SAP Fiori was supposed to make SAP easier to use. We all know the benefits: cleaner screens, clearer tasks and a far better user experience.
SAP Fiori was supposed to make SAP easier to use. We all know the benefits: cleaner screens, clearer tasks and a far better user experience.
But all too often, organisations roll out Fiori and still hear the same old complaints. "So many tiles to look at." "I just can't find what I need." "And besides, it's still quicker to use the old transactions." The problem usually isn't Fiori itself. It's Fiori launchpad configuration.
If you're currently looking at implementing Fiori launchpad SAP, the truth is that what really matters isn't just switching it on. It's customising it to how people actually work. So, let's have a closer look at the Fiori launchpad, why configuration is key, and how good design turns Fiori into something that users really value.
The Fiori launchpad is essentially the front door to SAP. It's the single point of entry where users go to:
Access their SAP Fiori apps
Launch any classic SAP GUI transactions
See their tasks, notifications and insights
Either change roles or jump between processes
In short, the Fiori launchpad is where users interact with SAP day in, day out which makes its configuration one of the most important and most underrated, parts of any SAP landscape.
A launchpad that's been poorly configured is basically going to cause friction right from the start. Users find themselves facing:
Far too many tiles
Duplicate or irrelevant apps
Confusing tile names
No clear sense of priority
And when that happens, people tend to blame the software rather than the configuration. A well-configured launchpad on the other hand does the opposite. It cuts down on noise, helps guide user behaviour and builds trust. And the difference is noticeable right away.
Configuring the Fiori launchpad isn't some kind of technical tidying up. It's a design exercise. Good configuration is all about:
Roles, not modules
Tasks, not features
Clarity, not completeness
The goal is to create a launchpad that shows each user what they need to do and nothing more.
One of the biggest mistakes when it comes to Fiori launchpad SAP is starting off with apps. Instead, you should start with the user's business role.
Ask yourself:
What is the role this user performs?
What do they need to do every day?
What decisions do they make?
What information do they need quickly?
The role determines which relevant apps should be visible.
From there, the right apps and transactions become pretty obvious. This role-first thinking is the foundation of effective Fiori launchpad configuration. It creates a launchpad that provides users with personal access to their daily tasks and the information they need to get their job done.
More tiles on the launchpad home page don't equal more value. In fact, too many tiles can slow users down and actually reduce adoption.
Good Fiori launchpad configuration:
Keeps app tiles to just the assigned apps
Groups related tasks in a way that makes sense
Uses clear, human-friendly labels
Gets rid of rare or duplicate apps
The launchpad home page should be where users can easily discover business applications, without feeling overwhelmed by clutter. If users have to spend ages hunting for what they need, then your design has already failed. The app finder is there to help users see all the apps they might need beyond the launchpad home page.
Most organisations don't move to Fiori overnight, especially in hybrid landscapes like SAP S/4HANA. The reality is that we live in a hybrid world where:
Fiori apps handle common, role-based tasks
SAP GUI transactions are still used for specialist or complex activities
Fiori launchpad SAP supports this blend, but only if it's configured with care. It uses intent-based navigation to help users move between apps and transactions with less friction.
Good configuration:
Makes it crystal clear which tool to use when
Avoids having multiple ways to do the same task
Keeps the experience consistent
This balance is critical to user confidence, because users should be able to open apps from one single central access point and move through related business processes with ease.
Small details like the app name, tile names, group titles and descriptions can have a huge impact on how users navigate SAP. Effective Fiori launchpad configuration uses:
Plain language, not SAP jargon
Action-based names, not technical labels
Consistent terminology across roles
Clear naming also improves the search function for business users trying to find relevant apps. If they don't understand what a tile does, they won't click on it.
Nothing breaks trust faster than a tile that doesn't work. Incorrect authorisations lead to:
Error messages
Inaccessible apps
Good SAP Fiori launchpad design aligns with a few key things:
User roles
Authorisations
So, it makes sense that roles, authorisations and launchpad content all need to line up with each other, so the role-based user interface shows users only the apps they actually need. But getting all this lined up can require a lot of coordination between different teams: functional, security and basis to be specific. And even then, it's not uncommon for user specific services and backend services to need to be available for tiles and apps to work properly.
User experience isn't just about how something looks. It's also about how quickly it loads and behaves. If your Fiori apps take a long time to load or behave erratically, people are going to go back to the old way of doing things pretty fast. So, SAP Fiori launchpad performance should be a consideration right from the start of the configuration conversation. Effective Fiori launchpad configuration considers things like:
How well your apps perform
How people are using their devices, including desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones
Any network or system constraints that might be slowing things down
It's only when you've got both the design and the performance sorted out that you've really got a user-friendly and intuitive launchpad.
A simple, responsive launchpad's going to build confidence a lot faster than a flashy one with some dodgy performance issues.
Even a launchpad that's been designed well can start to look a bit ragged over time. This can happen when:
You start adding new apps "just in case"
What were temporary fixes become permanent
Roles get blurred because responsibilities change
You never remove old content
Without some sort of governance in place, launchpad settings and layout are going to start to degrade over time, and before you know it, your launchpad is no longer usable.
So, it's really important to review the structure of your pages and what users are actually seeing on their tiles as responsibilities change.
This isn't a one-off activity. Fiori launchpad configuration is an ongoing thing.
Application Management Services (AMS) play a big role in keeping your Fiori launchpad user-friendly by keeping an eye on the main elements of the launchpad over time. Ongoing AMS support can help with things like:
Reviewing and refining the content of your launchpad
Removing any tiles that are no longer needed
Adjusting roles as the business changes
Supporting new apps and processes safely
Keeping security and user experience in line with each other
AMS can also support creating and editing pages for different user groups as things change.
Good AMS support doesn't just mean keeping the system running. It means keeping the experience clean and usable.
Fiori works best when you've got business knowledge, UX (user experience) know-how and SAP expertise all working together. SAP consultancy adds value by:
Helping to turn roles into practical launchpad designs
Challenging the "include everything" approach and instead focusing on what users genuinely need
Aligning Fiori with the way business works
Designing for adoption, so that users can actually use the system, rather than just doing it for compliance
Understanding how business users search for SAP applications and structuring things so it's easy for them to find what they're looking for.
The aim is simple, we want to make SAP easier to use, not just newer. That means choosing clear app names and structuring applications so users can find them easily.
When Fiori launchpad configuration is done well, the user gets an interface that's obvious, focused and easy to work with:
Users know exactly where to go
The shell bar helps them navigate consistently
Tasks are quick to complete
The user actions menu gives them access to layout changes and support
Training time is reduced
Support tickets go down
A well-configured launchpad displays relevant information clearly
SAP feels much calmer and clearer
And people stop talking about the interface and just get on with their work. That's the real measure of success.
SAP Fiori launchpad
The central access point for SAP Fiori apps and transactions.
Fiori launchpad configuration
The design and setup of roles, tiles, groups and navigation within the launchpad.
Tile
An icon representing an app or service on the launchpad; can also show live status indicators for tasks.
Role
A business role that groups apps and authorisations assigned to a user.
Enterprise search
A launchpad feature that lets users search across all apps and related business objects.
Shell bar
The top bar for navigation and quick actions in the launchpad.
Catalog
The collection of apps available to a role.
SAP GUI
The classic SAP user interface, often accessed via the Fiori launchpad.
AMS (Application Management Services)
Ongoing support and improvement for SAP systems and user experience.
Is Fiori launchpad configuration mainly technical?
Nope - it's primarily about user roles and experience.
Can we improve an existing Fiori launchpad without re‑implementing?
Absolutely - many improvements come from simplifying, re-grouping and better app configuration.
Should every SAP transaction appear in Fiori?
No, only what users genuinely need day to day - but the app finder or tile catalog can still help discovery without putting everything on the home page.
Why do users still prefer SAP GUI sometimes?
Often because Fiori hasn't been configured around their real tasks.
Is Ongoing Support a Must for Fiori?
Absolutely, yes. As users' needs evolve, that launchpad needs to be adaptable enough to change with them, and that means having built-in support that guides them along the way - especially when it comes to navigating and adapting to new features.
SAP Fiori was sold on the idea of making SAP a whole lot simpler - and in the end, it's the Fiori launchpad config that really makes or breaks that promise. When the launchpad is designed with the user in mind, not just the systems they're interacting with, then SAP becomes a hell of a lot easier to use, learn and trust. And that's not a technical win - it's a business one. The Fiori launchpad is all about giving users a focused, role-based entry point - whereas the Build Work Zone is better suited to when an organisation needs to bring a bunch of people together, particularly across a complex legacy SAP landscape. Built on top of SAP BTP and the wider business tech platform, it can easily tie multiple systems together with SSO in tricky environments. And let's be honest - SAP Build Work Zone brings its own set of collaboration features to the table that Fiori Launchpad doesn't have. That's where we can step in and help.
