Instantly Mobilize your WD Applications
Mobility has been a hop topic over the last couple of years and I see a number of different approaches to get to the promised land.
For example SAPUI5, Sybase, SAP Gateway, custom REST services and more. While all will eventually get your app into production and provide great value, the amount of work to develop these apps can be daunting. We must keep in mind it’s not simply UI development we have be concerned with, but maintaining all the backend logic as well. Spelled out, we have to create alot of non-friendly code to support our new app.
Redeveloping every existing application I’d already written seemed like a daunting and nonsensical thing to do. Given, some of my apps could now leverage my mobile devices camera, motion sensor, etc. but the vast majority of them were rather simply transaction screens. The requirement is basically a rewrite. There had to be another way…
That said, I found a free iOS/Android app called Kairos Enterprise which does just that. It’s an SAP Client that instantly mobilizes your existing SAP WD Application library, both SAP delivered and custom. No need to redevelop all your apps, learn a new language or fiddle with new technologies. My old SAP WD Applications can now just be transformed on the fly to my mobile/tablet device with a touch friendly interface. You can connect to a demo server or your own machine and see your aging WD’s in their new shiny mobilized UI, no development required.
I’ll be posting a follow up blog on how to mobilize & connect to your own SAP server once I’ve got it fully functional. Hopefully it’s as promising as it looks in the intro video:
For those who want to follow in my pursuit, the download links are below:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=z92AuCfO3Bg
iTunes Link – http://itunes.apple.com/ke/app/kairos-enterprise-mobile-client/id504988939?mt=8
Android Market – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aragon.kairos
Has anyone else used this app? How’d it go? I’m curious to get others experience with this app.
Hi,
App is not smooth. I have tested it on ipod touch, Samsung Galaxy S and Note. It is very hard to use. I think it is based on html5 this is the reason.
Erhan,
I don't have an android device, so not sure how this behaves on that platform. On my iPhone 4 I don't seem have any issues with it. What ipod touch do you have? The latest?
I can't say it's the most UI intensive app I've seen, but I've used 10+ apps connected to SAP in real time, with not a single line of code, which is where the real value lies for me.
I didnt make bad comments. I just said my words. My ipod touch is old. But my Galaxy Note is not. The idea is wonderful but needs more development.
Sorry, didn't mean to sound negative! Makes me want to go fetch an Android phone and older iOS device to see how this works. Keep you posted.
And a question about app permissions. Why does application need access to My contacts, call logs? It is very strange.
Hmm, don't know. I didn't get anything like that on my iPhone.
Thank you both for showing interest in Kairos Enterprise! As any app, Kairos runs best on newer devices but we've tested on older iOS / Android devices successfully. Please keep in mind, Kairos is more about functionality, zero development and mobilizing your business processes. SUP, stand alone development and other technologies are better suited for fancy buttons, fade effects and more. When we think ROI, this is not what comes to mind.
Andrew: If you are trying to connect Kairos Enterprise to your own server please make sure to use it in "cloud mode" as specified in your connection settings. Once connected, any Web Dynpros in your system will be immediately accessible from your mobile device. See the video below for how to do this:
[embed width="425" height="350"]https://www.youtube.com/embed/yRxVu4y10gk[/embed]
Erhan: This is in fact a hybrid application, meaning it runs on iOS/Android/BB/WP and more. Also, we are actively working on the next version where there is a heavy focus on improved UI.
If either have more questions feel free to contact me at dominic.anton@AragonHR.com