Designing Mobile ERP Approval Forms for BlackBerry Users

Introduction What does this presentation cover?

This presentation describes how a real-world SAP customer has used the SAP ABAP Workbench to create optimized SAP Approval forms for BlackBerry device users within their organization It covers the following topics:
Understanding the mobile requirements Using SAP ABAP Workbench to build optimized web-based approval forms for BlackBerry users Key lessons learned

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Mobility Requirements
Mobilizing Purchase Requisition Approvals

Typical Mobile Applications

Sales Needs
View and update accounts and transactions

Executives
Remote approval and communication

Business Intelligence
Real-time access to confidential information

Workflow
Target participants could be anywhere

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Challenges to be Overcome Mobility is a fact of todays business

Executive and Sales / Field Service Reps have to be mobile in todays global business place

Timeliness
Cached information is not sufficient Real-time workflow is impossible with disconnected or sync-based solutions

Security
Typical applications require secure communications

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Mobility Requirements
Mobilizing Purchase Requisition Approvals

Purchase Requisition Approval Process Background

IT has its own purchasing department
Preferred vendors Pre-negotiated contracts No blanket orders

Purchasing process is efficient Approvals take multiple days chasing managers

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Purchase Requisition Approval Process

Requsitioner

Request to Purchase

Request for approval cost center manager Approval for Purchase IT Help Desk

Remedy Ticekt with Order Details

Workflow Level 1 : Basic CC Aproval

$
$
$

Purchasing Approval

Workflow Level 2: Dollar Value Escalation

Approval Senior Financial Manager Workflow Level 3 Special Cost Element Escalation

SAP Purchase Requisition

Approval

Special GL Approver

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Application Requirements SAP Workflow

3 processes: manager approval; $ escalation; special GL approval

SAP Portal
SAP authentication

SAP Users for Approvers

Appropriate signing authority for escalations $1 for basic manager approval

SAP Java Connector Object Library and Java

Used to build status page and requisition detail

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Application Challenge #1 Approval on BB Desired / Authentication (SAP vs. Windows)

Two groups of skill sets within existing IT staff:
Web developers (java / jsp but no SAP) SAP developers (abap / bsp)

Significant work required to build application to pass credentials using Java and JCO SEM already had the glue to bridge login but required SAP knowledge Compromise = BSP (essentially html wrapper for ABAP)
ABAP can talk to SAP (workflow and authentication) Result:
Login to SAP Talk to SAP workflow : approve/reject/cancel Look at details of requisitions Check status of approval process

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Application Challenge #2 Travel, Vacation, etc. Managers away and requisition sits waiting approval Need to set availability from blackberry

Solution:
Web Interface to SAP workflow to set start / end dates Rules established for re-routing Administrator access to break loops
- Im away and redirect it to you - Youre away and redirect it to me

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Approval Request on Desktop

Workflow email from SAP has two links: desktop & blackberry Links provide:
Purchase approval status info Requisition details (3 views) pageview parameter: - 1 blackberry (narrow display) - 2 printable - 3 normal layout

From: Workflow-System [mailto:WF-BATCH@MyCo.NET] Sent: October 19, 2005 10:22 To: Elsa Painter Subject: PR 3366 is pending your approval
Purchase requisition # 3366 is ready for approval.

Total value for Cost Centre 202020: $5,500.00 Total value for requisition: $5,500.00 At your desk: To approve/reject this PR, please click on the link
below and when prompted, log in using your Windows login and password. Once the page loads, click on your Universal Worklist and select the task related to this PR# to approve or reject. http://abc.myco.net:50000/irj/portal

Using your BlackBerry: To approve/reject this PR click on the

link below and when prompted, log in using your SAP login and password. Once the page loads in your BlackBerry browser, click on Approve, Reject or Cancel. http://abc.myco.net:8000/sap/bc/bsp/sap/ZITPRA/prapr.do?PR=3366

WI: 000000503769 Step: FIR1 GUID: GrP6Y3bw1CJX00002cMT7m

EPAINTER@myco.com

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Approval Request on the BlackBerry

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Requisition Status and Order Details

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Efficiency Gained from Process

Dramatic reduction in turn around time

From days to minutes

Sarbanes-Oxley compliance
Provides auditable trail of approval process

Supports Mobile Executives

Eliminates need to delegate approvals Can be processed anywhere and anytime

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ASUG and SAP: Partners in Education

ASUG, the Americas SAP Users Group, is the worlds largest, customer-run community of SAP professionals and partners, with 45,000 individual members and 1,700 companies represented. ASUG delivers the highest value to member companies, allowing them to maximize their SAP investments. Some highlighted benefits include: Access to a year-round community for SAP customers and partners Diverse mix of educational topics and events through a variety of formats Exclusive opportunity to influence SAP future product direction Unparalleled networking opportunities with a dynamic professional network Unprecedented partnership with SAP Access to ASUG Groups and Chapters

To learn more about ASUG, visit the ASUG booth in the SDN Clubhouse, or visit our Web site at www.asug.com.

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