Differences between SAP Fiori UI5 and SAP Screen Personas

SAP user experiences have two options, one is the well-known SAP Screen persona and the other is the SAP Fiori user experience. The Fiori UI5 User experience strategy is focused on transforming the transactional operational model to something that is role-oriented. SAP Screen persona on the other hand handles scenarios which aren’t managed by Fiori applications or for custom transactions.

UI v/s UX

We have to note that while User Interface or UI deals with actual elements of the interface, User experience, as the name suggests deals with the way the user feels while using the interface. The user experience ties in technology, people and processes as well.

SAP Fiori UI5 and personas are the technologies offered in order to enhance UI for screens. This is an initiative as part of enterprise UX enhancement measures. Given below are the details of such technology:

1. Fiori UI5 Apps

Role based development is one of the strong suits here with development having to occur only once, with it being able to be used across all devices post development. This includes tablets, smartphones, desktops and more. Also great is the fact that development can be executed based on current needs, and it can be carried out irrespective of existing SAP transactions. SAP Fiori Launchpad can also be used to personalize landing screens which is a great advantage. Fiori design has been touted as the future UI for every SAP products.  The Smart tiles with analytical annotation and dynamic search functionality are also great assets in this technology.

To sum up its uses, Fiori UI5 is great for complex Business processes despite its high development costs. This is meant for more of a long term approach and has a lot of scope of user experience enhancement.

2. Screen Personas

Screen personas allow for modifications of existing transactions both standard and custom, while retaining existing business logic. They are also easy to simplify and remove fields. It is also handy when it comes to beautification of screens by applying various themes. It also comes with a great screen editing interface along with equally good libraries for JavaScript. Display transactions can also be simplified using screen personas while being able to be integrated with the Fiori Launchpad. To conclude, screen personas are great for transactions of a simple nature and for linear Business processes. This also requires limited efforts for development. It also has to be noted that there is only minimal user experience enhancement possible here.

3. Hybrid approach

This is one of the best ways to enhance user experience – through the implementation of Fiori UI5 and SAP Screen personas in an integrated manner. SAP Fiori and SAP Screen Personas are two complementary parts of SAP’s user experience strategy. Common transactions see Fiori run out of the box, delivering SAP in an organized and intuitive manner across various devices making it great for casual SAP users within a Business.

Whereas Personas provide a unique do-it-yourself approach allowing customers to modify SAP GUI’s rapidly and easily for their users, thereby streamlining the way the users actually interact with the systems.

A Hybrid approach would require simultaneous implementation of both Fiori and Personas in different parts off the enterprise, to retain advantages offered by both approaches.

 Conclusion

For smaller enterprises, it is best to go in for any one implementation and stick with the said implementation throughout all levels of the organization. Larger enterprises with bigger budgets to expend can take up hybrid versions of the implementation with various levels of the organization receiving appropriate approaches of implementation as mentioned above. As discussed earlier it is best to look into what the Business needs in terms of content, the devices that will be used and the type and level of personalization that will be needed throughout.

I hope that by now you have had an overview of SAP FIORI. Before you enroll in ZaranTech’s certification course on SAP FIORI &UI5, do check out the SAP UI5 and FIORI Tutorial for Beginners: