Understanding Implementation Planning

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
  • Understand Deployment Options
  • Understand SAP Activate
  • Plan SAP Fiori Apps with Maintenance Planner

SAP Fiori Deployment Options

There are several deployment options available for SAP Fiori. The following is an excerpt from the SAP Fiori Deployment Options and System Landscape Recommendations presentation available at https://www.sap.com/documents/2018/02/f0148939-f27c-0010-82c7-eda71af511fa.html.

In summary, for SAP S/4HANA, the embedded SAP Fiori front-end server (FES) deployment is recommended. Using the SAP FES as a central hub is still a recommended option for SAP Business Suite scenarios. You can also combine both options in a mixed scenario: an SAP Fiori front-end server hub with a central launchpad and central services such as My Inbox, combined with system-specific local launchpads.

Following SAP’s strategic directions towards SAP Intelligent Enterprise and SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), SAP is investing in a central entry point SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition (formerly known as SAP Launchpad service) on SAP BTP. This central entry point acts as UX integrator for all SAP and non-SAP solutions, for on-premise and cloud products.

The following figure shows the deployment options when focusing on an SAP S/4HANA implementation.

SAP Fiori for SAP S/4HANA – Deployment Options

The on-premise deployment SAP Fiori for SAP S/4HANA with an embedded SAP Fiori front-end server is the recommended setup. To simplify the activation of SAP Fiori for SAP S/4HANA, there are task-lists to automate the setup of SAP Fiori launchpad, Fiori apps and business roles, and so on.

An SAP S/4HANA system with a dedicated SAP Fiori front-end server hub (for each SAP S/4HANA system) might be an option for certain use cases.

Multi-System SAP Business Suite Landscape

For multi-system SAP Business Suite scenarios, the SAP Fiori front-end server hub deployment is the recommended setup. The SAP Fiori UI components, the SAP Fiori launchpad content, and the SAP Gateway server are bundled on a central, front-end server, while the classical UIs and the business logic remains on the back-end system. This setup allows one central entry point (SAP Fiori launchpad) to business applications from multiple systems.

As the SAP Fiori UI components of SAP Business Suite systems are compatible with several back-end versions, it is also possible to connect back-end systems from different releases to a central SAP Fiori front-end server.

Multi-System SAP Business Suite Landscape with One Single SAP S/4HANA System

For multi-system scenarios with only one single SAP S/4HANA system in combination with an existing SAP Business Suite landscape, a central SAP Fiori front-end server as hub is still a possible option.

In addition to the Fiori UIs of SAP Business Suite systems, the Fiori UIs of the SAP S/4HANA system are also deployed on the central SAP Fiori front-end server. This setup requires that the SAP Fiori front-end server is upgraded to an appropriate version, which is required by the SAP S/4HANA product.

The following table shows the initial FES release and possible upgrade paths for SAP S/4HANA (all as of July 2022):

SAP S/4HANA...comes with FES release...upgrade possible to
SAP S/4HANA 1709SAP FES 4.0

SAP FES 5.0

SAP FES 6.0

SAP S/4HANA 1809SAP FES 5.0

SAP FES 6.0

SAP FES 2020

SAP FES 2022

SAP S/4HANA 1909SAP FES 6.0

SAP FES 2020

SAP FES 2021

SAP FES 2022

SAP S/4HANA 2020SAP FES 2020

SAP FES 2021

SAP FES 2022

SAP S/4HANA 2021SAP FES 2021

SAP FES 2022

SAP S/4HANA 2022SAP FES 2022full system upgrade SAP S/4HANA 2023

Note

The newest SAP FES 2023 can only be installed as part of an SAP S/4HANA 2023 system. Thus, it’s not possible to upgrade only the SAP Fiori front-end server components to SAP FES 2023 for lower SAP S/4HANA releases. To consume new UI technology innovations that are delivered with SAP FES 2023, you need to do a full system upgrade to SAP S/4HANA 2023.

The SAP Fiori front-end server hub offers one central entry point (SAP Fiori launchpad) to business applications from multiple systems.

Multi-System SAP Business Suite Landscape with an Additional SAP S/4HANA System

In this mixed scenario, one or several SAP S/4HANA systems are added to an existing system landscape where a central SAP Fiori front-end server as hub is already in place. For the newly added SAP S/4HANA system, the embedded FES is the recommended approach.

The Fiori UIs, the SAP Fiori launchpad content, and the SAP Gateway server are deployed on the same server as the back-end components. In consequence, there is a dedicated SAP Fiori launchpad for each additional SAP S/4HANA system. To connect the central SAP Fiori launchpad with the system-local SAP S/4HANA launchpad, a URL tile can be defined, which launches the local launchpad or an app. The benefit of this setup is that the existing SAP Fiori front-end server hub deployment is not impacted.

Multiple SAP S/4HANA Systems – Embedded Deployment

For scenarios with several SAP S/4HANA systems, the embedded deployment is the recommended setup. The Fiori UIs, the SAP Fiori launchpad content, and the SAP Gateway Server are deployed with the back-end components on the same server.

Multiple SAP S/4HANA Systems – Central Hub Deployment

In this setup, every system has its own SAP Fiori launchpad. Content configuration is done on each system with local scope. An optimized runtime performance, a simplified software lifecycle and user/authorization management are all benefits of the embedded deployment.

Outlook: SAP Fiori Deployment Options 2025

SAP Fiori front-end server 2023 will be the last version which can be used as a standalone server for SAP S/4HANA or as a FES hub for Business Suite systems. In future, the embedded deployment option is planned to be the only option, meaning the SAP Fiori UIs and the back-end of SAP S/4HANA as well as the SAP FES components are installed on the same server.

For SAP Business Suite systems, SAP FES 2023 is the last front-end server version which is supported and thus has end of maintenance in alignment with SAP Business Suite. Future UI technology innovations delivered with ABAP Platform (including SAP_UI software component) will not be available for SAP Business Suite systems.

Central Entry Point: SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition

SAP offers advanced UX integration capabilities to help organizations establishing a central entry point and providing users easy access to SAP, custom-built and third-party applications, services and tasks – either from on-premise or cloud. Users also benefit from a harmonized user experience based on SAP Fiori 3 design.

SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition offers capabilities to implement a common SAP Fiori launchpad experience in the cloud, based on UX services such as branding, tasks, notifications and secure single sign-on.

From an operations perspective, connected solutions and systems remain self-contained entities regarding their software lifecycle management, authorizations and business content structure. While each system still has its local home page or launchpad as entry point, business users can preferably and conveniently access all their relevant apps through the central SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition.

Administrators have two options for integration:

  • Manual integration of single applications using templates for common UI technologies such as SAPUI5, Web Dynpro ABAP or SAP GUI for HTML. Web applications can also be integrated using the generic (dynamic) URL launcher. You can configure applications to open in-place (with embedded UI using iFrames) or in a new tab.
  • Advanced content federation: SAP products can serve as content providers by exposing selected business content including roles, applications, and related metadata. The data exchange is based on a Common Data Model (CDM) format, which is used to generically describe the content structure. Each provider system is responsible for exposing its content according to CDM.
SAP Fiori Deployment – OData Provider Options

When SAP Fiori apps are deployed on premise, the UI components are installed on the SAP Fiori front-end server (hub or embedded deployment). To access business data from the back-end, OData service calls are handled by the SAP Gateway component on the SAP Fiori front-end server, which calls the OData service implementation, which is done in the back-end system leveraging the Gateway back-end components.

When deploying SAP Fiori apps on SAP BTP, the SAP Fiori UI components are installed on SAP BTP while connecting to the respective back-end system using the SAP Cloud Connector. The OData request is then handled by SAP Gateway in the same way as for the on-premise setup.

With an SAP Business Suite system as back-end, there is the OData Provisioning service on SAP BTP as an alternative data access method. This lightweight service manages the OData communication. Take note of the restricted scope compared to a full SAP Gateway Server.

Product Versions

Figure outlines the SAP Fiori Front-End Server (FES)

SAP Fiori front-end server offers a bundle of technology components that are required to run SAP Fiori scenarios. It contains the following:

  • The UI development toolkit for HTML5 (SAPUI5) framework and the components to run the SAP Fiori launchpad on the ABAP stack

  • The SAP Gateway core components on the ABAP stack

  • The SAP Fiori Implementation Foundation

  • SAP Fiori Basis Apps (available with SAP_BASIS 750 or higher)

SAP Fiori front-end server does not provide any new technical components. It has been created to define the exact stacks required for SAP Fiori application versions and thereby simplify customer consumption.

FES – Release Info

For SAP S/4HANA 2023, you require an SAP Fiori front-end server 2023 for SAP S/4HANA (or later). It contains the following components with the respective versions:

  • SAP Gateway Foundation (software component version SAP Gateway Foundation 7.58)

  • User Interface Technology (software component version User Interface Technology 7.58)

  • UI for Basis Applications (software component version UI for Basis Applications 7.58) – containing SAP NetWeaver Fiori Apps

The SAP Fiori apps for SAP S/4HANA are delivered with the product SAP Fiori for SAP S/4HANA (product version SAP FIORI FOR SAP S/4HANA 2023).

The underlying database for the SAP Fiori front-end server must be one of the following:

  • SAP HANA

  • SAP ASE

  • SAP MaxDB

Note the central SAP Note 3336823SAP FIORI FOR SAP S/4HANA 2023: Release Information Note.

Figure outlines SAP Back-End Server (BES)

With SAP S/4HANA (SAP Business Suite 4 SAP HANA), SAP is providing a new product and a next generation of business applications - simple enterprise software for big data and designed to help you run simple in the digital economy.

The SAP S/4HANA family is fully built on the in-memory platform SAP HANA. Using the advanced potential of SAP HANA, SAP S/4HANA is designed for your digital business and provides an instant insight by using a single source of truth, real-time processes, dynamic planning and analysis. With SAP Fiori user experience and a less complex data model, it is designed to run simple, and in parallel reduces the data footprint of your company. SAP S/4HANA is also already connected to business and social networks and prepared for the Internet of Things. With all these aspects, SAP is protecting your investments by facilitating next-generation business applications.

Figure shows BES – Release Info

SAP S/4HANA Server 2023 is based on ABAP Platform 2023.

The underlying database for the ABAP back-end server must be SAP HANA database (product version SAP HANA DATABASE 2.0).

Note the central SAP Note 3307222SAP S/4HANA 2023: Release Information Note.

Figure shows SAP Web Dispatcher

SAP Web Dispatcher forwards these requests to the ABAP front-end server or to the relevant back-end server. For communication between SAP Web Dispatcher and the client, an HTTPS connection is established.

SAP Web Dispatcher – Release Info

Note the central SAP Note 908097SAP Web Dispatcher: Release, Installation, Patches, Documentation.

Citation from that note (as of December 2024): "Version 7.93 is the recommended version for most deployments".

Note

In the terminology used by the SAP Web Dispatcher, a FES is also called a "back-end" system.

Check Product Versions

Scenario

We will now look at how to check product versions.

Steps

  1. Determine the release of your SAP S/4HANA system.

    1. You are logged on to the WTS of the training clone assigned to you.

    2. If you have not done so already, run the Initialize WTS script.

    3. Start SAP Logon.

    4. Log on to the SAP system assigned to you.

      • Q team: 20 S4Q SAP GUI non-SNC [PAS]
      • P team: 30 S4P SAP GUI non-SNC [PAS]

    5. Log on to client 100 using the train-## user.

    6. In the SAP system, navigate to System → Status → (SAP System data) Details → Installed Product Versions and note the installed products and their versions.

      ProductRelease and SP Stack
      SAP FIORI FES FOR S/4HANA 
      SAP FIORI FOR S4HANA 
      S4HANA ON PREMISE 
      ABAP PLATFORM 

SAP Activate

Scenario

SAP Activate is an innovation adoption framework that expedites SAP S/4HANA software implementations with ready-to-run digitized business processes, implementation tools, and next-generation methodology. It supports any deployment mode and works with multiple starting points, including system conversion and landscape transformation. From best practices to quality gates, SAP Activate helps your implementation meet the highest standards.

Figure illustrates SAP Activate – Positioning

First up: SAP Best Practices

These are the ready-to-run business processes optimized for SAP S/4HANA and also cover the fundamentals of integration and migration. Included in these best practices is a reference solution in the cloud as well as details on extensibility for how best to enhance SAP processes for your own needs.

Next up: Guided Configuration

You can think of guided configuration as the set of tools for an assisted implementation for everything from initial implementation of a project to "go-live" and then some. Meaning, guided configuration lets you apply updates and changes to your configuration and stay continuously on the innovation track and adapt agilely without disruption. Being guided by business processes is what empowers business and IT to work together.

Last but not least: Methodology

Any implementation starts with best practices. The methodology uses a consistent approach used for any deployment mode chosen: cloud, hybrid, on-premise, mobile. Moreover, you can choose to do it yourself or with an SAP partner or SAP directly. The methodology is designed for partner extensions. If you are a partner of SAP, you will definitely want to get to know SAP Activate.

Conclusion: SAP Activate

In short, this combination of SAP Best Practices, guided configuration, and methodology allows you to build smart and run simple. SAP Activate gives you the freedom to run fast (with a reference solution), beautifully (with a state-of-the-art SAP Fiori UX), lean (with a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and continuous innovation), far (built-in extensibility to fit your needs), and flexibly (do it yourself or with a preferred partner or with SAP).

SAP Activate – Innovation Adoption Framework for SAP S/4HANA

New implementation: New implementation of SAP S/4HANA, for example, customers migrating from a legacy system or a net-new installation.

System conversion: Customers who want to change their current SAP system to SAP S/4HANA.

Selective data transition (formerly known as landscape transformation): Customers who want to consolidate their landscape or carve out selected entities (like a company code) or processes into an SAP S/4HANA system.

Figure shows the building blocks of SAP Activate
Figure shows the example of Materials Requirements Planning in SAP Activate
Figure shows the introduction of Content Structure regarding SAP Activate
Locations for more information on SAP Activate

Are you curious now and want to learn more? Join the SAP Activate community and visit our landing page on sap.com.

Access SAP Best Practices

Business Example

To administrate SAP Fiori systems, it is essential to know best practices. In this exercise, you will access and experience a number of these practices.

Task 1: Access the Building Block Builder

Steps

  1. In your SAP S/4HANA system, launch the Building Block Builder (part of transaction /SMB/BBI) for solution ZBP_OP_ENTPR_S4HANA2023_DEV10.

    1. Log on to your SAP system using the train-## user.

    2. Start transaction /SMB/BBI. The solution ZBP_OP_ENTPR_S4HANA2023_DEV10 should already be set as favorite.

      To enter transactions starting with a / sign through the command field, type /n or /o in front of it.

    3. Choose Building Block Builder.

    4. In the Scope Item pane, you can select All or single scope items. Depending on your selection, the relevant building blocks are listed in the Building Block pane.

      Screenshot from system

  2. Launch the Implementation Assistant (part of transaction /SMB/BBI) for solution ZBP_OP_ENTPR_S4HANA2023_DEV10.

    1. Within transaction /SMB/BBI, choose Implementation Assistant.

    2. Green entries in the Building Block Library pane indicate that they have already been executed successfully.

      Screenshot from system

    3. For details, expand an arbitrary path in the Solution/Scope Items pane, for example: DE_BD9_OP → BN4 (XX) → BUSINESS PARTNER (BP).

      Screenshot from system

      Note

      Note the Cur column to determine the current activation status.

Result

The solution ZBP_OP_ENTPR_S4HANA2023_DEV10 (a copy of solution BP_OP_ENTPR_S4HANA2023_DEV10) has been activated in your SAP S/4HANA system.

Task 2: Optional: Access the SAP Signavio Process Navigator

Steps

  1. Launch the SAP Signavio Process Navigator at https://me.sap.com/processnavigator.

    Note

    Launching the SAP for Me site requires the credentials of an S user / SAP Universal ID account – if you do not have an S user / SAP Universal ID account, skip this part of the exercise.

    1. Open a web browser of your choice and enter the URL https://me.sap.com/processnavigator.

    2. Provide the credentials of your S user / SAP Universal ID account.

  2. Access some of the Solution Processes offered for SAP Best Practices for SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition.

    1. At the start screen of SAP Signavio Process Navigator, choose Solution Scenarios.

      Solution Scenarios option in the system

    2. In the A-Z Index, choose SAP Best Practices for SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition.

      SAP Best Practices for SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition option in the system

    3. For details, expand an arbitrary path in the Solution Processes pane.

      Screenshot from the system: Actual Costing (33Q)Screenshot from the system: Actual Costing (33Q)

Result

You know how to access the details of some SAP Best Practices solution processes.

SAP Fiori Apps and Maintenance Planner

Maintenance Planner

SAP Solution Manager's cloud-based Maintenance Planner, offered at https://apps.support.sap.com/sap/support/mp, is the successor of Maintenance Optimizer, Landscape Planner and Product System Editor. Maintenance Planner helps you plan and maintain systems in your landscape.

You can plan complex activities like installing a new system or updating existing systems. All changes can be scheduled to be deployed at a convenient time, to minimize downtime.

It simplifies the maintenance process by consolidating critical tasks such as definition of product maintenance dependencies, implementing changes by generating stack configuration, downloading archives, and so on, in one tool.

With Maintenance Planner, you can do the following:

  • Explore all the systems and system tracks in your landscape.

  • Plan a new system installation.

  • Plan update or upgrade activities for an existing system.

  • Group systems into tracks and perform collective maintenance.

  • Analyze dependent systems impacted by your change.

  • Identify and evaluate changes to the landscape.

  • Plan a new SAP S/4HANA system or convert an existing SAP ERP system to SAP S/4HANA.

Screenshot from system: Plan Apps with Maintenance Planner

SAP Fiori is chiefly a collection of apps representing the new user experience of SAP and the face of SAP S/4HANA. SAP Fiori apps can be categorized by line of business, industry, and most importantly user role, as well as technical foundation. All available apps can be explored using the SAP Fiori apps reference library at https://www.sap.com/fiori-apps-library.

With the Relevance and Readiness Analysis in the SAP Fiori apps reference library, you can identify the SAP Fiori apps that best fit your needs. Relevance describes the SAP Fiori apps that are relevant for you based on the business processes you use, and readiness describes how ready your system is to use SAP Fiori apps. The analysis provides you with the following information:

  • SAP Fiori apps that are relevant for the business processes you use.

  • SAP Fiori apps that are already installed and can be used without a system update.

  • SAP Fiori apps that can be used assuming a software update or database migration.

  • Installations required in order to use certain SAP Fiori apps.

Simplified Installation of SAP Fiori Apps – Process View

Installing SAP Fiori apps involves comprehensive consideration of technical prerequisites. SAP Fiori apps require front-end, back-end, and if applicable, SAP HANA components. The required front-end and back-end components are delivered in separate products and have to be installed in the system landscape. Maintenance Planner addresses the need to install front-end and back-end components delivered in separate products, by calculating all the system requirements for SAP Fiori apps installation.

Simplified Installation of SAP Fiori Apps – Technical View

The installation of SAP Fiori apps has been significantly simplified with integration between SAP Fiori apps reference library and Maintenance Planner. With this integration, you can select SAP Fiori apps in the SAP Fiori apps reference library, which provides an overview of various available apps and their installation and configuration perquisites. Seamless integration between these two tools enables you to select SAP Fiori Apps and navigate directly to Maintenance Planner, letting you download required software packages for back-end, front-end, and SAP HANA in a single transaction.

The installation process with Maintenance Planner offers the following advantages:

  • Consolidated planning allows users to generate consolidated stack XML for all planned landscape changes.

  • Installation of new systems supported.

  • Required files for all involved systems can be pushed to download basket in a single planning step.

  • Choose from multiple deployment options.

(Optional) Plan SAP Fiori Apps with Maintenance Planner

Business Scenario

In this exercise, you will learn about additional resources on SAP Fiori apps.

Task 1: Explore SAP Fiori Apps Reference Library

Steps

  1. Open the SAP Fiori apps reference library at https://www.sap.com/fiori-apps-library.

    1. On the WTS, start a web browser and enter the given URL.

      Hint

      Note the prepared bookmark/favorite at SAP Fiori → SAP Fiori Apps Reference Library.

  2. List all SAP Fiori apps available for a back-end SAP S/4HANA.

    1. In the filter pane on the left, choose All apps for SAP S/4HANA (Private Cloud and On-Premise).

    2. In the filter pane on the left, choose All apps. Note the number of available apps at the very top of the left pane.

      Apps

  3. Narrow down the filter to only display apps released for SAP S/4HANA 2023.

    1. Select the filter icon at the bottom of the left pane.

    2. In the Filter dialog box, choose Product Version (Back-End Component) → SAP S/4HANA 2023. Then choose OK and Go. Note the number of available apps in the Apps (nnnn) field (at the very top of the left pane).

      Available Apps

  4. On the search result, perform a search with the search term bank. Open the details of the Manage Banks app.

    1. In the search field at the very top of the left pane, enter bank and choose the magnifier icon. Note the number of available apps at the very top of the left pane.

    2. Select the Manage Bank Accounts app in the left pane and note the details (especially the Implementation Information in the App Details pane on the right).

      Implementation Information

Task 2: Maintenance Planner

Steps

  1. Select and aggregate some of the filtered apps, and start a Maintenance transaction using the Maintenance Planner.

    1. You still have the list of SAP Fiori apps for SAP S/4HANA 2023, filtered with search term banks available.

    2. Select some (for example, three) apps in the left pane.

    3. Select Selected at the bottom of the left pane. Now only the selected apps are listed.

    4. Select Aggregate at the bottom of the left pane. Note the Aggregated Implementation Information on the right.

    5. Expand the Aggregated Installation Requirements section.

      Aggregated Installation Requirements

    6. Select Prepare apps for planning with Maintenance Planner at the bottom of the Aggregated Installation Requirements section.

    7. Wait until the preparation is finished.

    8. Select Plan with Maintenance Planner at the bottom of the Aggregated Installation Requirements section.

      Note

      Launching the Maintenance Planner requires the credentials of an S user / SAP Universal ID account – if you do not have an S user / SAP Universal ID account, skip this part of the exercise.
      Maintenance Planner

      Note

      In this training, it is not necessary to complete the maintenance transaction.

Related Information

This section lists several helpful pages and documents related to SAP Fiori.

SAP Road Maps

SAP Road Maps, available at https://roadmaps.sap.com

SAP Fiori Overview @ SAP Help Portal

Product page SAP Fiori Overview, available at https://help.sap.com/fiori

Administration Guide for Implementation @ SAP Help Portal

Administration Guide for Implementation, available at SAP S/4HANA 2023 online documentation, path Implement → SAP Best Practices → Administration Guide for Implementation

UI Technologies Guide @ SAP Help Portal

UI Technologies Guide, available at https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_S4HANA_ON-PREMISE?locale=en-US&task=implement_task

SAP Fiori @ SAP Community

SAP Community for SAP Fiori, available at https://pages.community.sap.com/topics/fiori

SAP Fiori for SAP S/4HANA @ SAP Community

SAP Community for SAP Fiori for SAP S/4HANA, available at https://pages.community.sap.com/topics/fiori/s4hana

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