Product Information
Updates from the SAP EWM Ecosystem: Introducing the SAP EWM UI5 Converter
Today, I would like to highlight a solution that our partners HPC from Germany and trimaster from Switzerland have developed together. The UI5 Converter is a simple tool to convert your existing SAP EWM Radio Frequency User Interfaces with three parameters and one click into a ready to run UI5 App with responsive layouts.
Motivation and Scope
In the field of mobile solutions, SAP has been using the ITSmobile framework to convert simple screens into HTML pages. The ITSmobile framework connects mobile devices to a SAP system in order to run applications based on the widely used Web Dynpro programming model which is a UI technology used for SAP GUI programming since 1992. However, this outdated technology has several disadvantages:
- The user interface is out of date and unintuitive compared to modern mobile device screens
- Scaling to multiple device types (i.e. the use of different end devices) is not possible without additional development effort
- The performance can sometimes lag due to the high volume of data required for the display in modern warehouses.
- Layout and design cannot be enhanced (e.g. bigger buttons and different colors)
An example of the old ITSmobile screens
For these reasons, HPC and trimaster have developed the UI5 converter, which automatically converts your SAP standard screens for mobile applications from the outdated, device-specific layout (ITSmobile), into a modern, “responsive” UI5 design. The conversion into the new SAP Fiori design takes less than 10 minutes without any development effort. Customers will profit from significantly better performance and user experience on all end devices.
Functionality
As mentioned previously, the Converter is a simple and intuitive tool to use. It converts all RF transactions from the old ITSmobile interface into the new UI5 interface with one simple click. SAPUI5 is the key UI technology behind the SAP Fiori UX Strategy and used by many stakeholders inside and outside SAP to create SAP Fiori applications. This solution does not require any proprietary components, nor any specific client software, as it all works in SAP standard.
The converter itself only makes UI changes, without changing anything in the code line. Furthermore, it leaves the ability to further enhance your RF and add mobile z-transactions. Once the changes to the RF are made, simply run the converter again and the enhancements will be reflected in the new UI.
The UI5 Converter
Key Benefits
The UI5 Converter seamlessly integrates to the SAP EWM system as a certified SAP add-on. After some simple configuration steps, the new functionality can be access via a SAP Fiori tile in the launchpad.
- Faster work and onboarding experience
- Enabling of functionalities and processes (e.g. use of the camera from the device) that complement SAP technology
- Fast implementation, with little to no development effort required
- Cost savings
- Responsive design for multiple mobile devices
- Direct integration of single RF transactions in the SAP Fiori launchpad
Example of the UI5 screen responsiveness
Administration can be done directly in your SAP Fiori launchpad.
The UI5 converter in Fiori Launchpad
Service Outlook
- The solution is already available to all SAP EWM customers with EWM 9.5 and any EWM on SAP S/4HANA systems.
- Generated UI5 screens can be enhanced with all SAP UI5 elements (e.g. maps, charts, …) and modification will be available with SAP Business Application Studio
- New functionality like the UI5 converter for any ITsmobile screens (not only EWM) will be added in fall 2021.
FIND OUT MORE!
If you have more questions regarding this topic, please visit: https://ui5converter.com/en/.
For a quick overview of the functionality and benefits of using the UI5 Converter, check out the following videos:
For a more detailed look of the converter, please check the UI5 Converter overview provided by our partners.
For more information about SAP Extended Warehouse Management, please follow us on social media, our YouTube channel or our community pages:
SAP Digital Supply Chain Channel
For a complete list of Q&A from the EWM community, please access this link:
https://answers.sap.com/tags/01200615320800000705
In case you do not find your specific question there, feel free to post your question via the following form:
https://answers.sap.com/questions/ask.html?primaryTagId=01200615320800000705
Wow, sounds interessting. Some questions that come in my mind:
Hi Alejandro,
To answer those questions:
1) The UI5 Converter is a EWM add-on and runs directly in the EWM system. The data communication is done via an own http-handler with JSON as data format to keep the overhead as low as possible.
2) The add-on installation must be in the backend. The deployment can be done in any frontend server you like.
3) Yes, it is a SAP certified add-on for EWM (9.5 or S/4HANA)
4) There are no restrictions for modifications in the generated UI5 app. If you want to secure your modification from being overwritten with the next app generation, we currently recommend to use GIT to merge the modifications and app versions.
5) You must purchase the add-on to generate the UI5 screens.
Hope these answered your questions!
Best regards,
Gheorghe
Dear Gheorghe,
Does it mean, that it will not work on SAP ECC or S/4 ERP System, where we use RFUI dialogs?
Thank you,
Best Regards
Wojtek
good job Gheorghe.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Gheorghe,
cool. I think the "Web" of "Web Dynpro" should be deleted in the article.
However, both are old, but not yet dead. 😀
Best Regards
Bernd
Hi Bernd,
Ha 😀 It is what it is.
As to the naming, "Web" has to stay, in order to comply with SAP brand and naming conventions 🙂
Best regards,
Gheorghe
Gheorghe,
Web Dynpro and (Classical Screen) Dynpro are two different things. ITS works with the latter
Regards,
Patrick
Hello Gheorghe,
the RF front end and UI is a very painful point of EWM nowadays, compared to some other WMS systems. When is it to expect this add-on to be delivered as an integral part of SAP S/4, included in EWM license?
Best Regards
Martin
Hello Martin,
Apologies for the late response, i was out of office. To answer the question, this add-on was developed by our partners at HPC and trimaster. There are no plans to integrate the add-on directly into SAP EWM or SAP S/4HANA.
Regarding how to acquire it, customers must reach out to HPC or trimaster to receive a quote, or they can apply for a 2 months trial run, which will cost 2200 euros. After the order is placed, they will ship the UI5 converter as an SAP add-on package or as a transport file for download.
Best regards,
Gheorghe
Very nice article. Good to know the old its mobile screens conversion in ui5 themes.
Could you please answer few questions?
1. Our client don't use EWM but they RF transactions with ITS mobile? Do we have to buy UI5 converter separately?
2. I tried to customize the ITS Mobile templates to get better ui. But when I use js libraries atleast one functionality fails like messaging, buttons etc. So which html or libraries version works with SAP ITS templates?
3. So Webdynpro screens can be used in rf gun screens? Do they render accordingly? I always thought normal dynpro convert to html and use in rf gun screens but never know webdynpro can also be used. I thought webdynpro ui can't fit or respond in the rf gun screen.
Even if the questions felt rookie please explain.
I want to achieve custom ui for sap its mobile apps, if you can guide me to the correct study material that would be helpful.
Thanks,
Raja sekhar
Hi Gheorghe,
Is there any blog available which explain how to install/activate UI5 converter?
Also can you provide any information about UI5 converter license fee, because when contacted SAP they informed it is free of cost.
Regards,
Ganesh N
Hi Ganesh,
the license can be acquired directly at HPC or trimaster. The customer will receive a quote for the license and 1 day installation fee. After the order is placed, they will ship the UI5 converter as an SAP add-on package or as a transport file for download.
They also provide a 2 month trial that customers can order. With the trial the whole full product will be shipped and can be used with up the 10 concurrent users.
The trial costs 2.200 € at HPC.
Best regards,
Gheorghe
Hi Gheorghe,
This is very interesting news!
I have the question whether the old structures from ITSmobile are still needed after the generation of the UI5 app. What happens with the structures, definitions and settings in the dialog-manager and the menu manager? Are these functions then obsolete?
Or do we still develop our ITSmobile application and have to convert everything completely after each change ( and then make further adjustments to the conversion ).
It would be a dream if the new app was completely decoupled from the old structures in ITSmobile and you could then also turn them off.
Kind regards, Oliver
Hi,
there was a statement in the blog that the new UI5 technology provides higher performance than SAP ITSMobile. Can you add some facts/numbers to this?
best regards
Andreas