Last Updated on October 26, 2022 by Pradeep
What is SAP Fiori?
Launched in 2013, SAP Fiori is a collection of applications with a simple-to-use, yet enhanced user interface (UI) for an improved user experience. It is used in performing some of the common tasks and functions in SAP from multiple devices including desktops, smartphones and tablets.
Coupled with an intuitive design, it provides you with a set of tools and technologies. Such as a customized SAP Screen for quick access to different SAP applications. Consequently, it helps to meet the specific needs of your enterprise.
After its launch, it started with more than 25 apps. However, now SAP Fiori comes with more than 400 plus apps for SAP ERP, SAP SCM, SAP SRM etc, in addition to several cross-functional apps. It is also considered the new user experience (UX) for SAP Software.
Further with the personal SAP, Screen is planned to integrate into SAP GUI for HTML for easy adoption for existing SAP customers.
Types of SAP Fiori Apps
In SAP Fiori, You will come across three types of apps:-
- Transaction apps
- Analytical apps
- Fact sheets
1. Transactional apps
These apps run best on the SAP HANA database. They perform transactional tasks like creating and approving leave requests, tracking and approving purchase orders, and approving purchase requests etc.
For all these transactional apps there is a front-end and backend.
The frontend ABAP server is made up of two layers:-
First, the UI layer – Contains product-specific UI components like SAP ERP Financials, SAP CRM so on.
Then the infrastructure layer – Contains or houses the central UI component, SAP Fiori Launchpad and SAP Gateway.
While the backend ABAP server contains the business logic. Whereas the front-end connects to the backend through a trusted remote function call, the backend connects to a database (HANA & Other).
The analytical apps
These apps run on the SAP HANA XS database and provide you with real-time, role-based insight into your business operations. It does so by collecting and displaying key figures directly in your browser.
Since it Combines the data and analytical power of SAP HANA and integrates with SAP application. Hence, these apps provide information in a user-friendly yet simplified screen interface for effective decision-making and control.
You can use any of the pre-delivered KPI and insight-to-action scenarios or can also go ahead and define your own using the KPI modeller tool.
Related: SAP HANA Migration Guide
Fact sheets
Fact sheets run only on the SAP HANA database with ABAP stack. These are used to display the contextual information and key facts about central objects used in your business operations. You can call up fact sheets from search results displayed in the SAP Fiori Launchpad other fact sheets, transactional apps and analytical apps.
Implementing SAP Fiori
Before you start using SAP Fiori, you need to install and configure several components in both the front-end and back-end. The frontend components provide the UI and required connection to the back-end. The back-end components bring the data to the apps. SAP delivers the front-end and back-end components as separate products.
When you separate the front-end from the back-end, we recommend that you separate the business logic and backend data from the UI layer to enable changes to the UI (that run on a database) without the need for authorization in the backend. To separate the backend from the front-end, you need to set up an SAP gateway (with central Hub Deployment as the deployment option).
There are two major steps in any SAP Fiori implementation – Installation and Configuration.
Related: Greenfield Vs Brownfield Implementation
Step 1- Installation
This includes installing the SAP Fiori landscape and the appropriate environment. Depending on the type of apps you want to implement, the installation steps will vary. For example, you would set up the SAP Web Dispatcher in addition to ABAP front/backend servers for implementing SAP FIORI with an SAP HANA database to access both SAP Fiori apps and fact sheets. However, you would not use the SAP Dispatcher in a case where you set up the system only for transactional SAP Fiori apps.
ABAP Frontend server
Install first the central UI component that contains the SAP UI5 control library and the SAP Fiori Launchpad and then the product-specific UI components for the required SAP Business Suite products (for Example SAP CRM, SAP ERP Financials, SAP SCM and so on) Also install SAP Gateway with OData enablement. SAP Gateway is the communication channel that besides providing backend data functions.
ABAP backend server
Install any add-ons for SAP Fiori. These add-ons are released via a support package.
Step 2- Configuration
The configuration includes setting up the SAP Fiori Launchpad for individual users so that they can access the appropriate apps as per their roles.
It includes the following steps:-
- Activating OData services for SAP Fiori Launchpad
- Activating SICF services (linking an HTTP request to an internet Communication Framework service for Fiori Launchpad)
- Assigning the administrator role for SAP Fiori Launchpad to the administrator user
- Assigning roles with launchpad start authorization to end users
- Configuring a logout screen for the SAP Fiori launchpad
- Creating RFC connection for backend transactions (Fact sheets)
- Configuring the system for SAP Fiori search
Most Important SAP Fiori Accounting Apps
Although you have several apps for financial accounting and logistics within SAP ERP, Find some of the important accounting apps.
| Name of the APP | Usage | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Apps | ||
| Bank Risk | Analyze deposit distribution of high-risk bank accounts | |
| Bank Statement | Monitor the important status of bank statements. Allows you to identify bank accounts that are not imported successfully | |
| Cash Flow | Overview of the daily cash inflow/outflows. Allow you to identify unusual inflows and outflows and take action accordingly | |
| Liquidity | Forecast the liquidity for the future | |
| Financial Closing Progress | Overview of the completion status of the tasks in a closing cycle shows the number of tasks that are open, in progress with errors and completed | |
| Transactional Apps | ||
| My Travel Request | Manage your travel request | |
| Approve Travel Expenses | Provides details on each receipt and alerts you if expenses exceed the budget limits | |
| Fact Sheet Apps | ||
| Activity Type | Display information about the Activity Type | KL03 |
| Bank | Display information about Bank | FI03 |
| Cost Element Groups | Display cost element groups | KAH3 |
| Fixed Assets | Display information about fixed Asset | AS03 |
| GL Accounting Documents | Display information about accounting document | FB03 |
| Statistical Key Figure (SKF) | Display information about SKF | KK03 |
SAP Fiori for Financial Accounting
Fiori has an important role in SAP Financial Accounting. Just like the apps mentioned above. Similarly, there are specific finance applications on the Fiori platform.
For example:-
- Document posting – Covers Collection from the customer, Vendor payment, Customer/vendor advance payment etc.
- Master Data Creation – Covers GL master, Cost Center, Asset Master, Internal Order etc.
- Document Display
- Document Workflow etc.
Summary
In this blog, you learned that SAP Fiori is a collection of apps that you can access through multiple devices. This includes desktops, smartphones and tablets. It helps to perform some of the routine tasks and transactions in a much easier way than ever. This is because of the unified, easy-to-use user interface that aims at enhancing user experience and improving productivity.
Although SAP Fiori is not specifically for consultants. It is mainly used at the SAP User level. However, as an SAP FI consultant, basic knowledge is preferable for smooth working.
So, during the learning phase of SAP Finance and controlling, the related Fiori part, should also be learned thoroughly.
Watch Video: SAP Fiori Posting in SAP S/4HANA Finance
