Creation of business applications with SAP Build Apps
SAP Build Apps is a central low-code/no-code tool from SAP that can be used to create individual business applications quickly and without in-depth programming knowledge. It is part of the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) portfolio and supports companies in providing their digital solutions in an agile and needs-based manner. However, we know from our own projects that behind the simplicity there are also challenges and necessary learning curves.
What is SAP Build Apps?
SAP Build Apps focuses on the fast and intuitive development of applications. It can be used to create mobile apps, web applications or special solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into existing SAP systems such as S/4HANA. Our experience shows that it is easy to get started, but that the requirements increase very quickly. The regular updates in the public cloud often change functions or the UI without much warning. This sometimes presents end users with challenges when it comes to customization. Examples and learning materials are often very limited and only cover the simplest options, which we have found to be insufficient in practice.
How SAP Build Apps works
The core idea of SAP Build Apps is to transfer demanding development tasks to a simple, visual level of modeling. We have seen this in our projects:
- An appealing graphical development interface is available: UI components can be placed using drag-and-drop, which is helpful for getting started.
- Standard functions can be realized without code: data connection, navigation and layout configuration are easy to implement.
- The use of scripts and integration is possible: for more complex APIs or mapping tasks, however, advanced know-how is required, which requires developer knowledge.
- Automatic code generation is successful: the build engine converts finished applications into executable code, which enabled seamless integration in our tests.
One critical point is the lack of debugging options. We have developed rudimentary debugging methods ourselves, which have helped us a lot in troubleshooting. We are happy to share this knowledge.
Tipps and Hints
Based on our experience, we can give the following tips:
- Use existing examples and adapt them to your needs. This has saved us a lot of time.
- The debugging method helps with troubleshooting and reduces the time required to localize errors.
- If possible, rely on OData services, as these can often be better tailored to requirements than classic or possibly public APIs.
Advantages of SAP Build Apps
We have experienced many advantages, especially the rapid development and the involvement of specialist departments in the process:
- Fast creation: Specialist users in our teams were able to create and customize applications independently.
- Integration: The seamless connection to backend systems such as S/4HANA and other SAP services has proven itself in our projects.
- Flexibility: Continuous further development without major IT overheads has helped us a lot with agile requirements.
Disadvantages and challenges
Despite the many advantages, there are also limitations from our point of view:
- Complexity of APIs: We have found that complex APIs often cannot be used correctly by business users. It therefore makes sense to use experienced developers to implement mapping and queries professionally.
- Rapidly increasing demands: Although it is easy to get started, dealing with complex scenarios requires in-depth knowledge, especially with regard to the use of variables.
- SAP determines update cycle in the public cloud: Quarterly updates can lead to functions being removed or consolidated. This has already forced us to revise existing applications or adapt tutorials. Internal documentation is particularly affected.
Conclusion
In our view, SAP Build Apps is a powerful tool that is particularly suitable for light to medium-weight applications. However, the more complex the requirements, the more likely it is that additional support from developers or other tools will be required. Integration with SAP BTP and the ability to actively involve business users has made our projects more efficient and encouraged innovative approaches.
Our offer
We will be happy to demonstrate how you can model applications and link them to SAP standard processes using an SAP Build Apps application on our S/4HANA demo system. We will also show you how you can avoid potential disadvantages and benefit from our tips and tricks.
Do you have any questions?
Get in touch with us.