How Esker Accounts Payable Automation connects to SAP S/4HANA (also ECC)
Pre-built Esker connectors for ECC and on-premise S/4HANA
The connector reads purchasing and master data from SAP (vendors, purchase orders, goods receipts, GL accounts, cost centers) and posts the validated invoice back as a supplier invoice. SAP-standard interfaces such as BAPIs and RFC calls are the usual mechanism for this kind of connector; confirm the exact calls and any required add-on in Esker's documentation for your release.
SAP Certified Integration for S/4HANA Cloud
For S/4HANA Cloud, Esker announced SAP certification. That covers cloud editions, so an on-premise plant should use the ECC and on-premise connectors instead.
What data moves
| From | To | Data | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier invoice (email, PDF, EDI) | Esker | Invoice image and extracted header and line data | Invoice arrives in the capture mailbox or channel |
| SAP purchasing | Esker | Open POs, goods receipts, vendor master, coding data | Scheduled sync or on-demand lookup |
| Esker | Approvers | Invoice with coding and match result | Match exception or approval rule |
| Esker | SAP accounts payable | Posted or parked supplier invoice | Invoice approved |
| SAP | Esker | Document number and payment status | Posting and payment run |
Setting it up
- 1Choose the connector for your releaseECC, on-premise S/4HANA and S/4HANA Cloud use different connectors, so confirm which applies.
- 2Create the technical SAP userSet up a dedicated user with authorizations limited to reading PO, receipt and vendor data and posting invoices.
- 3Sync master dataLoad vendors, company codes, GL accounts, cost centers and tax codes into Esker and agree how often they refresh.
- 4Define matching rulesSet two-way or three-way match tolerances for price and quantity per company or vendor class.
- 5Build approval workflowsModel approvers by amount, cost center and exception type, matching your delegation of authority.
- 6Train capture on your suppliersRun real invoices, correct extractions, and review accuracy per supplier before turning on straight-through posting.
- 7Decide park versus postStart by parking invoices for review, then move trusted flows to automatic posting.
- 8Pilot with a company codeGo live on one entity, measure exceptions and then roll out.
What usually breaks
- !Vendor master duplicates in SAP, so the capture picks the wrong vendor record.
- !Goods receipts not posted in time, which creates false three-way match exceptions.
- !Tax code and withholding mapping differing by country and plant.
- !Duplicate invoices when the same document arrives by email and by EDI.
- !Blanket POs and service entry sheets that do not match line by line.
- !Technical user with excessive authorizations, or a password that expires and stops posting.
A private AI layer across both systems
Match exception explanation
A private assistant reading Esker and SAP can say why an invoice did not match (price above tolerance, receipt missing, PO closed) and who needs to act.
Vendor data hygiene
Find likely duplicate vendors and conflicting bank details across SAP and captured invoices and propose merges for review.
Plain-language AP questions
Ask which invoices over a threshold are waiting for approval for a given plant and get the list read-only from both systems.
Accrual support
Draft a list of received-not-invoiced items for the controller to review at close.
Try it here, free
SAP Three-Way Match and Invoice Tolerance Calculator
Enter PO price, received quantity, invoice quantity and price, and tolerance to see price and quantity variances and whether the invoice would block.
When something else fits better
- SAP Ariba Invoicing or SAP's own invoice capture tools, if you want to stay with SAP products.
- OpenText Vendor Invoice Management or Serrala, which are embedded in SAP and may suit heavy ABAP shops.
- Native SAP three-way match with manual entry, enough for low invoice volumes.
Frequently asked questions
Does Esker work with ECC and on-premise S/4HANA?
Esker states it has pre-built connectors for ECC and on-premise S/4HANA, and an SAP Certified Integration with S/4HANA Cloud. Check Esker's documentation for supported releases and any prerequisites in your landscape.
Where does the invoice data live?
Esker is a cloud solution, so invoice images and extracted data are processed on Esker's side while posting happens in SAP. If your plants restrict cloud data, review that with your security team before choosing it.
Can it post without human review?
Rules can allow straight-through posting for invoices that match within tolerance. Most teams begin by parking invoices and widen automation as accuracy per supplier is proven.
Pairing documented at www.esker.com/company/press-releases/eskers-accounts-payable-and-order-managemen . Esker Accounts Payable Automation is a product of Esker; Netray is independent and not affiliated with either vendor.