¶ Building and Customizing SAP Fiori Apps for SAP Business Client
SAP Fiori has revolutionized the user experience across SAP applications by delivering a role-based, responsive, and intuitive interface. While SAP Fiori apps are often associated with web and mobile platforms, they can also be seamlessly integrated with SAP Business Client—a desktop environment that unifies various SAP UI technologies like Web Dynpro, SAP GUI, and Fiori under one roof.
This article explores how to build and customize SAP Fiori apps specifically for deployment in SAP Business Client, allowing organizations to modernize their SAP GUI landscape while maintaining enterprise-grade performance and user convenience.
¶ Understanding SAP Business Client and Its Role
SAP Business Client (SAP BC) is a desktop-based interface that acts as a unified entry point to different SAP systems and technologies. It supports:
- Integration of SAP Fiori launchpad content
- Access to SAP GUI transactions and Web Dynpro applications
- Role-based navigation via SAP Enterprise Portal or Fiori Launchpad
- Unified branding and user interface customization
By leveraging SAP Business Client, businesses can present SAP Fiori apps alongside classic UIs in a cohesive user environment.
Fiori apps are designed using SAPUI5 or Fiori elements in SAP Business Application Studio or SAP Web IDE. To ensure compatibility with SAP Business Client:
- Follow Fiori design guidelines: Ensure apps are role-based, simple, and responsive.
- Use standard navigation targets: Define semantic objects and actions in the SAP Launchpad Designer.
- Test responsiveness: SAP Business Client uses an embedded browser control, so apps must be responsive to different window sizes.
Once your app is ready:
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Deploy to the SAP Gateway system (front-end server).
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Register the app in the SAP Fiori Launchpad Designer:
- Assign semantic object and action.
- Map to a target mapping and tile.
- Group it under a catalog and user role.
This makes the Fiori app accessible via Fiori Launchpad, which SAP Business Client can consume.
SAP Business Client can access Fiori apps in two ways:
- In SAP Business Client, define a system connection to the Fiori Launchpad (SAP Gateway).
- Users can access Fiori apps via the Fiori Launchpad shell inside the client.
- You can add custom entries to the SAP Business Client navigation tree (FLP connection or local definition).
- Use URLs pointing to specific Fiori apps with their semantic object/action.
Example URL:
/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/sap/<APP_NAME>/index.html?sap-ui-app-id-hint=<semantic-object>
¶ Branding & Theming
- SAP Business Client inherits Fiori themes (e.g., Belize, Quartz) when loading apps.
- You can customize the appearance using SAP Theme Designer.
- Use the SAP GUI configuration files (e.g.,
sapshortcut, connections) to control startup behavior.
- Define user-specific roles and launch options via transaction LPD_CUST or SAP GUI shortcuts.
- Leverage preloading and cache strategies in the Fiori app configuration.
- Keep SAP Business Client updated to ensure compatibility with modern UI5 libraries.
¶ Step 5: Testing and Deployment
- Test apps both in standalone browser and within SAP Business Client.
- Validate performance, responsiveness, and integration points (e.g., OData calls).
- Use transaction SICF to activate services and monitor app traffic.
- Optimize for desktop: Even though Fiori is responsive, make sure your layouts work well for desktop users.
- Centralize updates: Deploy changes via SAP Gateway and avoid manual client-side changes.
- Use role-based design: SAP BC supports role-based access, so align your apps with user roles and business scenarios.
- Keep SAP BC updated: Always use the latest SAP Business Client version for better performance and compatibility with UI5 updates.
By building and customizing SAP Fiori apps for SAP Business Client, businesses can offer a modern, streamlined desktop experience that combines the best of new and legacy SAP UI technologies. With SAP Business Client acting as a unified shell, users benefit from a consistent look and feel, while IT teams can streamline deployment and management through centralized launchpad configurations.
Integrating Fiori into SAP Business Client is a strategic move toward digital transformation, delivering rich user experiences without abandoning critical legacy systems.