During the realize phase, data is loaded, adoption activities occur, and operations are planned.
Play the following video to learn about the realize phase.
Let's examine some of the tasks to be considered when focusing on SAP Build Work Zone.
Depending on the defined SAP BTP account model, the quality assurance (and preproduction) tenant with SAP Build Work Zone is already prepared. Primarily, this involves completing the onboarding procedure for SAP Build Work Zone or SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone. It starts on the previous phase and the outcome is checked in the Receive Quality System task in SAP Activate's realize phase.
The solution architecture, integration strategy and security strategy are defined, and requirements are documented and prioritized. As a result, it’s time to start the implementation work in SAP Build Work Zone. It’s covered in the Solution Configuration task. Typically, an application expert (with focus on SAP Build Work Zone) does this work.
SAP Build Work Zone has rich extensibility capabilities. As such, the project scope can include the development of UI Integration Cards, HTML5 applications, or launchpad (shell) plugins. It's done within the Solution Extension Development task. Depending on the scope, the following roles do this work: an application expert (with a focus on SAP Build Work Zone) or a software engineer (with knowledge of JavaScript and SAPUI5). The application expert can support the development of UI Integration Cards following a low-code development paradigm (there’s no need to write code), while the software engineer can help with the development of UI Integration Cards and other extensions, following a pro-code development paradigm.
As highlighted before, digital experience is used by a wide range of users on a day-to-day basis. As such, it has especially high-quality standards. When the Test Strategy is defined, the Test Plan drafted, and all requirements are implemented, it’s time to prepare and execute test cases. This work is done within the Solution Test Preparation and Solution Test Execution tasks. Depending on the Test Strategy, the following roles can prepare the test cases: an application expert (with focus on SAP Build Work Zone) or a test engineer (when test automation is in scope). The execution is typically done by various target groups (including business users for UAT) in quality assurance or preproduction SAP BTP subaccount with SAP Build Work Zone.
The realize phase also includes the preparation of the production environment. It's necessary to execute the onboarding procedure for SAP Build Work Zone or SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone in the SAP BTP subaccount considered for productive use. It's done in the Production System Setup task. It's also necessary to prepare surrounding services and infrastructure for productive use.
- Set up SAP Cloud Connector and connect respective on-premise systems (for example: SAP S/4HANA).
- Prepare security infrastructure with SAP Cloud Identity Services and corporate identity provider in alignment with respective corporate standards, guidelines, and policies.
- Connect SAP and third party cloud solutions, for example, SAP IBP and SAP SuccessFactors.
- Connect SAP Cloud Transport Management service (if it’s used for software, change the management in SAP BTP).
This work is done within the Integration Setup on Production Landscape and System User Roles and Authorization Administration tasks. Plan it well in advance because it can be required for obtaining additional approvals to make changes in the production environment.
Considering the complexity of landscape and architecture of digital experience with SAP Build Work Zone, it’s required to plan and design adequate support and operations procedures. Typically, it comes from multiple angles and depends on various factors. What follows is an example of a team setup for support:
- The security team supports the overall authentication and access to SAP Build Work Zone. Usually, this team is responsible for the core security layer represented by SAP Cloud Identity Services and the corporate identity provider.
- The platform team provides the functional support. Usually, they're responsible for SAP BTP, and can obtain required knowledge to support SAP Build Work Zone (as application).
- The development team provides the development support. Usually, this team is responsible for the development of SAP Fiori apps, knows about the SAPUI5 framework, and has acquired knowledge for supporting SAP Build Work Zone extensions (for example, UI Integration Cards and launchpad plugins).
- The integration team supports the integration support. Usually, the team is responsible for SAP Integration Suite or similar integration solutions.
Note that SAP Build Work Zone and SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone are Software as a Service (SaaS). Customers don't have access to underlying infrastructure (at the level of the operating system and hardware) or source code. It's fully under the control of the service provider (SAP). Customers can still track the availability of cloud services (including SAP Build Work Zone and SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone) with the SAP Trust Center, and subscribe to notifications in the Cloud Availability Center.
The support model and operations procedures are defined in the Technical Operations and Handover Plan task. Typically, A set of experts prepare it, who consider the complexity of the landscape and architecture of SAP Build Work Zone (as mentioned above).
The additional (and independent of SAP Build Work Zone) information about tasks and accelerators for the realize phase can be found at the SAP Activate Roadmap Viewer.