ABAP Cloud: a new mindset for cloud-first SAP

ABAP Cloud brings together the programming language and tools that ABAP developers know – and love – with modern cloud technologies. Instead of building tightly coupled, monolithic code, deeply integrated into the SAP core, developers will be creating lightweight apps that are easy to maintain and update. Ready to dive in? Watch the Dev2Dev webinar!

Ready to start using ABAP Cloud?

Get in touch to explore how ABAP Cloud can help your teams build smarter, cleaner, and future-proof SAP applications – without reinventing the wheel.

3 essentials to make ABAP work in the cloud

Use RAP – ABAP’s cloud-ready development model

At the heart of SAP ABAP Cloud lies RAP: the RESTful Application Programming Model. RAP is designed for the cloud: it uses a simplified subset of the ABAP language and leverages Core Data Services (CDS) to help users define rich, reusable data models that span multiple layers of the application architecture.

The RAP components can be build, maintained and tested using ABAP Development Tools (ADT). You could, for example, rely on RAP to build a purchase request app that runs on both SAP public cloud and on-premise systems, all from the same codebase, thanks to RAP’s clean APIs.

Stick to released APIs

When developing with RAP, it’s advised to use released APIs: interfaces officially published and supported by SAP. These APIs are a stable and future-proof choice because they’re:

Secure: thoroughly tested by SAP for security and reliability.
Up-to-date: regularly updated by SAP with backward compatibility, so your custom developments won’t break during upgrades.
Fully supported by SAP: since released APIs are part of SAP’s supported scope, you can rely on SAP for help and documentation.

Keep the core clean with ABAP Cloud

In the past, classic ABAP applications were tightly integrated into the SAP core, built directly inside the ERP system, with deep customizations and adaptations. That made upgrades and changes complex and risky.

Today, SAP promotes keeping the core clean across its entire platform. The principle is simple: never change the core. Instead, develop extensions, as these are easy to update or change without impacting the SAP system.

ABAP Cloud is your gateway to building cloud-ready, future-proof custom applications in SAP S/4HANA, fully aligned with SAP’s clean core strategy and cloud innovation path. It offers the full power of cloud infrastructure, plus several other key advantages:

Faster development and simplified maintenance: leverage modern tools and frameworks that reduce complexity.
Cost-efficient upgrades: benefit from automatic updates and security patches to minimize rework and downtime.
Future-readiness: ensure that your apps stay compatible with each new SAP release.
Versatility: build apps that run both on S/4HANA private cloud, public cloud and on-premise.

Get started with what you already have

In short: there is no need to start from scratch. With ABAP Cloud, you can build on your existing custom applications, in-house expertise, and proven business processes to create robust, adaptable solutions that run smoothly on SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP BTP, or even on-premise systems.