For SAP, the in-house design concept Fiori offers a modern and intuitive user interface that replaces classic designs and significantly improves interaction with SAP systems. With UI5, the technology behind SAP Fiori, applications can be designed in a targeted and individual way.
The seamless integration and data processing of these technologies enables the real-time exchange of information, improves communication and reduces misunderstandings. The automation and standardization of processes increases efficiency and reduces the error rate.
The increased transparency and traceability of data facilitates collaboration and strengthens trust between partners. The use of these technologies can therefore provide valuable support, particularly for collaboration with external partners, and can make a significant contribution to achieving common goals more quickly.
Technical functionality
Frontend: SAP Fiori & SAP UI5
SAP Fiori is based on modern web technologies such as HTML5, CSS and JavaScript. It offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface that is geared towards the needs of the user. The Fiori apps are role-based, simple, coherent, responsive and appealing.
SAP UI5 is a JavaScript UI framework that enables the development of secure, accessible and enterprise-ready web applications. It uses controls (widgets) and an MVC (Model-View-Controller) structure for an optimized user interface.
Support for technologies such as OData and CAP (Cloud Application Programming Model) enables developers to seamlessly integrate Fiori apps into existing SAP systems.
Why SAP in the backend at all?
SAP is a global leader in enterprise software and offers a comprehensive suite of solutions that integrate and optimize various business processes. With SAP HANA, the in-memory database, companies can process and analyze large amounts of data in real time, leading to faster and more informed business decisions. The software is scalable and grows with the company's requirements, is available in multiple languages and can be used across different locations.
SAP enables the automation of repetitive tasks, leaving more time for strategically important tasks. SAP also offers robust security functions, including firewalls and intelligent rights and role concepts that protect access to data. The integration of various business processes such as finance, human resources, logistics and customer relationship management in one central system is a further advantage.
SAP also offers a variety of add-ons that are specifically designed to improve certain business processes. These add-ons enable business processes to be better mapped and processes to be optimized on this basis.
- SAP Replenishment Planning: This solution offers precise demand forecasts and optimal order quantities to avoid overstocking and stock-outs.
- SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP): This cloud-based solution offers functions for demand planning, inventory optimization and supply chain planning.
- SAP Ariba: A cloud-based supplier management and procurement solution that helps companies optimize their procurement processes and improve collaboration with suppliers.
- SAP SuccessFactors: A cloud-based solution for human capital management (HCM) that offers comprehensive talent management, HR administration and payroll functions.
- SAP S/4HANA Retail: This solution enables the flexible mapping of business across multiple channels in real time and offers simplified data modeling for embedded analytics.
Best Practices
Customization and expansion
When implementing Fiori Portal templates, it is important to understand the user requirements precisely and adapt the templates accordingly. Regular user tests and a close exchange between the parties involved help to develop a solution that meets the needs of everyone involved.
We at Körber Supply Chain have already successfully implemented the Fiori Portal Template in software projects at Alnatura and Roche. Together with Alnatura, we developed a user-friendly supplier portal that is specially tailored to fruit, vegetable and egg suppliers. At Roche, we developed a central service portal that serves as a digital entry point for order entry and monitoring for internal customers.
Challenges and solutions
A common challenge is the integration of Fiori with existing SAP systems. Special interfaces and APIs can help here. These interfaces enable secure and efficient data exchange between the systems and offer a flexible way of integrating Fiori apps into the existing infrastructure.
Conclusion
Fiori offers a powerful way to modernize and improve SAP applications. For example, a supplier portal solution could help to optimize business processes and improve collaboration between companies and their suppliers.
The portal solution can also be used to connect suppliers to the SAP systems that are too small or do not have the appropriate infrastructure to be connected directly via interfaces. With the right best practices and a clear strategy, companies can benefit from the advantages of this technology.
