Simple and low-cost SAP connector for SFTP

The data used by businesses is often handled by an ERP system like SAP. The challenge is getting that data to and from external partners securely.

Partners are using a wide range of file transfer solutions that are in many cases standardized around the SFTP protocol.

Integrating SFTP file transfers directly with SAP can be complex and require specialized development.

SFTPPlus MFT can be used as a secure bridge between your partners and your SAP ERP system. This approach decouples the file transfer process from your core SAP system, making it faster and easier to manage.

Abstract banner representing SAP ERP SFTP connector functionality

A Secure, No-Code Bridge

SFTPPlus MFT sits between your SAP ERP and your external SFTP clients. It handles all the file transfer logic. For system administrators, it's a no-code solution, configured through a graphical interface or .INI text files.

Let's look at two common use cases.

📩 Receiving Files from Partners (Inbound)

Imagine you need to receive order files from a partner and process them in SAP.

  1. An external partner connects to SFTPPlus MFT using any standard SFTP client.
  2. SFTPPlus authenticates the user via its internal users or your on-premise Active Directory or single-sign on solutions like Entra ID or Google Identity.
  3. The partner uploads a file.
  4. Once the file is received, SFTPPlus MFT moves the file to a location that is accessible to SAP and sends an HTTP XML SOAP message to a SAP endpoint. 📲
  5. This message acts as a trigger, telling a SAP function to begin processing the newly arrived file.

SFTPPlus MFT handles file permissions, access control, and client authentication, all without requiring extra configuration or development on the SAP system.

📤 Sending SAP Reports to Partners (Outbound)

Now, imagine SAP generates daily sales reports that need to be sent to a partner.

  1. SAP generates the report files and saves them to a designated server folder. 📄
  2. SFTPPlus MFT monitors this folder for new files.
  3. When a new report appears, SFTPPlus MFT picks it up and delivers it to your partner SFTP server.
  4. SFTPPlus MFT will automatically reconnect on network errors
  5. Once the file was successfully delivered to your partner, SFTPPlus MFT will send an email to inform your internal team.

This setup decouples the SFTP transfer from SAP itself. No SAP SFTP connector is required, and there's no need for custom development within SAP to handle the SFTP transfer.

The SAP developers can focus on implementing the business-specific logic and handle the data as local files.

✉️ Stay Informed with Notifications

Things can go wrong, and it's important to know when they do. SFTPPlus MFT can be configured to send email notifications for events like:

  • Transfer Errors: Get an immediate alert if a file fails to send or receive.
  • Successful Delivery: Receive a confirmation when files are successfully delivered to or from SAP.

Why Choose This Approach?

😀 Simplicity. By decoupling the SFTP process from SAP, you avoid the need for specialized SAP development. Your system administrators can manage the entire file transfer workflow without writing code, making the whole system easier to maintain and adapt.

🔐 Authentication and Security

SFTPPlus MFT supports secure authentication using:

  • Embedded username authenticated using passwords or SSH keys.
  • Active Directory or Entra ID cloud Active Directory
  • Custom integration with internal account management systems

With SFTPPlus MFT you define the type or the size of the files that are allowed to be received from partners.

This makes it easy to manage access for partners, vendors, or internal systems.

💡 No-Code Setup, Low-Cost Operation

Unlike SAP's proprietary SFTP connectors, SFTPPlus MFT:

  • 🛠️ Is configured as a no-code solution, suitable for system administrators
  • 💰 Offers a cost-effective alternative to SAP-certified add-ons
  • 🧩 Integrates with SAP via standard protocols (SFTP and HTTP/SOAP)

This reduces project complexity and speeds up deployment, especially useful for small or mid-sized teams.

In summary

SFTPPlus MFT allows SAP and similar ERP systems to interface with external SFTP clients in a simple, secure, and maintainable way.

Whether you're receiving files or distributing reports, SFTPPlus MFT offers a no-code, SAP-independent solution that works out of the box.

🫴 Contact the SFTPPlus MFT Support Team - we're ready to help you design and implement a secure, efficient SAP integration tailored to your needs.