SAP systems have traditionally been powerful, but not always user-friendly. Complex screens, transaction-heavy workflows and a steep learning curve have long been the bane of SAP users.
That's why SAP introduced SAP Fiori - a modern user experience designed to make life easier for people who have to use SAP systems. And in many ways, it has made a real difference. But here's the thing: most organisations soon find out that Fiori doesn't solve everything. There's still a gap, and that's where things get tricky.
And that's where PreBilt come in. If you're looking at SAP Fiori apps, developing SAP Fiori or reviewing your UX strategy, then your goal should be pretty clear: make SAP easier to use.
Simplify processes, make SAP actually work for your users and let's get down to brass tacks. Here's what that means:
SAP Fiori is SAP's attempt to give users a modern, user-friendly interface. And it does this by getting rid of clunky old SAP GUI screens in favour of clean, role-based interfaces, simple workflows and mobile-friendly apps.
In fact, SAP would have you believe that Fiori is:
The new user experience for SAP software. And in many ways, that's true enough. It marks a big shift from:
Designing for the benefit of the system, to designing for the benefit of the user.
An SAP Fiori app is a specific app that helps users do a particular job - like approving purchase orders, managing inventory or reviewing financial reports. Each app is designed to be:
Task-specific
Role-based
Simplified
No more navigating through huge menus: users simply open the app, complete the task and move on. It's a real improvement.
SAP Fiori introduces a few key benefits, including:
Users only see what they need, when they need it - reducing complexity and the need for training.
Fiori apps adapt to whatever device you're using, whether it's a desktop, tablet or phone. This works well for people who work in the field or need to access SAP from home.
Fiori's interface replaces clunky old SAP screens with something a lot more intuitive: clean layouts, intuitive navigation and visual dashboards.
This is a big deal, because it reduces frustration with traditional SAP interfaces and actually makes users happy. And that's good news for your training budget.
When you pair Fiori with SAP S/4HANA, you get real-time data access and interaction. This means users can get real-time data, updates and insights. Embedded analytics helps them make faster decisions.
The Fiori Launchpad is the central hub of the system - a single access point for all your users' apps, designed to meet their specific needs.
It's a bit like a dashboard, really. It provides:
App tiles
Role-based access
Customised dashboards
All of which should help users get on with their jobs.
If you're looking to build Fiori apps, then you'll be using:
SAP UI5 (a JavaScript framework for building web applications)
SAP Fiori Elements (for rapid development with templates and UI elements)
Web technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript (with SAP Fiori Tools and SAP Business Application Studio for app development)
APIs for backend integration (using OData services for data exchange)
Developing Fiori apps typically involves:
Standard app configuration
Custom app development
UX enhancements
Of course, that all sounds nice and straightforward on paper, but in reality, it can get pretty complicated.
Fiori has certainly improved the SAP user experience, making it more consistent and user-friendly across the board. But here's the thing: it doesn't solve everything.
In many cases: users still have to switch between apps, processes are still fragmented and navigation is still a chore. A consistent interface may reduce cognitive load, but it doesn't eliminate workflow fragmentation.
Users may be able to complete tasks 64% faster with Fiori, but the process as a whole can still be a mess.
Result: better screens, but not always better workflows.
Fiori has been a game-changer, but it's not without its problems. Where does it come up short? This is where most organisations start to hit a snag
Fiori is app-based - and that means a few things.
One process ends up being fragmented across multiple apps
Users are constantly jumping between screens
And worst of all, context can get lost along the way
Fiori makes individual tasks easier but it doesn't automatically tie them all together. So
End to end processes are still riddled with gaps
Users have to figure out the workflow for themselves
Despite being super user-friendly on the surface
Set up can be a right old nightmare - take embedded deployment, for example. That might simplify things in the long run by keeping front end components on the same backend server, but getting it all set up in the first place can be a minefield
Security and user roles are another whole can of worms
And if you thought launchpad was complicated to set up - just wait till you have to maintain it
The standard Fiori apps just aren't going to meet everyone's business needs - and that's a problem
That leads to custom app development - which is a whole new world of pain
More development effort, and even more in the long run when you have to keep it all updated
Fiori shows you what to do but it doesn't always show you why - or how that task fits into the bigger picture
So, you have to rely on users knowing their stuff, or having done some pretty extensive training
And in the worst cases, they might even need to work out internal workarounds
Fiori is great at
Modernising the UI
Simplifying tasks
Making it easy to use on mobile
But it struggles with
End to end process flow
Stuff that actually gives you some useful context
Reducing your reliance on user knowledge
And that's the main problem
That's where PreBilt comes in. We do what Fiori just can't - we sort out the actual flow of work
PreBilt
Connects up end-to-end processes so you don't need to navigate between multiple apps. We even embed logic directly into workflows and that reduces your reliance on user knowledge.
Instead of this...
User - chooses app - performs task - finds next step
You get this...
User - follows the process - completes the work smoothly
On its own, Fiori means
Users have to understand SAP inside and out
Tasks get done one at a time, without any context
With PreBilt, it's different
Processes guide the user through the work
Systems become intuitive and easy to use
Work just flows naturally
That's the main difference between a better interface and a better outcome.
We see a lot of organisations hitting problems like
Assuming that Fiori alone will magically solve all your usability problems
Just pushing apps out without any thought to how they fit together is a recipe for disaster
Users still need training, no matter how fancy your new system is
And if you haven't got a handle on customisation - you've got a world of pain on your hands
These problems all reduce the effectiveness of Fiori
AMS is there to support you with
Fiori app maintenance
Launchpad optimisation
Performance tuning
And ongoing improvements
This means your systems stay aligned, your apps keep on working, and issues get resolved quickly
SAP consultancy can help organisations like yours
Design a Fiori architecture that actually works for you
Align your apps with the processes they're meant to support
Reduce all the unnecessary complexity you don't need
And identify where other solutions (like PreBilt) can help make things better
That way Fiori actually delivers the results you want - not just some fancy new interface
When Fiori is working well, SAP Fiori supports everyday business tasks with minimal hassle
Apps are simple and easy to use
Users can complete business tasks quickly and easily
Processes are connected from start to finish
Navigation is straightforward and intuitive
And systems require minimal training
But to get to that point - you need more than just Fiori
SAP Fiori
SAP's modern user interface and design system, used to build SAP applications and guide user interaction.
Fiori app
A role-based business application built for SAP; a Fiori app connects to backend systems to support daily work.
Fiori Launchpad
SAP Launchpad is the central access point and personalized workspace for apps.
SAP UI5
A framework used to build Fiori applications, including enterprise applications and enterprise-grade web apps.
SAP Gateway
A layer that securely connects Fiori apps to SAP backend systems through OData services.
SAP Fiori Elements
Predefined templates in SAP Fiori Elements that speed up app delivery with consistent patterns.
User experience (UX)
How users interact with SAP systems.
PreBilt
A game-changer that finally bridges the gap between SAP processes and execution
What is SAP Fiori? - Think of it as a modern UI and UX framework for SAP systems that has evolved into the broader SAP Fiori design system, essentially becoming the foundation for most enterprise experiences.
What are the benefits of SAP Fiori? - Its UI is simplified, access is role-based, the user experience is consistent, it's highly responsive on mobile devices, and it doesn't require as much training as you might think. That's all pretty standard, but it's a great start.
How do SAP Fiori apps get built? - They're typically built using SAPUI5 and web technologies, within SAP Business Application Studio with the aid of SAP Fiori Tools. Meanwhile, SAP Gateway exposes OData services to seamlessly connect your back-end data.
What are the limitations of SAP Fiori?
Over-fragmentation, meaning your processes are all over the place
A plethora of apps that don't give you the context you need
Generally just a bunch of separate apps with no real cohesion.
Do you still need to develop something when using SAP Fiori?
SAP Fiori Elements can certainly speed up the delivery of standard apps but more often than not, you'll still need to do some custom development to get what you really need.
How does PreBilt make SAP Fiori better?
By hooking up all those disparate processes and providing a clear guiding hand to help users navigate through complex workflows - not just fancier screens. That's where PreBilt fits in.
SAP Fiori may change how SAP looks, but usability goes way beyond how it looks. It's all about getting those connected processes right, making workflows clear and execution guided. When you finally get it right, SAP becomes something that users trust to actually get the job done, rather than something they just tolerate because they have to. And that's where PreBilt can be a real game-changer.