The Evolution of SAP Fiori: From 2013 to Today

What is SAP Fiori?

The evolution of SAP Fiori spans over a decade — from a modest collection of 25 mobile-first applications in 2013 to the comprehensive, AI-powered design system that underpins SAP S/4HANA today. Understanding this evolution helps organizations make informed decisions about Fiori adoption, customization, and migration.

SAP Fiori is a user interface framework for standard SAP applications. It encompasses hundreds of standard applications in its library. Furthermore, it enables users to edit and improve the code, making it possible to create new customized applications. SAP Fiori applications can be developed by using open source software from the UI5 library. Unlike SAP GUI, Fiori applications can also be used on computers, smart phones, and tablets.

Fiori can be used as a role-based tool, which allows categorizing applications into groups. Access to the relevant groups of applications is given according to the user's role. The applications displayed to a user is determined by their role and what authorization they have been given.

The History of Fiori

The purpose of SAP is to enable users to work easily and efficiently without fail. All SAP users remember the old standard SAP GUI screens and many users continue to use it even today. Not only are these not the most user friendly of screens, but completing even the simplest of processes or tasks may require some needless extra clicking.

Let's have a look at the historical development of SAP Fiori, as shown in the chart below.

SAP Fiori has been continually evolving since its debut in 2013, adapting its design principles for the best user experience. The current in-use design is Fiori 2.0, which was made available as part of SAP S/4 HANA 1610. Following this there were thousands of Fiori applications. Then SAP developed Fiori 3, which is based on the previous design with the addition of compatibility with cloud-based solutions. Parts of Fiori 3 are now available with SAP S/4HANA Cloud 1908. For an in-depth look at the design principles behind Fiori, see our guide on SAP Fiori UI/UX and Design Thinking.

Fiori focuses on the user and on how the user works. Going above and beyond the standard pace of development for applications, Fiori is constantly improving as it redesigns and redefines user experience by following the latest tech advances. All in all, Fiori can be described in three main attributes: consistent, intelligent, and integrated.

Consistent

Over the years, SAP's Fiori solution has been consistent on focusing on user experience as a priority. A consistent user experience requires less training, aids faster work, is less prone to user errors, produces higher quality data, and enhances user motivation. With Fiori, you get the most amount of work done in minimal time.

Integrated

SAP now offers a new approach on SAP UI5 1.65 with Fiori 3. The new design can integrate content from different products into a single screen. Users can see content from different SAP products, but they only see that which is relevant to them. This gets rid of a lot of needless clutter and navigation, allowing users to concentrate on what's important for their job.

The notification popover feature is introduced with this design, so users are alerted of situations that require attention and can navigate to the source of the notification in an instant. Another feature for integration is the digital assistant, CoPilot. With CoPilot users can now search for intended tasks, both by typing and by speaking. Fiori 3 also provides users with a new search experience including improved search previews, results pages, and result visualizations with a fully integrated digital assistant.

Intelligent

The development of SAP Fiori 3.0 has continued to use the latest advances in technology. It makes corporate software more efficient by using artificial intelligence and machine intelligence. SAP Fiori 3 provides a smart and customizable home page that shows everything you need to focus on by using artificial intelligence and machine intelligence.

A Collaborative Design

SAP Fiori 3 has been developed around common rules for all SAP products and with all design teams in mind. It can work consistently and responsively with other SAP products on any device. Fiori 3 is also technically compatible with Fiori version 2.0.

All in all, the SAP Fiori design principles of role-based, adaptive, coherent and simple user experience are a constant. Particularly Fiori 3 has the power to make life even easier by leveraging the benefits of the latest advancements in technology and artificial intelligence. For MDP Group's approach to Fiori consultancy, see our SAP Fiori Consultancy page.

If all this sounds appealing to you, contact us now for more information and offers on maximising your user experience with SAP Fiori!