What is BDC in SAP?
Batch Data Communication, BDC in SAP is a technique used to transfer large volumes of data from external sources into SAP systems. It is primarily used for batch input processing, allowing users to automate data migration tasks such as customer master uploads, material master updates, and sales order creations.
BDC is widely used in scenarios where:
- Legacy data needs to be migrated into SAP.
- Bulk records must be updated in the SAP database.
- Data entry automation is required to reduce manual errors and improve efficiency.
Why is BDC Important?
Data migration is a critical step when implementing SAP or integrating it with other business applications. BDC ensures that:
- Automation – Reduces manual data entry efforts.
- Accuracy – Minimizes errors by following predefined input sequences.
- Efficiency – Handles large volumes of data without human intervention.
- Integration – Allows SAP to interact with external systems for data import.
BDC vs. Other Data Transfer Methods
BDC is one of many SAP data transfer techniques. Below is a comparison of BDC with LSMW, BAPIs, and IDocs:
| Method | Use Case | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| BDC (Batch Data Communication) | Legacy data migration, Mass data updates | Works with standard & custom SAP transactions, Handles large volumes of data | Requires manual recording, Sensitive to UI changes |
| LSMW (Legacy System Migration Workbench) | One-time data migration, Master data updates | User-friendly, Requires no ABAP coding | Limited to predefined objects, Less flexible than BDC |
| BAPI (Business Application Programming Interface) | Integration with external systems | Direct database interaction, Faster than BDC | Requires knowledge of SAP APIs, Cannot handle UI transactions |
| IDocs (Intermediate Documents) | Real-time data exchange, EDI integrations | Standardized data exchange, Can handle structured data flow | Complex setup, Requires configuration in SAP |
Types of BDC Methods
BDC supports two main methods for data transfer in SAP:
1. Session Method (Recommended for Large Data Loads)
- Stores data in a session, which is processed later in SM35 (Batch Input Session).
- Works asynchronously (execution happens in the background).
- Errors are logged for easy debugging and reprocessing.
Pros: Safer processing, logs errors in sessions.
Cons: Slower than Call Transaction.
2. Call Transaction Method (Faster but Riskier)
- Executes transactions immediately without session creation.
- Can run in synchronous (A, E, N) modes.
- Error handling must be implemented in the program.
Pros: Faster, Direct execution.
Cons: No automatic error handling.
How BDC Works – Step-by-Step Process
- Recording the Transaction (SHDB Transaction)
- SAP provides a recording tool (
SHDB) that captures screen flows and field inputs.
- SAP provides a recording tool (
- Creating the Input Data File
- Data files (TXT, CSV, or Excel) store the field values required for the transaction.
- Writing the ABAP BDC Program
- Using either Session Method or Call Transaction Method, the recorded steps are automated.
- Executing the Program
- BDC data is processed via SM35 (Session Method) or
CALL TRANSACTION(Call Transaction Method).
- BDC data is processed via SM35 (Session Method) or
- Error Handling & Log Analysis
- Errors are debugged using session logs in SM35 or through
MESSAGE INTOstatements in ABAP.
- Errors are debugged using session logs in SM35 or through
Real-World Use Cases of BDC
- Uploading Customer Master Data (XD01, XD02)
- Mass Creation of Material Master (MM01, MM02)
- Bulk Updating Sales Orders (VA01, VA02)
- Vendor Master Data Migration (MK01, MK02)
- Employee Master Record Updates (PA30)
Each of these processes involves large volumes of data, making BDC a powerful tool for automation.
When to Use BDC?
Use BDC when: ✅ SAP provides a standard transaction code for data entry.
✅ The process involves bulk data transfer.
✅ No direct database modification is allowed.
Avoid BDC when: ❌ SAP provides BAPIs or IDocs for the same process (better alternatives).
❌ The UI screen changes frequently (BDC relies on screen sequences).
❌ Real-time processing is required (BDC is mainly for batch processing).
Conclusion
Batch Data Communication (BDC) is a powerful SAP tool for automating data migration and batch processing. It allows businesses to transfer large amounts of data efficiently and accurately while leveraging SAP’s standard transactions.
Next Tutorial: Understanding BDC Methods in Detail →
👉 In the next tutorial, we will deep dive into Session Method and Call Transaction Method, explaining their implementation and differences with ABAP examples.