SAP recently announced the launch of a low-code portfolio - SAP Build. This is a key component of SAP Business Technology Platform which enables business users to easily create full-stack enterprise applications, integration, and automation content without writing any code.
In this blog, I will demystify SAP Build and topics around it. We will understand:
Note: If you are new to SAP BTP and looking for a simple explanation of what it is and what problem it solves, see Explaining SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) to a Beginner
Let's get started!
There is a term gaining popularity – Citizen Developers.
Citizen developers are business users with excellent business and process knowledge but limited or no programming skills, who wants to build applications using IT-approved technology and tools.
It’s important to understand that citizen developer is a persona, not a role or title.
Low-Code/No-Code development also known as citizen development is primarily intended for citizen developers or business users who have no knowledge of programming. It enables them create business applications using low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms tools.
The low-code/no-code tools allow citizen developers to create and update applications using just drag and drop without writing code. It also provides visual tools to allow them to integrate different applications and systems or automate business processes.
Even for profession developers, this low-code/no-code tools can be very useful. Professional developers can use these tools to accelerate their basic development work so that they can focus on more complicated concepts.
Low-code/no-code development is disrupting the market by addressing the gap in technical expertise. It offers a great way to foster a culture of innovation.
Low-code/no-code technology gives power to those who don't write code but who have a good understanding of business needs and challenges. It is these people who can now build automations and extensions to address their day-to-day requirements.
Here are some interesting facts.
Today, 1.1 million business users use codeless software for digital enablement. That will grow to 3.6M by 2025.
By 2025, 33% of all developers will use codeless development environments to do all or part of their development.
The next era of rapid business transformation depends on an organization’s ability to unleash their business experts to do more, and solve more, faster.
To address this opportunity, SAP has taken a significant step and launched SAP Build – A unified low-code offering built on SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP).
SAP Build is SAP's unified low-code offering built on SAP BTP that enables everyone to create and augment enterprise applications, automate processes, and design business sites with drag-and-drop simplicity.
SAP Build empowers citizen developers with minimal technical expertise to do software development. By empowering more users to develop irrespective of their skill level, SAP Build lessens the burden on professional developers.
SAP Build brings together three previously separate SAP solutions now into a unified development environment:
Now let's take a closer look at SAP Build's three components.
SAP Build Apps is
With SAP Build Apps, we can deliver both mobile and web applications with pixel-perfect design using the drag-and drop functionality and a rich component library. Business users create business logic visually and build beautiful user interfaces without coding.
Below are the major features of SAP Build App:
We can build web and mobile applications in drag-and-drop fashion using a large library of customizable user interface components, logic flows, and formulas for data transformation.
We can preview the changes in real time and share SAP Build Apps projects with team members.
With SAP Build Apps we can create custom data model visually and create application backends using the built-in cloud functions capabilities.
SAP Build Apps allows us to connect our app to the no-code backend with one click.
We can even integrate APIs in minutes or consume data from any cloud or on-premise SAP and non-SAP systems using SAP BTP Destinations.
SAP Build Apps is available as a service in SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry. You can subscribe and use the service as mentioned in this blog Subscribe to SAP Build Apps on SAP BTP
SAP Build Process Automation is the unified offering in SAP BTP that combines the capabilities of SAP Workflow Management and SAP Intelligent RPA.
SAP Build Process Automation empowers business users to become citizen developer and automate business processes without writing code. It empowers business users to become citizen developer and automate business processes without writing code. Using SAP Build Process Automation, Business users can
Note:
“SAP Process Automation” has been rebranded to “SAP Build Process Automation”, nevertheless it is the same product with a set of latest enhancements.
SAP Build Apps is available as a service in SAP BTP, cloud foundry. You can subscribe and use the service as mentioned in this blog Subscribe to SAP Build Process Automation using Booster in SAP BTP Free Tier
Below are the major features of SAP Build Process Automation.
Digitize processes
Build or adapt end-to-end processes with an intuitive, connected graphical interface to maximize efficiency across your organization
Create interactive forms
Create form-based workflows using drag-and-drop functionality and connected data sources
Build and run automations
Build or adapt end-to-end processes with an intuitive, connected graphical interface to maximize efficiency across your organization
Manage decisions
Develop and manage decision logic in tabular, spreadsheet-like decision tables
Achieve end-to-end process visibility
Support real-time, event-driven transparency into comprehensive processes and process instances with process-visibility dashboards
In addition, SAP Build Process Automation offers prebuilt content and features – such as bots, process steps, business rules, and workflow components.
SAP Build Work Zone combines the capabilities of SAP Launchpad and SAP Work Zone into one solution, facilitating the rapid creation of engaging and personalized business sites
It is available in two different editions:
When asked about typical challenges in their everyday work-life, employees often mention that they struggle to find the relevant information they are looking for, having to spend too much time switching between business applications or not even finding the relevant application they need to accomplish a given task.
The reality is that complex enterprise technology landscapes lead to sub-optimal user experiences that are heterogeneous and fragmented across a vast number of content types, UI tools, IT systems, content repositories, applications, and channels.
SAP Build Work Zone offers a solution to this problem. It enables companies, IT departments and employees to improve this situation by bringing it all together and making it easier to consume.
SAP Build Work Zone enables non-technical professionals to navigate complex enterprise technology systems, landscapes, and tools.
SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition (formerly known as SAP Launchpad service) provides a central access point to multiple SAP cloud & on-premise systems, integrating apps and providing customizations and extensions.
The following screenshot shows an example of an SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition site:
Note:
SAP Launchpad service has been rebranded to ´SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition´, nevertheless it is the same product with a set of latest enhancements.
SAP Build Work Zone, advanced edition (formerly known as SAP Work Zone) provides advanced features (in addition to the standard edition) for content management, web content, interactive and engaging workspaces, and integration with third party solutions. It empowers business users to
In the past, SAP offered two digital experience services on SAP BTP: SAP Work Zone and SAP Launchpad service.
Below image shows the key capabilities of the standard edition (which are also part of the advanced edition), and the additional key capabilities of the advanced edition:
To know more about SAP Build Work Zone, you may check my blog Deep Dive into SAP Build Work Zone
There was an SAP solution called build.me which was used to build UI prototypes using drag and drop. This is now referred as SAP Build Classic and is in sunset now.
I hope by now you will have a clear understanding of SAP Build. Here are some good resources to learn how to build business applications using SAP Build.
SAP Build App to Present Data from Multiple Source Systems
Create a mobile or web application using SAP Build Apps on SAP BTP
Develop, deploy and run a business process with SAP Build Process Automation
Create Your Digital Workplace Using SAP Work Zone and add applications, static content, and lean col...
If you are looking for a complete course on SAP Build to learn how to build applications and automations, you may look into this SAP Learning site materials – Utilize SAP Build for Low-Code/No-Code Applications and Automations for Citizen Developers
In this blog, I will demystify SAP Build and topics around it. We will understand:
- What is Low-Code/No-Code (LCNC) development and why has it become so important?
- What is SAP Build?
- What was the need for such low-code solution portfolio and how it can be a game changer for the organizations?
- What are the major features and components of SAP Build?
- How can we build a full-stack business application using SAP Build?
Target Readers
- Business users or citizen developers who wants to create full-stack enterprise applications, integration, or automation content without writing any code.
- SAP partners and customers who wants to explore low-code solution from SAP BTP which is in-lined with other SAP solutions.
- SAP consultant/architects who need a holistic understanding of all the development tools available on SAP BTP – both for business users and professional developers.
Note: If you are new to SAP BTP and looking for a simple explanation of what it is and what problem it solves, see Explaining SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) to a Beginner
Let's get started!
What is Low-Code/No-Code (LCNC) development?
There is a term gaining popularity – Citizen Developers.
Citizen developers are business users with excellent business and process knowledge but limited or no programming skills, who wants to build applications using IT-approved technology and tools.
It’s important to understand that citizen developer is a persona, not a role or title.
Low-Code/No-Code development also known as citizen development is primarily intended for citizen developers or business users who have no knowledge of programming. It enables them create business applications using low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms tools.
The low-code/no-code tools allow citizen developers to create and update applications using just drag and drop without writing code. It also provides visual tools to allow them to integrate different applications and systems or automate business processes.
Even for profession developers, this low-code/no-code tools can be very useful. Professional developers can use these tools to accelerate their basic development work so that they can focus on more complicated concepts.
The rising importance of low-code/no-code development
Low-code/no-code development is disrupting the market by addressing the gap in technical expertise. It offers a great way to foster a culture of innovation.
Low-code/no-code technology gives power to those who don't write code but who have a good understanding of business needs and challenges. It is these people who can now build automations and extensions to address their day-to-day requirements.
Here are some interesting facts.
Today, 1.1 million business users use codeless software for digital enablement. That will grow to 3.6M by 2025.
By 2025, 33% of all developers will use codeless development environments to do all or part of their development.
The next era of rapid business transformation depends on an organization’s ability to unleash their business experts to do more, and solve more, faster.
To address this opportunity, SAP has taken a significant step and launched SAP Build – A unified low-code offering built on SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP).
What is SAP Build?
SAP Build is SAP's unified low-code offering built on SAP BTP that enables everyone to create and augment enterprise applications, automate processes, and design business sites with drag-and-drop simplicity.
SAP Build empowers citizen developers with minimal technical expertise to do software development. By empowering more users to develop irrespective of their skill level, SAP Build lessens the burden on professional developers.
What are the Components of SAP Build?
SAP Build brings together three previously separate SAP solutions now into a unified development environment:
- SAP Build Apps (formerly SAP AppGyver),
- SAP Build Process Automation (formerly SAP Process Automation)
- SAP Build Work Zone (formerly SAP Work Zone)
Now let's take a closer look at SAP Build's three components.
SAP Build Apps
SAP Build Apps is
- an evolution of SAP AppGyver, which enables users to build beautiful web and mobile enterprise applications without writing code.
- Simplifies development by giving users the tools to visually build cloud-hosted application business logic and data models, without having to understand or manage the underlying infrastructure or databases.
With SAP Build Apps, we can deliver both mobile and web applications with pixel-perfect design using the drag-and drop functionality and a rich component library. Business users create business logic visually and build beautiful user interfaces without coding.
Major Features of SAP Build Apps - What can a business user do with SAP Build Apps?
Below are the major features of SAP Build App:
Build user interfaces using drag and drop
We can build web and mobile applications in drag-and-drop fashion using a large library of customizable user interface components, logic flows, and formulas for data transformation.
We can preview the changes in real time and share SAP Build Apps projects with team members.
Implement data model and business logic without code
With SAP Build Apps we can create custom data model visually and create application backends using the built-in cloud functions capabilities.
Easily Integrate to SAP and non-SAP systems
SAP Build Apps allows us to connect our app to the no-code backend with one click.
We can even integrate APIs in minutes or consume data from any cloud or on-premise SAP and non-SAP systems using SAP BTP Destinations.
How can we access SAP Build Apps?
SAP Build Apps is available as a service in SAP BTP, Cloud Foundry. You can subscribe and use the service as mentioned in this blog Subscribe to SAP Build Apps on SAP BTP
SAP Build Process Automation
SAP Build Process Automation is the unified offering in SAP BTP that combines the capabilities of SAP Workflow Management and SAP Intelligent RPA.
SAP Build Process Automation empowers business users to become citizen developer and automate business processes without writing code. It empowers business users to become citizen developer and automate business processes without writing code. Using SAP Build Process Automation, Business users can
- build workflows
- automate tasks and decisions
- and collaborate with development teams to meet all their automation needs.
Note:
“SAP Process Automation” has been rebranded to “SAP Build Process Automation”, nevertheless it is the same product with a set of latest enhancements.
How can we access SAP Build Process Automation?
SAP Build Apps is available as a service in SAP BTP, cloud foundry. You can subscribe and use the service as mentioned in this blog Subscribe to SAP Build Process Automation using Booster in SAP BTP Free Tier
Major Features of SAP Build Process Automation - What can a business user do with SAP Build Process Automation?
Below are the major features of SAP Build Process Automation.
Digitize processes
Build or adapt end-to-end processes with an intuitive, connected graphical interface to maximize efficiency across your organization
Create interactive forms
Create form-based workflows using drag-and-drop functionality and connected data sources
Build and run automations
Build or adapt end-to-end processes with an intuitive, connected graphical interface to maximize efficiency across your organization
Manage decisions
Develop and manage decision logic in tabular, spreadsheet-like decision tables
Achieve end-to-end process visibility
Support real-time, event-driven transparency into comprehensive processes and process instances with process-visibility dashboards
In addition, SAP Build Process Automation offers prebuilt content and features – such as bots, process steps, business rules, and workflow components.
SAP Build Work Zone
SAP Build Work Zone combines the capabilities of SAP Launchpad and SAP Work Zone into one solution, facilitating the rapid creation of engaging and personalized business sites
It is available in two different editions:
- SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition (previously SAP Launchpad service)
- SAP Build Work Zone, advanced edition (previously SAP Work Zone)
What problem does SAP Work Zone solve?
When asked about typical challenges in their everyday work-life, employees often mention that they struggle to find the relevant information they are looking for, having to spend too much time switching between business applications or not even finding the relevant application they need to accomplish a given task.
The reality is that complex enterprise technology landscapes lead to sub-optimal user experiences that are heterogeneous and fragmented across a vast number of content types, UI tools, IT systems, content repositories, applications, and channels.
SAP Build Work Zone offers a solution to this problem. It enables companies, IT departments and employees to improve this situation by bringing it all together and making it easier to consume.
SAP Build Work Zone enables non-technical professionals to navigate complex enterprise technology systems, landscapes, and tools.
What is SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition?
SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition (formerly known as SAP Launchpad service) provides a central access point to multiple SAP cloud & on-premise systems, integrating apps and providing customizations and extensions.
The following screenshot shows an example of an SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition site:
Note:
SAP Launchpad service has been rebranded to ´SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition´, nevertheless it is the same product with a set of latest enhancements.
What is SAP Build Work Zone, advanced edition?
SAP Build Work Zone, advanced edition (formerly known as SAP Work Zone) provides advanced features (in addition to the standard edition) for content management, web content, interactive and engaging workspaces, and integration with third party solutions. It empowers business users to
- build & publish content
- integrate unstructured content
- and leverage premium pre-packaged SAP content.
How SAP Build Work Zone, standard edition and advanced edition are related?
In the past, SAP offered two digital experience services on SAP BTP: SAP Work Zone and SAP Launchpad service.
- SAP Work Zone already included most of the SAP Launchpad service capabilities (for example the application launcher), but they were still separate products.
- Now both products come together with two editions under the new SAP Build Work Zone brand.
- SAP is currently working on harmonizing standard and advanced edition of SAP Build Work Zone (regarding user experience, content model, mobile experience etc.), and have a focus on a simplified upgrade path from the standard to the advanced edition.
Below image shows the key capabilities of the standard edition (which are also part of the advanced edition), and the additional key capabilities of the advanced edition:
To know more about SAP Build Work Zone, you may check my blog Deep Dive into SAP Build Work Zone
What happened to SAP build.me?
There was an SAP solution called build.me which was used to build UI prototypes using drag and drop. This is now referred as SAP Build Classic and is in sunset now.
How can we build a business application using SAP Build?
I hope by now you will have a clear understanding of SAP Build. Here are some good resources to learn how to build business applications using SAP Build.
SAP Build App to Present Data from Multiple Source Systems
Create a mobile or web application using SAP Build Apps on SAP BTP
Develop, deploy and run a business process with SAP Build Process Automation
Create Your Digital Workplace Using SAP Work Zone and add applications, static content, and lean col...
If you are looking for a complete course on SAP Build to learn how to build applications and automations, you may look into this SAP Learning site materials – Utilize SAP Build for Low-Code/No-Code Applications and Automations for Citizen Developers
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