SAP Business One users now get more flexibility with the new Service Layer architecture because it exposes more objects, fields and operations & can also respond quicker to SAP Business One developments. It became simpler to release a new object.
Previously SAP Business One was dependent on Microsoft SQL for data management. But now SAP introduced HANA. Which is its own database & allowed SAP to offer customers a REST-based API called Service Layer. It enables them to connect applications and software directly to SAP Business One’s data and services.
Advantages of SAP Service Layer:
- Greater Flexibility: You have more options to host the Service Layer on either Linux or Windows, or on-premises or in the cloud. It will integrate easily into your current environment.
- Automation: Automate routine tasks like adding or changing records. Your utilities or scripts can call the API instead of someone clicking in the GUI.
- Third-Party Connections: Tie systems like eCommerce sites, reporting dashboards, or mobile apps to your SAP data directly. No more batch jobs or requirement of custom adapters.
- Real-Time Awareness: Obtain current data once it changes. All information including documentations, dashboards, and notifications display current numbers without having to wait for overnight processes.
- Cross-Platform Assistance: It functions on cloud servers and on-site servers, on Linux and Windows. You select which one meets your needs.
- REST-Based Simplicity: Using regular HTTP calls (GET, POST, PATCH) instead of complex COM or DI APIs. It’s very easy to create integrations.
- User-Defined Objects Support: It’s easy to expose your custom tables and fields. Simply prefix them with “U_” and they are immediately available in the Service Layer API.
Built-In Documentation: Documentation of the entire API exists within the API itself. You can search endpoints and view examples directly in the browser.
It is very easy to run the Service Layer in both cloud and on-premises environments whether the server is based upon Windows or Linux. The SAP Business One (SL) Integration tool is useful for those organizations who want to communicate with SAP Business One through REST APIs. Previously, the SAP Business One Integration tool communicated with SAP Business One either using the Data Interface (DI) API or using the DI server object.
The execution of operations such as data Retrieve, Data Add & Data Update processes in any module can easily be performed with Get, Post & Patch service.
Also, if any SAP Business One user wants to create any user-defined table they can easily create & access it through service layer API. Only they have to put a prefix before the table name as “U_”. They don’t need to create any separate object base for the UDT’s. The same process goes for the user-defined fields as well.
The entire documentation support is also available in the service layer URL as well.
Disadvantages of SAP Service Layer:
- Internet Dependency: All calls go over HTTP. Slow networks can lead to delays or mistakes.
- Session Timeout Issues: Sessions expire on their own after a short time. You may need to tweak settings and restart the Service Layer to keep sessions alive.
- Limited Multi-Table Queries: You cannot join tables like in SQL. Each API call returns data from one endpoint only, so you may need multiple requests.
- Custom Query Limitations: You must save any complex query in the Query Manager before you can call it. You can’t fire ad-hoc SQL via the API.
- Data Packet Limits: By default, each call returns 20 records. You can increase this, but larger payloads can slow performance.
- Limited Integration with Other Systems: Not all legacy tools or middleware know how to speak OData. You may need an extra adapter or library.
- Data Sync Challenges: Maintaining many systems in sync can be tough when each only reports its individual changes.
- Technicality and Cost: Modifying the network, session, and query parameters requires time. You may need expert help.
- Possibility for Data Loss: As a session drops mid-operation, you are needed to retry or recover partially completed requests.
- Requirement for Custom Development: There will be certain workflows which still require small custom apps or scripts to connect everything together.
- Hidden Upgrade Costs: New fields or objects may require updates to your integration logic or custom code.
As the entire process is dependent on REST API so Internet connectivity is the biggest point. In any segment, data loss can happen if Internet Bandwidth gets down.
For each process in the service layer as the API calling is dependent, hence the default proxy time out cannot be sufficient all the time. Always session timeout setting for SLD needs to be increased and restart the SLD service is necessary during configuration.
That needs to be 500 minimum if the user wants to communicate with SAP Business One using GET, PATCH, POST mechanisms.
In SAP DI server architecture using SQL, multiple tables can be joined, and user can write their own query to pull data from SAP Business One as per their requirement. By using the single database call the user can get multiple data from multiple modules in a runtime.
But in SAP Service Layer as there are separate APIs that exist for each and every module so the user can not join them in a single API pull request. The user needs to do multiple API calls to get multi-data from multi-source.
If the user wants to get data using custom queries, then the query needs to be written first & store in the Queries segment. Then via API call, it can be executed.
In a single API call, SAP SL provides by default 20 data packets. Though it can be modified, the processing time gets increases once the packet size gets modified.
How It Works
The Service Layer sits between your applications and the SAP Business One database. It speaks a simple web language, applies business rules, and safely moves data back and forth. Under the hood, it follows a clear process every time you call it.
Communication via REST and OData
The Service Layer uses web addresses (URLs) and standard rules to let you read or write data. It follows the OData protocol, which maps web calls to database actions.
- All SAP objects have their own URL
- HTTP methods (GET to read, POST to create, PATCH to update, DELETE to remove) tell it what you want
- Data is pushed and received in JSON format for easy use
Session Management
As soon as you sign in, the Service Layer begins a session so it knows who you are and what you’ve permissions to do. That session remains active until you log out or it times out.
- A session ID tracks your work and permissions
- Idle sessions automatically close after a set time
- Helps keep your data secure
Mapping to Database Objects
Before it can act, the Service Layer learns the layout of your SAP system—what tables exist and what fields they hold. It uses this information to turn your web requests into the right database queries.
- Loads metadata about all business objects at startup
- Uses that metadata to build safe, valid queries
- Prevents calls to missing or restricted fields
Data Validation and Business Rules
Every request passes through a set of checks. The Service Layer makes sure your data is according to all the rules your company requires—like required fields, correct formats, and any custom checks you’ve set up.
- Confirms required fields are present
- Checks data types match (numbers, dates, text)
- Runs any extra business rules or custom logic
Transaction Handling
To keep your data consistent, the Service Layer groups related changes into a single transaction. If any part fails, it rolls everything back so your data stays clean.
- Starts a transaction at the beginning of each request
- Applies all changes in one go
- Commits only if every check and update passes
Error Reporting and Logging
If something goes wrong, the Service Layer sends back a clear error message and logs details for later review.
- Returns standard HTTP status codes and error messages
- Logs full request and error details to a file or console
- Supports retry logic for temporary failures
Performance and Scaling
Designed for both small setups and large enterprises, the Service Layer can spread its work across multiple servers. Caching and request limits help it stay fast and reliable under load.
- Shares the load across several Service Layer instances
- Caches metadata so it doesn’t hit the database every time
- Uses paging to limit data returned in each call
By handling each of these steps—communication, sessions, mapping, validation, transactions, error handling, and scaling—the Service Layer makes sure your SAP Business One data stays accurate, secure, and easy to access.
When to Use It
- For Real-Time Access: When you need the most current data, on demand.
- On SAP HANA: Service Layer is the native API, for when you run your business on HANA
- Cloud or Hybrid Systems: Great for availability of a REST interface when part of your system lives off-site.
- Lightweight Integrations: When you want quick, simple calls instead of heavy middleware.
- Cross-Platform Needs: When you must support Linux and Windows servers without extra layers.
- High-Frequency Tasks: For jobs that run often, such as price updates or order creation.
- Specific UI or Mobile Apps: Helpful when the front end has to talk directly with the data in your SAP platform.
- Event-Driven Workflows: For situations, when there is a need to activate actions in SAP instantly after external actions.
If you want to explore custom integration of SAP ERP/Business One and other business applications with the help of smart, pre-built connectors, contact us.
Now, you can easily connect all your business applications under one single platform to automate the business process!
