CMMS

How osapiens’ SAP CMMS integration enables easy mobile maintenance

15 October 2025 | Read time 12 min.

Many maintenance teams still waste hours each day printing SAP work orders, scribbling notes in the field, and manually re-entering data. These paper-based workflows create delays, errors, and frustration that reduce productivity. In this article, we’ll show how osapiens CMMS integrates seamlessly with SAP CMMS to eliminate paperwork and enable mobile maintenance – giving technicians everything they need at their fingertips.

Key Facts

  • Eliminate paper-based SAP workflows: The osapiens CMMS replaces printing, manual notes, and re-entry with a mobile-first solution that syncs bidirectionally with SAP PM, MM, QM, and FI/CO through SAP integration. Technicians complete work orders digitally in the field, eliminating redundant data entry and reducing errors.
  • Mobile-first design for real operational efficiency: Unlike native SAP solutions built for desktop use, osapiens offers full offline capability, intuitive interfaces requiring minimal training, and rapid deployment without BTP complexity. This delivers high user adoption and immediate productivity gains.
  • Complete asset visibility and automated inventory management: Scan a QR code to instantly access asset management history, open work orders, and preventive maintenance schedules. Spare parts consumption updates automatically in SAP MM, significantly improving inventory accuracy and reducing shrinkage.
  • Transform your SAP maintenance today: See how osapiens CMMS integrates seamlessly with your existing SAP system – eliminating paperwork, boosting technician productivity, and improving asset performance without disrupting your infrastructure.

Mobile maintenance solutions for SAP: Key requirements 

When it comes to mobile maintenance solutions for SAP, companies typically have several options to consider.

SAP CMMS dashboard on smartphone with industrial worker wearing protective clothing and headset

Overview of SAP’s maintenance solutions: 

  • SAP Asset Manager is SAP’s native mobile solution for asset and work order management. Built on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and integrated with SAP S/4HANA or ECC, it covers extensive functionality but requires significant implementation resources.
  • SAP Maintenance Assistant is a mobile application that helps technicians perform guided maintenance tasks. It does not include mobile planning features and offers limited customization options. The setup as well as maintenance can be relatively complex. It also requires an additional license besides the SAP system license and integrates exclusively with SAP environments.
  • SAP Fiori apps run in the web browser and provide quick access to essential functions, but they are not optimized for mobile use and offer no offline capabilities. They lack a central technician dashboard, planning board, or support for advanced features like parts tracking, checklists, smart forms, or full mobile asset views.

Stand-alone CMMS solutions with certified SAP Connector: 

Stand-alone solutions like osapiens CMMS are built specifically for technicians working in the field and integrate into SAP solutions via a certified connector. They offer a complete toolset for the operator’s day-to-day tasks from creating and managing work orders to handle spare parts, checklists, smart forms, and asset history. They are usually optimized to work fully offline, integrate directly with SAP PM and MM, and are designed for fast deployment with customizable workflows tailored to real-life maintenance needs.

SAP CMMS Arbeitsauftrag-Interface mit Kartenansicht und Ressourcenverwaltung für Wartungsplanung

What sets third-party solutions apart is their ability to meet the technician’s requirements for maintenance: 

  1. Mobile-first approach – Designed specifically for field work, not just adapted from desktop interfaces 
  2. High usability – Intuitive interfaces that require minimal training 
  3. Full offline capabilities – Complete functionality when working in areas without connectivity 
  4. Customizable workflows – Adaptable to specific maintenance processes 
  5. Rapid implementation – Quick deployment without extensive configuration

SAP CMMS Ersatzteilmanagement Interface zeigt Nachbestellungsprozess für pneumatischen Industriezylinder

While SAP’s mobile solutions offer strong backend integration, some maintenance teams still struggle with slow adoption, complex UIs, and rigid processes. Here is a summary of when you might opt for a third-party solution like ospaiens CMMS vs a native SAP solution: 

Situation  Recommended 
Need quick deployment, simple UI, mobile focus  osapiens CMMS 
You have an SAP BTP strategy & budget for an extended project   SAP Asset Manager 
You want to minimize cost, avoid BTP, and implement quickly.  osapiens CMMS 
You want field-friendly UI and focus on usability  osapiens CMMS 

 

5 SAP Challenges That Impact Operational Efficiency – And How osapiens Solves Them

Many technicians find that standard SAP Plant Maintenance (PM) or SAP enterprise asset management interfaces aren’t optimized for field use. This creates obstacles to efficient maintenance management workflows.

1. Technicians still rely on paper-based processes

Despite the rise of digital solutions, many companies still print work orders. Technicians carry them around, jot notes on the margins, and someone has to re-enter everything later. It’s inefficient and introduces avoidable errors. Some teams estimate they lose 30–60 minutes per shift just handling paperwork.

osapiens solution: The mobile app replaces the entire paper flow. Technicians receive work orders on their devices, complete tasks digitally, and sync everything back to SAP automatically – faster, cleaner, and without duplicate effort.

2. SAP tools aren’t necessarily made for mobile or field use

SAP offers extensive functionality, but its user interfaces are primarily built for desktop use. In real-world conditions – outdoors, with gloves, or under time pressure – this complexity becomes a serious barrier to operational efficiency.

osapiens solution: osapiens CMMS simplifies these tasks by presenting only relevant information and actions in a clean, mobile-optimized interface. Technicians complete their work quickly without navigating complex menu structures.

3. Technicians can’t easily access asset data or history

SAP contains valuable information, but finding relevant data in the field is often difficult. Technicians need to jump through multiple transactions to see past failures or open tasks.

osapiens solution: Technicians get full asset context on the spot. Scan a QR code and instantly see open work orders, past jobs, photos, and inspection history. Everything is linked, fast, and available directly on the mobile device – improving asset performance visibility.

4. Spare parts and material consumption are hard to track

Most technicians don’t update SAP MM in real-time because they lack access or it takes too long. As a result, inventory data is often outdated, making reordering harder and maintenance costs less transparent.

osapiens solution: Parts can be scanned, selected, or added with a tap – right inside the work order. Consumption updates automatically in SAP, so planners always know what’s been used. This improves inventory management accuracy by over 90% in some cases and optimizes resource allocation.

5. Custom workflows are hard to implement in SAP mobile apps

SAP Asset Manager and Maintenance Assistant follow fixed logic. Custom approval steps, triggering checklists only for specific jobs, or enforcing photo capture before closing work orders usually requires BTP, consultants, and custom code.

Technician uses SAP CMMS software on tablet for professional heating system maintenance and inspection

osapiens solution: Companies can create their own checklists, enforce steps, and define workflows – all without changing their SAP backend. It adapts to how teams actually work, supporting flexible preventive maintenance strategies and compliance requirements.

Integrating key maintenance processes with osapiens and SAP: the technical deep dive 

osapiens has deep experience with SAP integration and an SAP-certified connector that makes integration straightforward. It’s a core expertise of ours: 90% of osapiens enterprise implementations involve SAP integration.

“The biggest challenge companies face isn’t the technical integration itself – it’s making SAP data truly accessible and actionable for field technicians. Our SAP-certified connector doesn’t just move data between systems; it transforms complex SAP transactions into simple, mobile-optimized workflows that technicians can use offline, in real-time, without any SAP training.”

– Remi Morisot, SAP Integration Expert at osapiens

 

 

The integration between a Maintenance SaaS and SAP CMMS (SAP PM/EAM) takes place via standardized interfaces (SAP BAPI, OData, REST API, IDocs) and uses SAP technical objects and master data for each workflow.

Here’s how osapiens integrates with key SAP modules

The integration between osapiens CMMS and SAP takes place via standardized interfaces (SAP BAPI, OData, REST API, IDocs) and uses SAP technical objects and master data for each workflow.

SAP PM/EAM (Plant Maintenance)

SAP PM/EAM is the core module for managing maintenance activities, equipment records, and work orders. The integration uses the following SAP objects:

  • Work order: AFKO (order header), AFPO (order items), AFRU (confirmations)
  • Functional location: IFLOT (functional location master)
  • Equipment: EQUI (equipment), EQST (status)

osapiens Integration: Maintenance orders are created in SAP PM with two-way synchronization. Order status updates flow between systems in real-time. The osapiens connector handles integration automatically.

SAP MM (Materials Management)

SAP MM manages materials, inventory, and purchasing processes. The integration includes:

  • Material master data: MARA (material master), MARC (storage location data)
  • Warehouse stock: MBEW (inventory valuation), MARD (warehouse stock per storage location)
  • Posting documents: MKPF (document header), MSEG (document items)

osapiens Integration: Spare parts inventories are synchronized with osapiens. Automatic inventory reservation (MB21) for planned maintenance. Real-time inventory updates via goods issues (MB1A, MIGO).

SAP QM (Quality Management)

SAP QM handles inspection processes and quality documentation. Relevant objects include:

  • Technician worklogs: AFRU (feedback)
  • Measured values & test reports: IKPF (measuring point header), IMRG (measured value)
  • Checklists & forms: QALS (quality inspection header), QAVE (inspection results)

osapiens Integration: Mobile inspections with offline capability. Automatic synchronization when connectivity returns. Structured data capture for predictive maintenance.

SAP FI/CO (Finance & Controlling)

SAP FI/CO manages financial transactions and cost tracking. The integration covers:

  • Cost centers and internal orders: COSP (primary costs), COBK (cost accounting document header), COEP (line items)
  • Time recording: CATS (Cross Application Time Sheet)

osapiens Integration: Automatic posting of work hours and material consumption. Cost center allocation for budget control. Financial transparency for maintenance activities.

SAP Analytics

SAP Analytics provides reporting and analysis capabilities. Integration includes:

  • Maintenance history: PMCO (cost overview), PMQI (quality management)
  • Failure statistics: PMIS (maintenance information system), S061 (maintenance evaluations)
  • IoT sensor data (optional): SAP IoT Services / SAP PCo

osapiens Integration: AI-powered predictive analytics. Integration with SAP Predictive Maintenance & Service (PdMS). Failure prevention insights.

Case study: mobile maintenance at Nordex with osapiens

Nordex, one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, transformed their maintenance operations using osapiens HUB for Maintenance integrated with their existing SAP systems.

By integrating osapiens smoothly with their existing SAP systems, Nordex eliminated manual data entry errors, improved transparency across systems, and significantly improved efficiency across their maintenance operations. 

osapiens HUB for Maintenance mobile maintenance integrated completely with: 

  • SAP MM for spare parts and inventory 
  • SAP HR for technician data and qualifications 
  • SAP DMS for documentation 

The SAP-integrated mobile application allows Nordex technicians to receive instant notifications when issues arise, access detailed checklists and material requirements, and generate automated reports – all while working on wind turbines. This real-time mobile access has dramatically reduced response times and turbine downtime. 

Wind turbines at sunset

As Alberto Erce, Group Lead of Service Digitalization at Nordex explains: “We were looking for a stable platform that would simplify and optimize our workflows.” Bringing all maintenance data together in one platform like this allowed Nordex to respond quickly to maintenance challenges and standardize processes – from planning to execution – across various regions. 

You can read more about how osapiens transformed Nordex’s maintenance efficiency here.  

osapiens mobile maintenance and SAP: the key takeaways 

In short, integrating osapiens CMMS with SAP makes maintenance processes much more efficient – without sacrificing any big investments made in SAP and its backend capabilities. It eliminates paper-based inefficiencies, provides reliable offline functionality for field technicians, and ensures data flows smoothly between systems.  

SAP CMMS integration with osapiens HUB showcases four core functions for digital maintenance management

With osapiens and SAP working smoothly together, maintenance teams get optimal workflows with minimal errors, full transparency, and better decision-making. The choice is clear: struggle with disconnected systems and manual processes or embrace a mobile-first solution that makes maintenance work so much more productive. 

 

FAQ

What is a computerized maintenance management system for SAP?

A computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) for SAP is software that manages maintenance activities for physical assets while integrating directly with SAP PM, MM, and other modules. Solutions like osapiens provide mobile access, streamlined workflows, and real-time data synchronization with SAP. By digitizing asset operations, organizations achieve significant cost savings through reduced downtime.

What are the key differences between SAP PM and standalone CMMS software?

SAP PM is part of the SAP enterprise asset management suite, designed for desktop use with complex interfaces. Standalone CMMS software like osapiens is built mobile-first with intuitive interfaces, full offline capability, and rapid deployment. Both systems work together: SAP handles backend processes and data driven decision-making, while CMMS provides field-optimized experience for asset maintenance tasks.

How does a SAP CMMS integration improve asset uptime and reliability?

A SAP CMMS integration improves asset uptime and asset reliability by providing instant access to complete asset registry information and maintenance history. Technicians scan QR codes for a holistic view of each asset, enabling informed decision-making and faster response to unplanned maintenance tasks. Real-time synchronization ensures all activities are documented immediately, improving asset performance across physical assets.

Can osapiens CMMS replace SAP PM for maintenance management?

No, osapiens CMMS complements SAP PM rather than replacing it. SAP PM remains the system of record for maintenance data and backend processes, while osapiens acts as the mobile-first frontend for field technicians. This combination delivers SAP’s robust enterprise asset management capabilities plus osapiens’ intuitive mobile interface, streamlining asset operations and optimizing business operations for measurable cost savings.

Why should we not simply develop our own API integration with SAP?

Custom API integrations are expensive, fragile, and frequently break during SAP updates. They require additional middleware infrastructure, which increases both complexity and ongoing maintenance costs. The osapiens SAP-certified connector runs directly in the SAP ABAP stack (NetWeaver and S/4HANA) without middleware, providing stable, reliable integration that remains functional through SAP updates. This eliminates the technical debt and resource burden of maintaining custom integration code.

What are the benefits of SAP certification for a CMMS integration?

SAP certification ensures the integration follows SAP’s technical best practices and architectural standards. Only SAP-certified solutions undergo rigorous testing and validation to guarantee reliable functionality even after SAP system updates. The osapiens connector is deployed by over 500 companies worldwide, demonstrating proven stability and performance. This certification means seamless compatibility with SAP PM, MM, QM, and FI/CO modules – reducing implementation risk and ensuring long-term reliability without costly middleware or custom development.