Overcoming the Removal of the SAP Fiori Client App from Public App Stores

The SAP Fiori client app, developed to help customers run SAP Fiori web applications using mobile devices, has long been available for download via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. However, (offline application caching, online/offline events, and the local storage API), along with limitations in the WebView component, have significantly reduced the need for it. Consequently, SAP plans to stop supporting the SAP Fiori Client app and will remove it from the App Store and Google Play by the first quarter of 2022. For companies that want to continue using the SAP Fiori client app, there are several solutions available.

Solution 1:

Access SAP Fiori Client App through the Device’s Default Browser or Web Link

Users can access the SAP Fiori application by launching SAP Fiori launchpad through the device’s default browser. To access the app through a browser, companies have two options:

1. Run an email campaign to share the launchpad URL and ask users to add the URL as an icon on the home screen. The shared URL :

http://your_server:8000/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/ui2/ushell/shells/abap/FioriLaunchpad.html?

Follow the instructions below to add a shortcut to a website on the home screen of an iPad, iPhone, or Android device.

iPad or iPhone

1. Launch the Safari app.
2. Enter the launchpad URL into the address field. Tap “Go.”
3. Tap the icon featuring a right-pointing arrow coming out of a box along the top of the Safari window to open a drop-down menu.
4. Tap “Add to Home Screen.” The “Add to Home” dialog box will appear, with the icon that will be used for this website on the left side of the dialog box.
5. Enter the name for the shortcut using the on-screen keyboard and tap “Add.” Safari will close automatically and redirect to the icon location on the iPad desktop.

Android

1. Launch the Chrome app.
2. Open the launchpad UR
3. Tap the menu icon (3 dots in upper right-hand corner) and tap “Add to Home Screen.”
4. Enter a shortcut name for the app, then use Chrome to add the app to the home screen.

2.Alternatively, people who use Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools can add the SAP Fiori launchpad to the device home screen. Using the “Add to Home Screen” functionality in the MDM tool, push the URL as an icon on the iPad home screen for easy access. The only prerequisite for this solution is using an existing MDM tool.

Solution 2:

Distribute the Fiori Client App Using the EMM/MDM Tool

SAP will make the SAP Fiori Client app available to customers who want to deploy it internally through a device manager (Apple Business Manager or Android Enterprise solution). Customers need to procure the app from SAP by opening an incident with the SAP Support team. When opening the incident ticket, provide the organization ID, organization name, and a valid S-User account number. Once the request is approved, SAP will share the Fiori client app. The SAP-provided app can be deployed to all devices using the device manager.

This solution requires enrollment in MDM and expertise with the device management tool. When deploying the app to corporate devices, no custom branding is available. To enroll in mobile device management, here are the links for Apple and Android.

Solution 3:

Customization of SAP Fiori Client App and Distribution Using the EMM/MDM Tools

Some companies will need customizations (adjust the branding, add support for custom authentication schemes, or add additional SAP, partner, or open source plugins) in the standard client system. This can be accomplished by creating a custom SAP Fiori Client app using the SAP mobile platform SDK 3.2. The prerequisites for this solution are existing use of MDM, knowledge of device management, and expertise in SAP mobile platform SDK 3.2. To customize the SAP Fiori Client app:

1. Download SAP Mobile Platform SDK 3.2 from the SAP marketplace using this link.
2. Extract the SAP Fiori client source code for the SDK.
3. Open the source code in the platform specific IDE.
4. Perform the required customization and prepare the build.
5. Deploy the build through an internal MDM solution.

The Fiori tile application can be distributed using a URL pointing to the tile application.

This option requires expertise with SAP to configure below.

1. Create an external alias.
2. Create the index.html (or any html) as a redirector.

Solution 4:

The Fiori tile application can be distributed as a native platform app using the SAP web IDE and HAT plugin. The prerequisites for this option include use of SAP HANA, expertise in the HAT plugin, expertise using the web IDE to build custom apps, and experts from MDM/EMM to deploy the app.

1. Open the SAP Fiori App in SAP Web IDE.
2. Enable the project as a hybrid mobile project.
3. Build the packaged app.
4. In the platform settings, select the platform (IOS or Android).

These options can help any business team improve the mobile user experience around the SAP system. Wipro has vast experience with SAP applications. For complete SAP Mobile Development documentation, click here. To access the SAP Web IDE Hybrid Application toolkit, click here.

Please reach out to the Wipro Digital Mobility team for mobile user experience support and the Wipro SAP team for SAP support.