SAP Fiori has revolutionized the user experience for SAP applications by providing a modern, role-based, and intuitive interface that improves productivity and user satisfaction. While SAP S/4HANA Cloud comes with a comprehensive suite of standard Fiori apps, many organizations require tailored solutions to meet unique business processes or extend core functionality. Developing custom Fiori apps allows businesses to address these needs while leveraging the power of SAP’s cloud platform.
This article provides an overview of the process, tools, and best practices for developing custom Fiori apps within the SAP S/4HANA Cloud environment.
Standard Fiori apps cover a wide range of business functions but may not fully align with every organization’s specific requirements. Custom Fiori apps enable:
- Tailored user interfaces and workflows aligned with unique business processes
- Integration with custom or third-party services
- Enhanced user experience with specific branding or UI elements
- Rapid adaptation to changing business needs through flexible development
¶ Development Landscape in SAP S/4HANA Cloud
Developing custom Fiori apps for S/4HANA Cloud differs from traditional on-premise SAP development due to the cloud-native and multi-tenant environment. Key considerations include:
- Cloud-Native Development: Development occurs mainly on SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) using cloud services.
- Extension vs. Custom Development: S/4HANA Cloud encourages extensibility through SAP’s extension points, APIs, and side-by-side development rather than deep modifications.
- Use of SAP Fiori Tools: SAP provides a comprehensive toolkit including SAP Business Application Studio and SAP Fiori elements to accelerate app development.
SAP BTP provides the foundation for developing, deploying, and managing custom Fiori apps. It offers services like SAP Fiori Launchpad, UI5 runtime, and backend connectivity.
¶ 2. SAP Fiori Elements and SAPUI5
- SAP Fiori Elements: Framework for building apps with consistent UI patterns quickly, using metadata-driven templates.
- SAPUI5: UI development toolkit for HTML5 to create highly flexible, custom user interfaces.
¶ 3. OData Services and APIs
Custom Fiori apps typically consume data via OData services. SAP S/4HANA Cloud exposes numerous APIs, and developers can create or extend APIs on SAP BTP to connect custom apps with backend data.
- SAP Business Application Studio: Cloud-based IDE optimized for SAP development.
- SAP Fiori Tools: Extensions for Visual Studio Code, offering templates, code completion, and deployment capabilities.
- Requirement Analysis: Define business needs and identify gaps in standard apps.
- Design: Plan app layout and interaction using SAP Fiori design guidelines.
- Backend Preparation: Configure or extend APIs on S/4HANA Cloud or SAP BTP.
- UI Development: Use SAP Fiori elements or SAPUI5 to build the frontend.
- Testing: Validate functionality using SAP Fiori Launchpad and test environments.
- Deployment: Deploy apps to SAP BTP and integrate with S/4HANA Cloud launchpad.
- Maintenance: Monitor and update apps as business needs evolve.
- Leverage Standard APIs: Maximize use of SAP’s provided APIs and extension frameworks to maintain compatibility and reduce upgrade risks.
- Follow SAP Fiori Design Guidelines: Ensure usability and consistent user experience.
- Adopt Side-by-Side Extensions: Use SAP BTP for custom developments to keep the core S/4HANA Cloud system clean.
- Automate Testing and Deployment: Use CI/CD pipelines within SAP BTP for efficient lifecycle management.
Developing custom Fiori apps in SAP S/4HANA Cloud empowers organizations to create tailored, user-friendly applications that fit their unique operational requirements. By leveraging SAP’s cloud-native tools and extension capabilities, businesses can innovate rapidly while maintaining system integrity and benefiting from continuous SAP innovation.
Custom Fiori development is a key enabler for digital transformation, helping organizations unlock new efficiencies and deliver superior user experiences in the cloud era.