In the constantly developing environment of enterprise software applications, the issue of the User Experience (UX) has emerged as a defining aspect of the application.
SAP Fiori on the other hand introduced by SAP SE is a new way of usage of SAP applications.
Steering clear of lengthy, extensive, and, sometimes, rigid client interfaces, SAP Fiori offers simple and contemporary form to the SAP applications environment.
This paper offers a detailed analysis of SAP Fiori with a special reference to how it refines the interface of several SAP applications.
SAP is an international provider of enterprise software, which topped business technology solutions for many years.
Historically, SAP applications, especially R/3, had extremely strong features and functionalities and at the same time, they had unyielding and stiff GUIs.
People developed these interfaces with the emphasis on functionality rather than usability.
This led to high learning curves, reduced usage and exercising of the systems and also led to poor organizational performance in terms of day-to-day activities.
Over time though organizations realized the need for more user oriented applications.
As a consequence users who grew up with consumer-grade applications having sleek, minimalist interfaces that did not require any training to learn started expecting something similar from their business applications.
This increased demand for a better use brought a shift in approach for SAP culminating into the development of SAP Fiori.
Suggested Reading: SAP Fiori User experience and apps.
SAP Fiori is an interface that is both design and experience framework that offers a more efficient and friendly environment for the clients’ engagements with SAP suite of applications.
SAP was introduced in 2013, constituting one of the solutions to the improvements of the user interfaces in SAP and improving usability.
Fiori is more than the spice up of the previous SAP implementations; it is a way to reconsider the way people work on SAP applications.
Role-based: SAP Fiori applications are centered on different roles that users play in an organization.
This makes it possible to draw the functionality and the data that a user needs to do work in order to exclude unnecessary things and results in productivity.
Responsive: The Fiori apps are designed to be responsive to devices such as desktops, tablets and smartphones.
Due to the concept of responsive design, the user’s experience is the same no matter the device they are using.
Simple: SAP Fiori design philosophy is simplicity This means that instead of cramming a full roll-up period’s worth of updates into an SAP Fiori app, for example, it is better to present consumers with the changes one by one.
It thus makes human resources able to complete the most important tasks, improving efficiency after eliminating the ability to do too many things at once.
Coherent: An excellent benefit that it offers to its users is the homogeneity of the interfaces to all the SAP applications.
These design conformance and interaction mode improvements enhance user familiarity and the minimum time learners take to get acquainted with new applications.
Delightful: Apart from fulfilling a purpose, SAP Fiori has to be pleasant to use, therefore having personality.
Fiori improves the usability of SAP applications in order with the help of appearance and design elements as well as modern functions such as interactivity.
The SAP Fiori Design Guidelines are the basic foundation on which the Fiori is built.
Such guidelines embrace all the design principles, patterns and practices to bring about the required level of cohesive and appealing UX across various SAP Fiori applications.
The guidelines cover various aspects of design, including:The guidelines cover various aspects of design, including:
Information Architecture: Fiori applications provide a well-structured and well thought out information architecture.
It also helps to empower the users to be able to get the required information from the application with very much ease.
Interaction Design: As a result, Fiori is centered on making an interaction as simple as possible.
Basic set of UI components: buttons, menus, input fields; gestures; and shortcuts all can be considered as well-known symbols.
Visual Design: One aspect of SAP Fiori’s look and feel is a strong, positive and very presentable UI.
It has a consistent color scheme, typeface, and icons to maintain a uniform appearance across all the applications.
Responsiveness: It is important to note here that Fiori apps are by design, responsive.
This means that when the layout is run on other devices or in other orientations the size and UI elements will change size accordingly to fit the screen.
Accessibility: SAP Fiori has the accessibility of designs in its mind.
This encompasses functions such as screen reader support, keyboard navigation and other assistive features in ensuring that all SAP application users can engage with applications appropriately.
Suggested Reading: Design guidelines for SAP Fiori.
Fiori is not only a concept of design, but also the tools and technologies that are required for developing and implementing Fiori applications.
Some of the key components of the SAP Fiori ecosystem include:Some of the key components of the SAP Fiori ecosystem include:
SAP Fiori Launchpad: The SAP Fiori Launchpad is the home screen through which the users can access any Fiori applications.
It offers a home screen based on the user type and their roles so the users can find the most frequently used apps and utilize the notifications and tasks.
The desktop environment of the Launchpad is easy to use and flexible; for instance, one can locate an app, move it around, form a group of applications or even set personal preferences.
SAPUI5: It represents SAPUI5 as the technological set for development of SAP Fiori apps.
It is a JavaScript based client side library for building user interfaces containing controls, layout management, data binding etc.
With the help of SAPUI5, one can build applications that support Fiori design and have interactive elements based on the user’s input.
SAP Web IDE: SAP Web IDE is a centralized application that is going to allow you to design, build, customize or even test SAP Fiori applications.
It consists of code editor and project template and debugger and deployment tools for shipping the project.
First, with the help of SAP Web IDE the development process is quite eased and the application’s architecture conforms to the best practices.
SAP Fiori Elements: Predefined templates for the SAP Fiori application is known as the SAP Fiori Elements as it offers developers a base that has been already designed in order to create the Fiori applications.
This brings out the required speed in the development of the applications and the need to have a uniform way of developing them.
Currently, Fiori Elements is used for List Reports, Object Pages and Analytical List Pages.
SAP Business Application Studio: SAP Business Application Studio is designed to be the next generation development portal after SAP Web IDE that offers superior tools and features for implementing SAP Fiori applications.
Being an open-source platform, it is a more flexible and cloud-based approach that allows developers to contribute more and work on the projects.
Improving the overall experience of the users while interacting with different SAP systems
SAP Fiori has changed the face of the user experience of the several SAP applications in a big way.
Fiori enables organizations at the receiving end to change how their employees operate by engaging them through enterprise software.
Below are some key ways in which SAP Fiori enhances the user experience across various SAP applications:Below are some key ways in which SAP Fiori enhances the user experience across various SAP applications:
Read more about the tools here.
Another thing which is crucial for today’s organizations and which is offered by SAP Fiori is business process simplification.
Prior SAP applications used to incorporate multiple interfaces or sub interfaces to get through a single work at a time.
With Fiori, these processes are broken down into one user-friendly interface.
For instance, it is common to input data in different T-codes of the SAP’s ERP system; with the use of a Fiori app, this operation involves applying a single app to guide the user through the process at each step.
Another advantage of SAP Fiori is that since it is based on roles, one will only be given access to information or work with functions relevant to him/her position.
It eliminates the confusion and overburden that are always linked to the conventional integrated SAP interfaces.
For instance, a procurement manager will be able to interact with apps regarding the creation of a purchase order, management of suppliers and invoicing while the controller of finance will be able to work with apps regarding issues of financial reporting, budgeting and costing among others.
As a result it is more efficient and the users of the system are more satisfied due to the focused targeting.
Forgetting business applications in the current generation, mobility is essential, meaning that applications should be portable.
This implies that the applications in SAP Fiori can easily be viewed from any device of the user’s choice such as a computer, a tablet or even a mobile phone.
This mobile accessibility enables the users to do their tasks from any location and at any given timeframe, all this without being obligated to be seated at their workplace.
For instance, a sales executive can use a Fiori app on his/her Smartphone to monitor live stock status or to approve a sale while on the move.
SAP Fiori improves cooperation as it offers users information and analytics within the applications they interact with.
Fiori apps deliver information in a consumable and fact-based format and help the user to make quick decisions.
For example, an analytics app developed in the Fiori can present the KPIs graphical dashboards allowing the managers to track the business performance and make corrections if required.
Of all the issues known when multiple enterprise applications are used, one of them is that the UIs are not easily distinguishable.
This is well understood by SAP Fiori that tries to offer a single UX across all implementations of SAP applications.
Regardless of whether a user is operating in SAP S/4HANA, SAP SuccessFactors or SAP Ariba the overall interface of the applications will be familiar to a user.
This constant makes transitions between applications easy for the users and also diminishes the learning curve in the usage of the applications.
The implementation of SAP Fiori based on user experience is helpful for enhancing the user satisfaction and rates of adoption.
This means that, the more an Application is easy to use, has attractive graphics and matches users needs and preferences, the more it will be accepted by the users.
This then results in improved productivity and better business returns hence the appropriateness of the name ‘new economy’ to describe this system.
SAP Fiori is used by organizations, where the companies claim higher user interaction and positive ROI since there is less demand for training users and better performance of operations.
SAP Fiori helps the users to further tailor the user experience by configuring Launchpad, themes, and settings according to users’ choice.
Also, you will learn that Fiori’s extensibility framework allows an organization to augment a standard Fiori app in addressing business needs.
Subordinate editors can formulate new fields within the framework, create new buttons and make changes to existing functions while not affecting the base system’s architecture.
Such flexibility makes it possible for SAP Fiori to suit every firm since the demands will vary depending on the company.
SAP Fiori presents critical functionality in the SAP S/4HANA environment.
S/4HANA is the next-generation product offering of SAP which forms part of the new generation ERP software that has been developed to fully take advantage of the HANA platform and offers enhanced intelligent features.
SAP Fiori is the preferred UI for SAP S/4 HANA and it works in a simple and role-based way for the user.
Real-Time Data Access: The System /4HANA delivers in-memory capability allowing Fiori applications to integrate with live data, thereby enhancing the decision making process.
Embedded Analytics: The Fiori apps in S/4HANA came with analytics to give users information within the working interface.
This helps in doing away with such inconveniences as having to flip between applications or worse having to use two reports in the completion of the same task.
Process Automation: SAP S/4HANA uses Fiori to automate some keyActivities and Processes thereby minimizing Involvement in them.
For instance, using Fiori apps users can directly interact with online business processes as in automating invoice or order processing among others.
Simplified User Experience: With Fiori, SAP has simplified the user interface and S/4HANA has a design which is easy to understand and incorporate in an organization hence making it easy for the organization to adopt S/4HANA.
Suggested reading: SAP S/4 Hana X Fiori.
SAP Fiori will therefore continue to be an important element in SAP user experience strategy as SAP transforms and diversifies its product portfolio.
Several trends and developments are shaping the future of SAP Fiori:Several trends and developments are shaping the future of SAP Fiori:
Intelligent UX
Currently, SAP is employing AI and ML in the Fiori applications to come up with what can be termed as intelligent UX.
These are aspects like;Predictive Analysis, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Recommendation System.
For instance, Fiori apps can now inform the users on new insights and even forecast an action based on prior data, and present information relevant to the user’s preference.
Conversational UI
Conversational UI such as chatbot and voice assist are new trends slowly changing how users interface with SAP applications.
Currently, SAP Fiori is on the path of changing and extending to incorporate the conversational UI which will enable end users to be able to engage with SAP systems using conversational interfaces.
This might be quite helpful when for example, querying data, performing commands, or perhaps even being notified.
Augmented reality and virtual reality are relatively new technologies which can be implemented together with SAP Fiori.
For example, with the help of AR, information can be placed on physical objects within Fiori apps, for instance, scanning the barcode and getting inventory data in real time.
Some of the possibilities of using the VR technology were that it can offer training simulations or virtual site visits or Fiori.
Currently, SAP continues to enhance the Fiori design system as its major focus area.
This ranges from updates made on the Fiori guidelines, new UI elements released and even creation of new Fiori apps.
Because of increasing business complexity and the development of new technologies, SAP Fiori can and will transform into an impressive user interface.
SAP Fiori is already regarded as one of the most prominent SAP tools because it has helped consumers to regain control over their interactions with the system and get rid of onCancel://heavily complex and overly bulky versions of the interface.
With principles of role based design, simplicity, value of responsiveness SAP Fiori improves productivity, user satisfaction and business efficiency.
As SAP keeps on enhancing and adopting new technologies in its systems, the future of SAP Fiori presents a brighter future of improved user experience and it should therefore form part of any company’s digital journey
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