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Status Submitted
Workspace Apptio
Categories Data Connectivity (Datalink)
Created by Guest
Created on Oct 20, 2026

RELATED IDEAS

Extend the Datalink SAP connector to support SAP S/4HANA, so Apptio customers on S/4HANA can automatically load the SAP master data their TBM cost models depend on.

Why is it useful?

The Datalink SAP connector currently supports only SAP ECC 6.0, SAP’s older platform. Many organizations have already moved to SAP S/4HANA or are in the process, since SAP is ending mainstream support for ECC in 2027. On S/4HANA, the connector’s report-based extracts (such as cost center and project line items) can run, but its table-based extracts don’t. That means customers can’t automatically load the reference data an Apptio cost model is built on:

  • Chart of accounts (GL accounts) and cost elements
  • Cost centers
  • Projects and WBS elements
  • Vendors
  • Purchase order headers
  • Fixed assets, including asset master, depreciation terms, asset values, asset cost center and location, and asset classes

Without this data, cost transactions can’t be fully mapped to accounts, cost centers, vendors, projects and assets, which is central to cost transparency. Today the only alternatives are scheduled file exports from SAP or custom-built reports. Both add manual setup, ongoing maintenance and extra dependency on SAP technical teams, and they cut into the value of a native connector.

Who would benefit?

  • TBM and ITFM teams at organizations running SAP S/4HANA, or moving there from ECC, who need reliable, automated financial data in Apptio
  • SAP technical teams, who would support a standard IBM-maintained connector instead of building and maintaining custom exports
  • Apptio implementation partners, who could deliver S/4HANA customers on a supported, repeatable approach

How should it work?

  • Officially support S/4HANA (on-premise, starting with recent releases such as 2023) in the existing Datalink SAP connector, with the same setup experience customers use today.
  • Support the core TBM reference data listed above, using the integration methods SAP provides for S/4HANA. Many S/4 customers already have these enabled for other applications.
  • Validate the report-based extracts on S/4HANA as well. KSB1, CJI3 and ME2L appear to run today but aren’t officially validated.
  • Update the documentation to list which SAP versions and data objects are supported, so customers can plan their integrations with confidence.
Idea priority High

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