system integration | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| B2B or A2A communication | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Human workflow management | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Complex orchestration with rules | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Cloud-to-On-premise hybrid integration | Limited | Moderate (more support in SAP Integration Suite) |
For enterprises still using PI, upgrading to PO provides the following benefits:
SAP also provides tools and migration support for moving from PI to PO or further to SAP Integration Suite (cloud-first strategy).
While SAP PO is the present integration platform for many businesses, SAP is gradually moving towards SAP Integration Suite (formerly CPI) — a cloud-native iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) solution.
However, for many on-premise landscapes and hybrid needs, SAP PO remains relevant and critical.
| Feature | SAP PO | SAP Integration Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | On-premise | Cloud |
| Integration Types | A2A, B2B, BPM workflows | A2A, B2B, B2C, Event-driven |
| Future Investment | Moderate | High |
| Aspect | SAP PI | SAP PO |
|---|---|---|
| Middleware Only | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Business Process Modeling | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Rule-based Processing | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Modern Java Stack | Partial | Full |
| Future-Proof | ❌ | ✅ (with Integration Suite ahead) |
Understanding the differences between SAP PI and SAP PO is essential for building a scalable, future-ready integration strategy. While PI served as a strong foundation in its time, PO enhances integration capabilities with orchestration, workflows, and rules that align better with today’s complex business needs.
If your organization is still using PI, now is the time to assess the cost, benefits, and timelines for upgrading to PO or moving toward SAP’s cloud-first integration model.