877-770-7226
SAP Software Knowledge Base – Can BarTender Integrate with SAP Software?
YES. BarTender Software can be integrated with SAP ECC® and SAP S/4HANA®
There are various ways that BarTender software can be integrated with SAP software. Contact BCC Distribution to learn more about our best-practice standards for barcode label printing integration with SAP ERP.
Barcode Label Printing with SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure (SAP AII)
On the SAP side, an XML based SAP-AII document is created that contains the variable information to print and information such as the label format, printer, number of copies, etc. The XML document is then sent to the BarTender Integration Platform (as a file to a Windows/SAP folder, as a data stream through a TCP/IP port, through an HTTP request, etc.) where it’s transformed into BarTender XML (BTXML). The Integration Platform sends the BTXML directly to BarTender which processes the print request.
In addition to mobile barcode label printing automation, SAP-AII is also well suited for RFID printing/encoding applications. It provides standard content that enables you to automate and RFID-enable basic logistics processes.
In order to automate barcode label printing using SAP AII, the editions of BarTender required are: BarTender Automation (minimum, limitations exist), or BarTender Enterprise (full suite and full printing capability)
SAP IDocs for Barcode Printing
BarTender supports utilization of an SAP IDoc (Intermediate Documents), importing the SAP data types. With this method of integration, the BarTender Integration platform detects the IDoc file (containing variable information and variable parameters) being produced by the SAP software. Upon detection, the Integration platform prints the BarTender document containing the variable information coming from the SAP software.
In order to automate barcode label printing using an SAP IDoc, the editions of BarTender required are: BarTender Automation (minimum, limitations exist), or BarTender Enterprise (full suite and full printing capability).
CSV Files
User may also level an SAP database to output plain CSV type data, then the BarTender Integration platform can be used. This automated method for barcode label printing allows details such as print quantity, printer name, number of copies, etc., and to be specified either as part of the data, or as Print Commands placed at the beginning of the data.
In order to automate barcode label printing using an SAP IDoc, the editions of BarTender required are: BarTender Automation (minimum, limitations exist), or BarTender Enterprise (full suite and full printing capability).
BarTender Integration Platform
BarTender’s Integration platform is an application run as a Windows service, which is installed as part of the BarTender suite of applications. The Integration platform is an application designed to connect two systems. In this case, SAP software and BarTender label design and printing software. The Integration platform waits for a trigger event to happen (either by scanning a certain folder, by waiting for an email to be received, by waiting for a web service request, or by listening to a TCP/IP socket). This event is the data file/email/information coming from the SAP software. As soon as this event happens, the Integration platform reads the event and its variable parameters/information and activates BarTender. BarTender then prints the barcode labels, documents, or forms with the variable information supplied by the SAP software.
BCC Distribution has developed QuickPrint to be a turn-key, SAP-integrated software solution that utilizes the power and simplicity of BarTender to optimize the process of printing barcode labels, documents and forms from SAP S/4HANA® or SAP ECC® software.
While SAP software includes the ability to utilize SAP Smart Forms and SAPScript for printing, the above best-practice solution has been designed and optimized for barcode labels, documents, forms, RFID tags, direct part marking, and more forms of printing to address common printing scenarios:
- Speed and ease to modify or add a new customer label format to your printing process. This includes use of 1D and/or 2D barcodes, graphics handling, multiple languages, conditional printing, revision control, etc.
- Flexibility to print to nearly any make and model printer with a Windows printer driver. E.g., easily switch between a 203dpi Zebra printer and a Honeywell 300dpi printer, without needing printer code emulation.
- Costs of printing system maintenance, technical programming experience to make any changes to the SAP software printing process, and time needed to develop, test, and implement small customer printing changes.
Learn more about BCCD’s QuickPrint Solution
Learn more about BarTender’s Integration Builder
Download a free 30-day trial of BarTender Label Design & Printing Software
Functionality described is for SAP ECC 6.0® and SAP S/4HANA® end users and leveraging BarTender software for printing, with mobile connectivity such as SAP Console, SAP ITSmobile, or SAP Fiori / UI5 platform, combined with 802.11 wireless (WLAN), and certified mobile devices such as Zebra and Honeywell RF devices and barcode printing technologies. Software and equipment requirements vary from end-user to end-user, and are based on blueprinting, application requirements, and best-practice recommendations. Best practice standards are vital to create optimizing barcode label printing for the various printing technologies available, as well as to meet corporate requirements for enterprise label printing standardization. BCC Distribution has designed IM, WM, and/or EWM SAP software printing transaction for use with SAP GUI, as well as mobile handheld RF barcode scanners, rugged tablets, wearable devices, vehicle-mounted terminals, and more. These apps are designed using a minimal amount of words, automating data entry fields, and are optimized specifically to make the mobile SAP RF scanning and barcode printing system extremely easy to use for the operator. BCCD’s QuickPrint solution is developed for real-time, directly-integrated printing architecture, using the above SAP-certified software development platforms and connectivity tools.
Contact BCC Distribution to illustrate and review how barcode label printing automation can optimize SAP ECC 6.0® and SAP S/4HANA® Inventory Management, Warehouse Management, and Extended Warehouse Management specific to your inventory control and tracking process for manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution operations.