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SAP CPI Request Reply and Content Enricher Tutorial with Real-Time Example
If you are learning SAP Cloud Platform Integration (SAP CPI), understanding Request Reply and Content Enricher is extremely important for real-time integration projects.
These two concepts are widely used in enterprise-level SAP integration scenarios where systems communicate synchronously and data needs to be enhanced dynamically.
What You Will Learn in This Tutorial
- ✔ What is Request Reply in SAP CPI?
- ✔ What is Content Enricher?
- ✔ Difference between Combine and Enrich
- ✔ OData Adapter example using Northwind service
- ✔ Real-time project scenario explanation
- ✔ Step-by-step configuration guide
This guide is designed for beginners as well as working professionals who want practical understanding of SAP CPI integration concepts.
If you want structured hands-on learning with real-time projects, check our SAP CPI Training in Hyderabad program designed for working professionals and beginners.
Enroll in SAP CPI Training TodayWhat is SAP CPI?
SAP Cloud Platform Integration (SAP CPI) is SAP’s cloud-based middleware solution used to integrate different enterprise systems securely and efficiently.
It enables seamless communication between various systems such as:
- ✔ SAP to SAP systems
- ✔ SAP to Non-SAP systems
- ✔ Cloud to On-Premise systems
- ✔ Third-party applications
SAP CPI works using Integration Flows (iFlows), where developers configure adapters, mappings, routing logic, and message transformations to enable real-time and secure data exchange between systems.
Call Palette in SAP CPI
In SAP CPI, external system communication is managed using the Call palette inside an Integration Flow (iFlow).
The Call palette provides different options to interact with external systems depending on whether the communication is synchronous or asynchronous.
Inside the Call palette, we have:
- ✔ Request Reply
- ✔ Send
- ✔ Content Enricher
- ✔ Poll Enrich
Each option serves a different purpose based on integration requirements, message flow design, and whether a response from the target system is expected.
What is Request Reply in SAP CPI?
Request Reply is a synchronous communication pattern in SAP CPI used when a system sends a request and waits immediately for a response from the target system.
It is commonly used when integrating with external services such as OData services, REST APIs, SOAP services, or HTTP endpoints where a real-time response is required.
When Should You Use Request Reply?
- ✔ When immediate response is required
- ✔ When calling OData or REST APIs
- ✔ When fetching data from external systems
- ✔ When real-time validation is needed
In Request Reply, the original message payload is replaced with the response received from the external system.
This makes it ideal for scenarios where only the response data is required for further processing in the Integration Flow.
Architecture of Request Reply in SAP CPI
In SAP CPI, the Request Reply pattern follows a clear synchronous communication architecture where one system sends a request and waits for an immediate response from the target system.
The basic flow structure looks like this:
Sender → Request Reply → Adapter → Receiver System
Key Components Explained
- Sender: Initiates the integration flow.
- Request Reply: Handles synchronous communication.
- Adapter: Connects to external systems (OData, HTTP, SOAP, REST, etc.).
- Receiver System: Target system that processes the request and sends back a response.
In SAP CPI, communication with external systems is possible only through adapters. The adapter acts as the technical bridge between your integration flow and the external application.
Once the response is received, the original message body is replaced with the response payload and passed to the next step in the integration flow.
OData Adapter Configuration in SAP CPI (Step-by-Step Guide)
In SAP CPI, the OData adapter is commonly used with the Request Reply step to fetch data from external systems. Let us understand the step-by-step configuration process.
Step 1: Add Request Reply Step
Go to your Integration Flow (iFlow) and add the Request Reply step from the Call palette. Connect it to a Receiver.
Step 2: Select OData V2 Adapter
Choose OData V2 Adapter as the receiver adapter (if the target service supports OData V2 protocol).
Step 3: Configure General Tab
- Adapter Type: OData
- Transport Protocol: HTTP
- Message Protocol: OData V2
- Direction: Receiver
Step 4: Configure Connection Tab
- Address: OData Service URL
- Proxy Type: Internet (for public services)
- Authentication: None / Basic / OAuth (based on requirement)
- CSRF Protected: Enabled
- Reuse Connection: Enabled
Step 5: Configure Processing Tab
Select the operation type as Query (GET) to retrieve data from the OData service.
In the Resource Path section, select the required entity such as Products, Orders, Employees, or Customers.
You can also generate an XML schema definition to define the structure of the response payload.
Once deployed, the Request Reply step will call the OData service and replace the original payload with the response received from the external system.
What is Content Enricher in SAP CPI?
Content Enricher in SAP CPI is used to enhance or merge additional data into the existing message payload without completely replacing it.
Unlike Request Reply, which replaces the original payload with the response data, Content Enricher allows you to modify or combine the current message with data retrieved from another source.
When Should You Use Content Enricher?
- ✔ When additional data needs to be merged into the existing payload
- ✔ When two entities share a common key field
- ✔ When enriching order data with customer or employee details
- ✔ When building complex real-time integration scenarios
Content Enricher is commonly used in enterprise projects where related data from multiple entities must be combined into a single structured message.
It supports different aggregation algorithms such as Combine and Enrich, depending on how the data needs to be merged.
Difference Between Combine and Enrich in SAP CPI
In SAP CPI Content Enricher, two aggregation algorithms are available: Combine and Enrich. Understanding the difference between these two is critical for real-time integration scenarios.
1. Combine
The Combine option simply joins the original payload and the external response payload together without applying any key-based matching logic.
- ✔ No key field mapping required
- ✔ Appends data to the existing message
- ✔ Simple payload merging
2. Enrich
The Enrich algorithm is used when two entities share a common key field. It merges data based on matching values between the source payload and the external response.
- ✔ Requires key field mapping
- ✔ Merges data based on matching IDs
- ✔ Used in real-time enterprise integrations
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Combine | Enrich |
|---|---|---|
| Key Mapping Required | No | Yes |
| Logic Applied | Simple Merge | Match & Merge Based on Key |
| Real-Time Usage | Basic Scenarios | Enterprise Projects |
In real-time SAP CPI projects, the Enrich option is more commonly used because enterprise systems usually share common key fields such as CustomerID, EmployeeID, or OrderID.
Real-Time Project Scenario Using Content Enricher in SAP CPI
In real-time enterprise projects, SAP CPI is often used to combine related data from multiple entities into a single structured payload. This is where the Content Enricher plays a critical role.
Example Scenario
Assume we are retrieving Orders data from an OData service. The Orders entity contains the following fields:
- ✔ OrderID
- ✔ CustomerID
- ✔ EmployeeID
However, the business requirement is to include full Customer details and Employee details inside each Order record.
How Content Enricher Solves This
Using the Enrich aggregation algorithm, we can:
- ✔ Match Order.EmployeeID with Employee.EmployeeID
- ✔ Match Order.CustomerID with Customer.CustomerID
- ✔ Merge related details into the original Order payload
As a result, instead of sending separate entities, we deliver a single enriched message structure containing:
- ✔ Order Information
- ✔ Customer Information
- ✔ Employee Information
This approach is widely used in real-time SAP integration projects where downstream systems expect consolidated data in one structured format.
Understanding this concept is essential for anyone preparing for SAP CPI interviews or working on live integration implementations.
End-to-End Flow Summary: Request Reply + Content Enricher in SAP CPI
Let us now understand the complete integration flow combining Request Reply and Content Enricher in SAP CPI.
Step-by-Step Flow Overview
Sender → Request Reply (Orders) → Content Enricher (Employees) →
Content Enricher (Customers) → Final Output
- Step 1: Request Reply fetches Orders data from OData service.
- Step 2: Content Enricher matches EmployeeID and merges Employee details.
- Step 3: Another Content Enricher matches CustomerID and merges Customer details.
- Step 4: Final enriched payload is sent to the target system.
In this complete flow, the Request Reply step replaces the initial payload, while the Content Enricher steps enhance the payload without replacing it.
This architecture is commonly implemented in real-time enterprise SAP integration projects where multiple related entities must be consolidated into a single response message.
Key Takeaways
- ✔ Request Reply is used for synchronous communication.
- ✔ Content Enricher enhances the existing payload.
- ✔ Enrich algorithm merges data based on key mapping.
- ✔ Adapters are mandatory to connect to external systems.
Final Summary: Mastering Request Reply and Content Enricher in SAP CPI
In this tutorial, we explored how Request Reply enables synchronous communication in SAP CPI and how the Content Enricher enhances payloads using Combine and Enrich algorithms.
These concepts are essential for building real-time enterprise integration scenarios where multiple entities must be merged into a single structured response.
Understanding these topics not only strengthens your technical skills but also prepares you for SAP CPI interviews and live project implementations.
Want Hands-On SAP CPI Training with Real-Time Projects?
If you want structured, practical learning with real-time scenarios, join our SAP CPI Course in Hyderabad program designed for beginners and working professionals.