| It is an SAP technology used for transferring data between SAP systems | It is an independent technology used for transferring data between two systems, EITHER between SAP systems or non SAP systems |
| Useful in INTERNAL communications | Useful in external communications |
| It is used for distributing the master data(such as Vendor Master, Material Master) within a company when a distributed environment has been maintained | It is used for exchanging transaction data(such as Delivery, PURCHASE order) among two different business partners |
| Technically, data TRANSFER is done using memory buffer | Technically, data transfer is done using a file port |
| A translator is not required here | Translator is required for converting the X12 to IDoc(Inbound) and IDoc to X12(Outbound) |
