Comparison
Every way to connect AI agents to SAP, compared
SAP’s AI services on BTP, SAP Integration Suite, an MCP server on your OData services, an open-source RFC server, or one you build yourself. Here is what each one takes, what it can reach in SAP, and where CGR MCP Server for SAP is different.
The short answer
A product, not a project
Every other route either needs a new platform, reaches only part of SAP, or leaves your team to build and run the MCP server. CGR MCP Server for SAP is a finished product that installs inside the SAP system you already have.
- Any SAP ECC 6 or S/4HANA release, on-premise, in private cloud or with RISE
- All of SAP, not just its APIs: tables, CDS views, ALV reports, BAPIs and function modules, including ones that are not RFC-enabled
- Each person’s own SAP user and authorizations, with a whitelist per role
- No BTP, no Integration Suite, no middleware, and no MCP server to build
- One flat price per production system, unlimited users and calls
Side by side
Five ways to connect AI agents to SAP
Typical setups for each route. Scroll sideways on a small screen.
| Feature | CGR MCP Server for SAP | SAP’s AI services on BTP | SAP Integration Suite plus an MCP layer | MCP server on OData services | Open-source RFC MCP server |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAP systems | Any ECC 6 and any S/4HANA release, on-premise, private cloud or RISE | Focused on SAP cloud solutions and S/4HANA | Any SAP system it can connect to | Systems running SAP Gateway with the services you need | ECC 6 and S/4HANA, through RFC |
| Platform you add | None beyond SAP. The MCP server runs in your cloud or is hosted by CGR | BTP subscription and services, Cloud Connector for on-premise SAP | BTP, Integration Suite, and an MCP layer on top | An MCP server you host, plus Gateway setup | A server you host, plus the SAP NW RFC SDK |
| What agents can reach | Tables, views, CDS views, ALV reports, ABAP queries, BAPIs and function modules | SAP-delivered scenarios and published APIs | The APIs and integration flows you build, one per use case | Only what is exposed as an OData service. ECC has few standard ones | RFC-enabled function modules and BAPIs |
| Function modules that are not RFC-enabled | Yes | No, without custom development | No, without ABAP wrappers | No, without a new OData service | No |
| Pricing | Flat per production system, unlimited users and calls | Subscription and consumption based | Subscription and consumption based, plus build cost | Development and running cost | Free software, own effort |
| ALV reports with saved variants | Yes, as data | No, without custom development | No, without custom development | No, without custom development | No, without custom development |
| Whose authorizations apply | Each person’s own named SAP user | Depends on the scenario | Often a technical user; per-user needs principal propagation | Per user if SSO and OAuth are set up for each service | Usually one shared technical user |
| Control per role | Whitelist per role, read-only roles, explicit commit for writes | As designed per scenario | As designed per integration flow | The OData service’s own logic | What you build |
| Audit | Every call logged in SAP, tied to a named user | Across BTP services and SAP | Integration Suite monitoring and SAP | Gateway logs | What you build |
| Time to first answer | Weeks. A 4-week pilot in your own SAP | Depends on scenario and licensing | A project per use case | Fast for existing services; new ones need development | Days for a prototype; hardening is on you |
| Who builds and maintains it | CGR. A supported product | SAP and your BTP team | Your integration team or partner | Your team | Your team, on community code |
Comparison reflects typical setups as of November 2026. Offerings change often and individual projects vary; check current details with each vendor.
What makes CGR different
All of this, in one install
We know of no other product that does all six of these in one install inside your SAP system.
Runs inside SAP
A native ABAP add-on in the SAP-reserved /CGR/ namespace, installed and removed by your Basis team via SAINT. No platform to add.
Reaches all of SAP
Tables, CDS views, ALV reports, ABAP queries, BAPIs and function modules, including the ones with no API and no RFC flag.
Works on ECC 6
Any ECC 6 release, as well as any S/4HANA release, so AI agents do not have to wait for a migration.
Each user’s own SAP user
Every call runs under the person’s own SAP authorizations, inside a whitelist for their role, and is logged in SAP.
Any MCP-capable assistant
Use the AI assistant your company already licenses. CGR does not lock you to one AI vendor.
Nothing to build
No integration flows, OData services or MCP code to write and maintain. Approve objects by name and start.
Choosing
When another route makes sense
CGR is not the answer to everything. These are the cases where another route can fit better.
SAP’s AI services on BTP
You run S/4HANA Public Cloud, which CGR does not support, or you are standardised on SAP’s cloud products and want SAP’s own AI roadmap.
SAP Integration Suite
You are running a broad integration programme across many SAP and non-SAP cloud systems. CGR works alongside it; it does not replace it.
An MCP server on OData
You only need one or two S/4HANA services that already exist as OData, and you are happy to build and run the MCP server.
An open-source RFC server
You want a quick prototype on RFC-enabled function modules, with a shared technical user, outside production.
Build your own
You have developers with time to spare and a very narrow use case that will not grow.
CGR MCP Server for SAP
You want AI agents working across SAP, on ECC 6 or S/4HANA, under each user’s own SAP user, this quarter.
Do I need SAP BTP to connect AI agents to SAP?
No. CGR MCP Server for SAP connects any MCP-capable AI assistant to SAP ECC 6 or S/4HANA through a native ABAP add-on, with no BTP subscription, no Integration Suite and no middleware.
Does CGR replace SAP Integration Suite?
No. Integration Suite moves data between systems; CGR lets AI agents and applications work directly in SAP. If you already run integration flows on Integration Suite, they keep running alongside CGR.
Can’t we just put an MCP server on our OData services?
You can, but the agent can then reach only what is exposed as OData. ECC has few standard OData services, and every new one is a development project. CGR also reaches tables, ALV reports and function modules directly, with nothing to build.
What about open-source SAP MCP servers?
Most use RFC, so they reach only RFC-enabled function modules, usually under one shared technical user. CGR reaches function modules that are not RFC-enabled, runs under each person’s own SAP user, and is a supported product.
Why not build our own MCP server?
You can, but your team then owns the SAP access layer, security, audit and upgrades for as long as you use it. CGR is a finished, supported product, and a 4-week pilot shows it working in your own SAP before you commit.
Does CGR work on SAP ECC 6?
Yes. It runs on any SAP ECC 6 release and any S/4HANA release, on-premise, in private cloud or with RISE. It does not support S/4HANA Public Cloud.
How does the cost compare?
CGR MCP Server for SAP is $36,000 a year per SAP production system, including CGR SAP Connector, with unlimited users and calls. The other routes add platform subscriptions, consumption charges or development and maintenance time. See the pricing page.
See it on a real SAP system
A 30-minute live demo with a CGR Senior Engineer, or a 4-week pilot in your own SAP for $8,000, credited in full.