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ALE Integration TechnologyLocate this document in the navigation structure

Use

Application Link Enabling (ALE) integrates business processes between SAP systems and non-SAP systems as well as between SAP systems.

Data is exchanged between application systems in a controlled manner and consistency is maintained.

Example

Company-wide applications such as accounting, human resource management and sales planning may be carried out in the company's headquarters, whereas production and materials management may be carried out in decentralized plants.

The application systems of an ALE integrated system are loosely linked. The data is exchanged asynchronously, ensuring that the data arrives in the recipient system, even if this is not available when the data is sent. Synchronous connections are only used by ALE to read data.

ALE provides administration, development and testing tools.

To use the ALE tools, choose Start of the navigation path Tools Next navigation step IDoc Interface / ALE End of the navigation path.

ALE business processes are shipped with the SAP system as standard and are documented in the application documentation ( ALE Business Process Library).

For more information about the required system settings, see the Implementation Guide (IMG):

Transaction Start of the navigation path SPRO Next navigation step SAP Reference IMG Next navigation step Application Server Next navigation step IDoc Interface / ALE End of the navigation path

(or with transaction SALE).

For information about programming, see the ALE Programming Guide.

To make it easier to assign ALE functions to specific user types, the following user roles have been defined:

  • ALE Administration:

    SAP_BC_MID_ALE_ADMIN

  • ALE Development:

    SAP_BC_MID_ALE_DEVELOPER

  • Logistics - Master Data Distribution:

    SAP_BC_MID_ALE_MD_LO

  • Accounting - Master Data Distribution

    SAP_BC_MID_ALE_MD_FI

  • Human Resources - Master Data Distribution

    SAP_BC_MID_ALE_MD_HR

Implementation Considerations

Decentralized business applications ensuring data consistency are used because:

  • The increasing globalization of markets has led to the physical division of organizational units.

  • Business processes are not restricted to one organization only and more and more customers and vendors are becoming involved.

  • SAP system performance can be improved by distributing the business applications.

    For further information about ALE implementation, see:

    ALE and the SAP Procedure Model.

Features

ALE supports the configuration and operation of distributed applications. ALE controls Messaging across loosely coupled SAP systems, ensuring that data is always consistent.

Applications are integrated using a local database rather than a central one. Instead, the applications access a local database. There is no data retention. ALE guarantees the distribution and synchronization of master data, Customizing data and transaction data through asynchronous communication.

Synchronous communication is used in ALE to read data only.

ALE has many benefits:

  • Application data can be distributed between different releases of SAP systems

  • Data can continue to be exchanged after a release upgrade without requiring special maintenance

  • Customers can add their own enhancements

  • Communication interfaces enable connections to non-SAP systems.

  • More recent SAP and R/2 systems can communicate with each other.

ALE has functions for monitoring messages flows and handling communication problems.