Unlocking Seamless Integration: SAP Master Data Integration (MDI) with SAP Advanced Event Mesh (AEM)

SAP Master Data Integration (MDI) and SAP Advanced Event Mesh (AEM) are combined to enable real-time event-driven integration for master data. This integration provides consistent and harmonized master data across SAP applications and services, real-time data propagation, decoupled and scalable architecture, and simplified integration for non-SAP applications. The setup requires an instance of AEM, MDI, and SAP Integration Suite, as well as connectivity setup between MDI and the involved SAP components. The steps include creating a Distribution Model in MDI, enabling the SAP backend for MDI, and establishing outbound connections to MDI via SAP transactions.

In the evolving landscape of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and modular cloud architecture, seamless integration between services is paramount. SAP Master Data Integration (MDI) and SAP Advanced Event Mesh (AEM) are two powerful tools that, when combined, enable real-time event-driven integration for master data. This integration ensures consistent and harmonized master data across SAP applications and services, facilitating real-time data propagation, decoupled and scalable architecture, and simplified integration for non-SAP applications.

Key Features and Benefits

Consistent and Harmonized Master Data
SAP MDI ensures consistent and harmonized master data across SAP applications and services, leveraging the Data Replication Framework Technology (DRF). The One Domain Model (ODM) serves as a standardized data model to unify business objects like Customer, Product, and Supplier across SAP’s cloud solutions [1].

Real-Time Data Propagation
SAP AEM provides a high-performance event broker that allows for reliable and scalable event distribution across systems. When integrated with MDI, this setup enables real-time data propagation of master data via events, ensuring that changes in master data are immediately reflected across the entire SAP landscape [1].

Decoupled and Scalable Architecture
The combination of MDI and AEM decouples systems, allowing for a more scalable and flexible architecture. This decoupling ensures that the integration of master data does not rely on a single point of failure, enhancing overall system resilience [1].

Simplified Integration for Non-SAP Applications
One of the significant advantages of integrating MDI with AEM is the simplified integration for consuming systems, not just within SAP but also in non-SAP applications. This capability extends the reach of your master data integration, making it more versatile and adaptable to diverse technological ecosystems [1].

Setup and Implementation

To set up this integration, the following prerequisites and steps are essential:

Prerequisites
- An instance of SAP Advanced Event Mesh (AEM) created and available.
- An instance of SAP Master Data Integration (MDI).
- An instance of SAP Integration Suite, Cloud Integration.
- Connectivity setup between MDI and the involved SAP components.

Setup Steps
1. Create Master Data Integration (MDI) Service
- Assign the appropriate service plan (e.g., s4hana-onpremise).
- Create an instance for Master Data Integration and generate a ServiceKey for connection setup.
- Create and activate a Distribution Model, selecting the Provide and Consumer for your scenario and the ODM object you wish to replicate.

2. Enable SAP Backend for MDI
- Establish an OAuth profile for outbound connection to SAP Master Data Integration via SAP transaction oa2c_config.
- Create a destination to MDI via SAP transaction SM59 using the OAuth profile.
- Configure the destination for connecting to SAP Master Data Integration via SAP transaction S_SAL_71000052.
- Define BGRFC destinations via SAP transaction sbgrfcconf.
- Extract AIF content via SAP transaction /AIF/CONTENT_EXTRACT.
- Publish OData V4 Service Groups via /IWFND/V4_ADMIN.

3. Enable SAP Integration Suite
- Combine two adapters of the Integration Suite.
- Use the SAP Master Data Integration Receiver Adapter to read master data from MDI, triggered via a scheduler.
- Use the SAP AEM adapter to provide master data events to SAP AEM, connecting it to a queue or topic.

4. Test the End-to-End Flow
- Create or update a master data record in the source system connected to MDI.
- Verify that the master data is available in MDI.
- Confirm that MDI publishes the dataset to the Integration Suite.
- Ensure that the AEM broker receives and processes the master data event according to the subscription setup.

Current Limitations

As of mid-2025, SAP Master Data Integration does not natively support direct publication to SAP Advanced Event Mesh (AEM). MDI currently uses the Integration Suite, Cloud Integration through BTP’s managed messaging infrastructure for event distribution [1].

Conclusion

Integrating SAP Master Data Integration with SAP Advanced Event Mesh is a powerful way to enable real-time, event-driven architectures across your SAP landscape. This combination decouples systems, ensures scalability, and improves responsiveness in your integrations. Whether syncing business partner data across applications or building modular apps that respond to master data changes, MDI + AEM provides the reliability and flexibility you need.

References
[1] SAP Community: SAP Master Data Integration (MDI) meets SAP Advanced Event Mesh (AEM) - [https://community.sap.com/t5/enterprise-resource-planning-blog-posts-by-sap/sap-master-data-integration-mdi-meets-sap-advanced-event-mesh-aem/ba-p/14166195](https://community.sap.com/t5/enterprise-resource-planning-blog-posts-by-sap/sap-master-data-integration-mdi-meets-sap-advanced-event-mesh-aem/ba-p/14166195)