More efficiency in plant structuring
THE INITIAL SITUATION
Linear asset management with SAP S/4HANA often involves the use of numerous pieces of equipment that have similar properties and classification features. This results in a high level of manual effort for expansions or new constructions: technical objects often have to be repeated and recreated individually – with the same master data and classifications. This not only costs time, but is also not very motivating for users.
It would be much more efficient to flexibly rebuild existing structures and use them multiple times – which is exactly where we come in.
“How can we offer users a better overview and at the same time significantly speed up the process of adapting structures and maintaining data?” – This challenge appealed to us. Not only are there different approaches, but the mass modification of classifications is also an area that requires a modern, high-performance UI and entails exciting technical requirements.
THE INITIAL SITUATION
Linear asset management with SAP S/4HANA often involves the use of numerous pieces of equipment that have similar properties and classification features. This results in a high level of manual effort for expansions or new constructions: technical objects often have to be repeated and recreated individually – with the same master data and classifications. This not only costs time, but is also not very motivating for users.
It would be much more efficient to flexibly rebuild existing structures and use them multiple times – which is exactly where we come in.
“How can we offer users a better overview and at the same time significantly speed up the process of adapting structures and maintaining data?” – This challenge appealed to us. Not only are there different approaches, but the mass modification of classifications is also an area that requires a modern, high-performance UI and entails exciting technical requirements.
THE SOLUTION
For the user interface, we combined several Fiori apps – both standard solutions from SAP and customized in-house developments.
- Standard Fiori apps: For displaying existing technical objects
- Custom-developed Fiori apps: For structuring and mass modification of classification characteristics and master data
The Flexible Programming Model was used – a modern development approach that offers a great deal of freedom, but at the same time relies on predefined “building blocks”. This ensures shorter development times, clean structuring of the code and better maintainability.
In the backend, we deliberately used tried-and-tested SAP standard functions, for example for object management or data provision. For communication with the front end, however, we developed our own ODATA services and encapsulated the logic in ABAP RAP objects – for more flexibility and a clean separation of the application layers.
SAP already offers a good basis for data retrieval and you can benefit from the standard APIs. For example, the following links:
Overview | Characteristic Data for Classification | SAP Business Accelerator Hub
Overview | Equipment | SAP Business Accelerator Hub
With the new apps, users can now move, copy, delete and create new equipment very easily and conveniently using drag & drop. Clever logic can be used to change the available features in the table view for a large number of pieces of equipment – clearly and intuitively.
Please note:
- Flexible Programming Model requires a newer SAPUI5 version and ODATA V4
With SAP WorkZone you are always up to date, waiting for the next upgrade is a thing of the past - Note special function "Overwrite" for characteristics in several classes
The same characteristics can therefore have different options per class, which makes implementation a little "tricky".
BENEFIT
Quick conversion and installation of structures
Validation of available characteristic values increases data quality
Automated processing and storage of technical objects in the S/4HANA system
TECHNOLOGY
SAPUI5 with Flexible Programming Model
ABAP RAP and ODATA V2 & V4
S/4HANA EAM
BENEFIT
Quick conversion and installation of structures
Validation of available characteristic values increases data quality
Automated processing and storage of technical objects in the S/4HANA system
TECHNOLOGY
SAPUI5 with Flexible Programming Model
ABAP RAP and ODATA V2 & V4
S/4HANA EAM
