Episode #295
Introduction
In episode 295 of our SAP on Azure video podcast we talk about Copilot Studio and SAP
Over the last few months we saw a big increase of customers asking how they can connect Copilot Studio with SAP. Of course we have the official Joule & Copilot integration and as you might know we are activley working with SAP on the next steps.
However, in parallel customers are looking for way to connect today. Luckily Copilot Studio comes with lots of different tools, and we are working with multiple customers and SAP and such integrations.
Obviously, one way to scale is working with partners, and a few weeks we had a really cool customer workshop together with the partner Syntax to talk about Copilot Studio and SAP. This workshop was so successful, that we are already planning the next iteration. So in order to talk about this in more detail, I am glad to have Antje Rosendahl and Sinan Ioannidis from Syntax.
Find all the links mentioned here: https://www.saponazurepodcast.de/episode295
Reach out to us for any feedback / questions:
- Goran Condric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gorancondric/
- Holger Bruchelt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holger-bruchelt/
#Microsoft #SAP #Azure #SAPonAzure #Copilot #CopilotStudio #Workshop
Summary created by AI
- Customer Demand for Copilot Studio and SAP Integration:
- Holger, Sinan, and Antje discussed the increasing customer demand for integrating Copilot Studio with SAP, highlighting ongoing work with SAP and partners to address immediate needs and future solutions.
- Official Integration Efforts: Holger explained that there is an official Joule and Copilot Integration in place, and the team is actively collaborating with SAP on next steps to enhance this integration for customers.
- Immediate Customer Needs: Holger noted that while official integrations are being developed, customers are seeking ways to connect Copilot Studio with SAP today, prompting the team to explore available tools and work with multiple customers and SAP on interim solutions.
- Partner Collaboration: Holger emphasized that scaling integration efforts involves working with partners, mentioning recent workshops with Syntax and the importance of partners who understand both SAP and Microsoft ecosystems.
- Syntax Workshop on SAP and Copilot Studio Integration:
- Holger, Sinan, and Antje recapped a successful workshop conducted with Syntax, where participants explored hands-on integration between SAP and Copilot Studio, shared experiences, and provided feedback, leading to plans for a second iteration.
- Workshop Structure and Outcomes: Antje described the workshop as a hackathon with valuable discussions, hands-on demonstrations, and collaborative problem-solving, resulting in positive feedback and actionable outcomes for participants.
- Customer Engagement and Feedback: Holger and Sinan highlighted that customers actively participated, asked questions, shared their own experiences, and expressed excitement about new integration capabilities, especially around single sign-on and OData connectors.
- Knowledge Transfer and Actionable Results: Sinan shared that the workshop enabled customers to quickly set up OData connectors with single sign-on, demonstrating the practical value of hands-on learning and knowledge sharing.
- SAP Department Participation: Holger noted the significance of engaging SAP departments at customer organizations, who were often unaware of certain integration possibilities and became enthusiastic about the ease of use and new features.
- Upcoming Hackathon and Workshop Iterations:
- Holger and Sinan announced a second iteration of the SAP and Copilot Studio integration workshop, providing details on registration, infrastructure, and enhancements, and inviting participants from both SAP and Microsoft backgrounds.
- Registration and Logistics: Holger shared that the next workshop will take place in Weinheim on July 23rd, with registration links available in the show notes and reserved seats for those who could not attend the first event.
- Infrastructure Provided: Holger explained that participants only need to bring their laptops, as the team will provide Copilot Studio instances and SAP system access, enabling hands-on exercises.
- Documentation and Accessibility: Holger mentioned that all workshop materials and exercises are published in a public repository, allowing those unable to attend in person to follow along remotely.
- Community Growth: Sinan encouraged international participation and highlighted the goal of expanding the community footprint by welcoming attendees from diverse backgrounds.
- Integration Methods and Technical Options:
- Holger and Sinan discussed various technical approaches for integrating Copilot Studio with SAP, including OData, MCP, and ERP connectors, outlining their use cases, advantages, and limitations for different customer scenarios.
- OData Integration: Holger recommended OData as a preferred method for integrating Copilot Studio with S/4HANA and other SAP systems, noting its compatibility with Power Platform and Excel, and its ease of use for customers.
- MCP (Model Context Protocol): Holger described MCP as increasingly relevant in AI integration scenarios, explaining that the workshop includes labs on creating and exposing MCP servers for consumption in Copilot Studio and other platforms.
- ERP Connector Use Cases: Holger and Sinan discussed the ERP connector’s long-standing role in integration, its suitability for legacy systems, and its limitations with newer SAP products like SuccessFactors and S/4HANA Public Cloud.
- Unified User Experience: Sinan highlighted that the available toolset enables a unified end-user experience across multiple backend systems, including scenarios with both legacy ECC and S/4HANA instances.