What type of services does SAP Gateway support for integration?

SAP Gateway is designed to facilitate the creation and consumption of OData services, which is a standard protocol used for building and consuming RESTful APIs. OData services allow for easy communication between different systems and applications, enabling data exchange through a web-based interface. Unlike SOAP, which is a protocol for exchanging structured information in web services, OData is built on HTTP and allows for more straightforward handling of data formats, such as JSON and XML.

The use of OData services is particularly beneficial in scenarios where rapid development and ease of use are crucial, as it aligns well with modern web practices and standards. Its lightweight nature and support for various data operations further enhance its integration capabilities, making it a preferred choice in many SAP integration scenarios.

In contrast, the other options are limited in scope or do not accurately represent the primary function of SAP Gateway. SOAP services, while supported by some SAP products, are not the core focus of SAP Gateway. Web services, as a general term, encompass a wide range of integration technologies, but they do not specify the OData standard. Raw data transfers do not represent a structured approach to data integration and lack the necessary framework for handling complex operations typical in enterprise environments.