SAP Self-Services | SAP Fiori

Employee self-services classically refer to employee self-administration. Employees are given access to their personnel-related data and personnel-relevant processes via specific application programs. It is precisely the variety of application fields that makes Employee Self Service an interesting personnel management tool. Among other things, employees can use SAP Employee Self Services to view and adjust their personal data profile. Corrections in time recording are also possible. A team calendar provides information about planned absences of colleagues. In addition to digital forms such as vacation requests, employees can also call up and print out time and salary statements.

Manager self-service allow supervisors to instantly access employee information and initiate employment-related actions. The primary goal of a manager self-service system is to provide supervisors with access to their direct reports' personnel data, such as time and attendance, leave, benefits, and performance ratings. Supervisors can use the system to create ad hoc reports and update records. With these features, managers can work more independently and complete a variety of HR and performance management tasks without involving HR or payroll.

SAP Manager Self Services offer supervisors and management extended functions such as a monthly display of upcoming anniversaries and birthdays or access to reports and evaluations on basic pay, salary developments, time balance lists, etc. of the employees in their area of responsibility. In addition, they have access to their master data and also their absences in order to be able to decide on absence requests.

The SAP HCM Processes & Forms framework is particularly interesting for companies that want to digitize their processes across departments. With this flexible solution, HR processes and forms can be digitized in a similar way to a modular system. By streamlining processes and eliminating paper mailings, job planning processes, for example, are accelerated. Existing data can also be efficiently maintained and cleansed. Reports can be called up directly from the system at any time and ensure transparency. Special reports for management are also possible, such as an automated graphical comparison of target values and actual conditions in the entire company or in individual departments.

SAP Fiori is reduced to the essentials, simply structured and easy to use. The cross-device technology is therefore designed for SAP applications that focus on use in the desktop area and on mobile devices. It consists of role-based applications known as apps. 

With the Fiori apps (which are free for SAP user companies), SAP simplifies the user interfaces of SAP Business Suite, including SAP ERP Human Capital Management (HCM).  The apps hide the complex process steps in the backend behind a simple, modern and mobile user interface. Typical tasks in the SAP environment can be performed via Fiori Apps in a mobile way and independent of time.Behind the intuitive and device-independent user experience of Fiori Apps are two technologies, OData and SAPUI5.

Front-end technology: SAPUI5. SAP User Interface 5 is one of the most widely used interface technologies and as a framework is ideally suited for the development of lean business applications. The HTML5-based framework ensures responsiveness and thus usability on all end devices.

Backend technology: OData. The Open Data Protocol (OData) is an HTTP-based protocol that regulates data access between compatible software systems and forms the interface between the UI5 front end and the SAP back end.

There are already over 300 different applications for SAP Fiori. For a complete list of SAP Fiori apps, see the SAP Fiori App Library. 

A distinction is made between three different app types:

• Transactional apps
• Information apps
• Analysis apps

Transactional apps allow you to create or approve vacation requests or travel expense reimbursements, for example. Info sheets present information from business transactions, such as receipts or customer master data. The analytical apps offer you key figures and a role-based real-time insight into business transactions. To a certain extent, all apps can be adapted to the individual requirements of your company.

Not only users benefit from SAP Fiori, but also programmers. This is because all software development steps converge centrally in the SAP HANA CloudPlatform. This not only has the advantage that it can be accessed at any time and from anywhere - even via mobile devices. In addition, the programmer can start development without prior installation and configuration and gains time.

SAP Fiori also includes various services that can be used, for example, to create user interfaces very quickly using drag & drop or to integrate back-end solutions and mobile services. In this way, entire apps can be created without writing program codes - thanks to Smart Design. Programming skills are not required; instead, the desired content is simply selected and SAP Fiori takes care of the rest. In this way, a prototype can be made available for practical tests in a short time. Smart Design can also be used to modify existing SAP systems. The principle also works for the development of on-premise applications.