Overview
The client approached us with a need to enhance the standard SAP Fiori “Manage Product Master” application to support a global rollout across multiple regions, including Thailand and Malaysia. Their primary challenge was the lack of workflow capabilities in the standard app, which limited their ability to manage material creation and approval processes in a controlled and centralized manner.
They envisioned a system where every material request would follow a structured approval path, with notifications sent to relevant approvers and requestors at each stage — whether for approval, rejection, or revision. Additionally, they required role-based access control so that only authorized users, based on their user group, could view or act on specific requests.
A major technical constraint was the Manage Product Master Fiori App uses Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) by default, while the client’s operations still required compatibility with classic Warehouse Management (WM). This meant the solution had to accommodate WM posting logic, disregarding EWM without disrupting the standard Fiori behavior.
Solution
To address these requirements, we designed and implemented a clean-core compliant extension using SAP Fiori adaptation and custom development. Our approach began with adapting the standard “Manage Product Master” and applied the following enhancement:
- Fiori Adaptation for the standard Fiori App
- Standard OData Service Enhancement
- Draft Management Enhancement for Material Drafts
- Integrated approval workflow steps directly into the material request process
- Added email notifications to keep requestors and approvers informed
- Introduced role-based visibility to ensure only authorized users can act on requests
- Adapted and extended the object page to include Warehouse Management (WM) fields
- Created a centralized dashboard to track all material requests and their statuses
- Improved overall governance and transparency across the material creation lifecycle
This dashboard served as the control center for all approval workflows, revisions, and notifications.
We integrated both the standard OData service from the original Fiori app and a custom OData service tailored to the client’s workflow logic. Material requests initiated in the standard app were intercepted and stored as drafts in a custom database table. These drafts would then undergo a multi-step approval process, ensuring that no material was created in SAP until final approval was granted. Upon approval, the requestor would receive a notification confirming successful material creation.
To support WM functionality, we enhanced the object page of the standard Fiori app to include WM‑specific sections, allowing users to enter and validate WM data during the same guided material creation process. This ensured that WM requirements were fulfilled automatically when the material was created, maintaining compatibility with the client’s legacy WM processes while leveraging the modern Fiori interface.
Notifications were implemented to trigger at key workflow events, ensuring that approvers and requestors were kept informed throughout the lifecycle of each request. Role-based visibility was enforced using user group logic, so that only authorized personnel could access or act on specific requests.
Results
The solution delivered a robust and scalable workflow framework that aligned with the client’s global operational needs. By extending the standard Fiori app and introducing a centralized dashboard with approval logic, we enabled smoother collaboration across regions and departments.
The client now benefits from:
- A unified interface for submitting, reviewing, and approving material requests.
- Automated notifications that improve transparency and reduce processing delays.
- Role-based access control that strengthens governance and ensures only authorized users can act on requests.
- Full compatibility with both EWM and WM, preserving existing warehouse processes while modernizing the user experience.
- A clean-core compliant architecture that simplifies future upgrades and long-term maintenance.
- End-to-end visibility into the entire material lifecycle, from draft to approval to final creation.
Overall, the project met all functional and technical expectations, giving the client a scalable, future-ready foundation for global material management.
Our Responsibilities
We were responsible for the full technical implementation and feasibility assessment of the solution. We began by analyzing the limitations of the standard Fiori app and identifying bottlenecks that could impact workflow integration. Where necessary, we proposed and coordinated SAP Notes to address system constraints.
Operating in an agile environment, we served as the sole developers on the project, delivering weekly updates and sharing milestones with the client. Our responsibilities included:
- Designing the architecture for workflow integration and WM compatibility.
- Developing custom OData services and database models.
- Implementing Fiori adaptation and UI enhancements.
- Designing and developing of the centralized Fiori Element Dashboard for Material Requests
- Ensuring clean-core compliance throughout the solution.
- Coordinating with stakeholders to validate functionality and user experience.
Through close collaboration and iterative development, we delivered a solution that not only met the client’s immediate needs but also laid the foundation for future scalability and innovation.