The SAP Fiori Launchpad is the central entry point for SAP users to access their business applications across devices. It provides a personalized, role-based, and intuitive environment where users can launch apps, view notifications, and perform their daily tasks efficiently.
Customizing the SAP Fiori Launchpad is essential for tailoring the user experience to specific business needs, improving usability, and aligning the launchpad with organizational branding and workflows. This article explores the key aspects, methods, and best practices for implementing launchpad customization.
Launchpad customization involves modifying the standard SAP Fiori Launchpad configuration and appearance to:
- Personalize content for different user roles or groups
- Adjust tile layouts, catalogs, and groups
- Integrate custom branding such as logos and colors
- Enhance navigation and user interactions
- Add custom features like themes or additional links
Customization ensures that users have quick access to the most relevant apps and a consistent, engaging user interface.
¶ 1. Tile and Target Mapping Customization
Tiles are the visual entry points to applications on the launchpad. Target mappings define the actual app or URL the tile launches.
- Configuring Tiles: Administrators can create, modify, or hide tiles using the SAP Fiori Launchpad Designer or SAP Fiori Admin tools.
- Dynamic Tiles: Tiles that display real-time data, such as KPI values or notifications, can be configured to provide actionable insights.
- Target Mapping: Defines the navigation target, such as a SAPUI5 app, Web Dynpro, or external URL.
¶ 2. Catalog and Group Management
- Catalogs: Collections of tiles and target mappings assigned to user roles.
- Groups: Logical groupings of tiles on the launchpad home page for end-users.
Administrators customize catalogs and groups to control which apps users see and how they are organized.
¶ 3. Theme and Branding Customization
Using the SAP Fiori Theme Designer, organizations can customize the launchpad’s look and feel:
- Change colors, fonts, and logos to reflect corporate branding
- Adjust UI elements to improve accessibility and user comfort
- Create and deploy custom themes across SAP Fiori launchpad and apps
¶ 4. Personalization and User Preferences
- End-users can personalize their launchpad by adding/removing tiles, rearranging groups, or setting preferences.
- Administrators can enable or restrict personalization capabilities based on business requirements.
Advanced customizations include:
- Adding custom links or widgets via plugins
- Integrating third-party applications or portals
- Customizing the shell bar, notifications, or user menu
¶ Step 1: Analyze User Roles and Requirements
Understand the roles, responsibilities, and app usage patterns of your user base to design relevant catalogs, groups, and tiles.
Use the SAP Fiori Launchpad Designer:
- Create new tiles or edit existing ones
- Set up target mappings to link tiles with applications
- Define dynamic tile properties if needed
¶ Step 3: Manage Catalogs and Groups
- Assign tiles to catalogs
- Organize catalogs into groups relevant to users’ tasks
- Assign catalogs to roles in the SAP backend (PFCG roles)
¶ Step 4: Customize Themes and Branding
- Use SAP Fiori Theme Designer to create or modify themes
- Test themes for usability and compliance
- Deploy custom themes via the SAP Fiori Launchpad configuration
Configure personalization options for users to tailor their launchpad experience within allowed boundaries.
¶ Step 6: Test and Deploy
- Validate configurations with pilot users
- Collect feedback and iterate on launchpad setup
- Roll out customizations across the landscape
- Keep it Simple: Avoid cluttered launchpads; prioritize frequently used apps.
- Role-Based Design: Tailor catalogs and groups specifically for user roles.
- Consistent Branding: Maintain visual consistency with corporate identity.
- Performance Considerations: Limit the number of tiles to optimize load times.
- Documentation and Change Management: Document customizations and maintain version control.
- User Training: Educate users on personalization capabilities to enhance adoption.
- SAP Fiori Launchpad Designer: Web-based tool for tile, catalog, and group management.
- SAP Fiori Theme Designer: For visual customization and branding.
- SAP GUI / PFCG: For role and authorization management.
- SAP Business Application Studio: For advanced extension and plugin development.
Implementing launchpad customization in SAP Fiori is a strategic task that significantly impacts user productivity and satisfaction. By carefully designing tile layouts, catalogs, themes, and personalization options, organizations can deliver a tailored, efficient, and branded user experience.
Leveraging SAP’s standard tools and adhering to best practices ensures that launchpad customizations are maintainable, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.