Introduction

Businesses today can’t always depend on typical software programs. SAP has a lot of basic Fiori apps, but many businesses need apps that are made for certain procedures or business needs. This is when SAP Fiori custom app development becomes very important.SAP Fiori is the system for designing the user experience (UX) for SAP software.

It gives you easy-to-use, responsive, and role-based apps that make business operations easier and faster. But if conventional apps don’t satisfy your needs, SAP lets you make your own Fiori apps utilizing SAPUI5 and backend services.

In this article, we’ll talk about why custom Fiori apps are necessary.

• Important parts of making a Fiori custom app.
• Architecture for the front end and back end.
• Tools and things you need to do.
• Advantages of using custom Fiori development.

By the conclusion, you’ll understand why SAP Fiori custom app development is a great way for businesses to automate specific processes.

Why SAP Fiori Custom App Development?

SAP has approximately 1,500 basic Fiori apps that cover a lot of different business activities, including those in finance, HR, the supply chain, and more. These apps are highly useful, but they don’t always meet the needs of every business. Every organization has its own workflows, approval processes, and needs that go beyond what traditional programs can do.

This is where the building of custom SAP Fiori apps comes in. Businesses may make unique applications that fit their internal processes flawlessly, without having to change how they work to fit generic features. Companies can make apps that work the way their teams do instead of trying to work around system constraints.

Custom development offers several key advantages:

• Create applications for unique processes  – Make solutions that fit well with specific requirements, such as compliance checks for a certain industry, custom data dashboards, or unique approval workflows.

• Extend existing apps with new features. When you need more fields, validations, or integration points, you may add them to ordinary SAP Fiori apps.

• Integrate non-SAP data sources— Get data from third-party systems, old apps, or external APIs and combine it with SAP data to provide users a single view.

• Provide simplified, role-based tools. Give workers only the apps they need for their jobs every day. This will make things easier and improve the user experience.

The SAP Fiori Launchpad is where all business users start. It hosts custom Fiori apps. When these apps are installed, they show up as tiles next to regular SAP programs, making sure that the user interface is always the same and that users can get to them easily.

Components of SAP Fiori Custom Applications

There are several parts to making a bespoke app, which may be divided into front-end and back-end layers.

Front-End Components

• SAPUI5 Application: The principal interface for users.
• OData Service Definition and Registration: For sending data.
• Semantic Object and Target Mapping—Sets navigation.
• Tile and Business Catalog: This is where the app shows up on the Fiori Launchpad.
• Launchpad Role and Business Group give people access rights.
• Front-End Business Role (PFCG) sets up access depending on roles.

Back-End Components

• Back-End Components RFC (Remote Function Call) connects to data in the SAP system.

• Web Services and APIs connect to systems that aren’t SAP.

• OData Service Implementation: It connects the data on the back end to the app on the front end.

Key Components of SAP Fiori Custom Apps

Layer	Component	Purpose
Front-End	SAPUI5 Application	User interface for the app
Front-End	OData Service Registration	Connects UI with backend data
Front-End	Semantic Object & Target Map	Defines navigation path
Front-End	Tile & Catalog	Adds app to Fiori Launchpad
Front-End	Launchpad Role & Business Group	Controls access
Back-End	RFC	SAP data connection
Back-End	Web Services	Non-SAP system integration
Back-End	OData Service Implementation	Data provider layer

This table shows how front-end and back-end work together to deliver complete Fiori custom applications.

Pre-Requisites for Custom Fiori Development

Before starting SAP Fiori custom app development, certain requirements must be met:

• Backend Connectivity: Availability of RFCs, APIs, or web services for data exchange.
  
• Development Tools: Eclipse or SAP Business Application Studio with SAPUI5 toolkit.
  
• Fiori Front-End Server: For hosting apps and the launchpad.
  

Fiori Launchpad URL: Entry point for accessing apps.
Example:

http://<host>:<port>/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/ui2/ushell/shells/abap/FioriLaunchpad.html

SAP Fiori Designer: For configuring catalogs, tiles, and roles.
Example:

http://<host>:<port>/sap/bc/ui5_ui5/sap/arsrvc_upb_admn/main.html

Additionally, knowledge of OData services, SAP Gateway, and SAPUI5 frameworks is essential for developers.

Important SAP Fiori Server T-Codes

Transaction Code	Purpose
/IWFND/MAINT_SERVICE	Register OData services
/IWFND/GW_CLIENT	Test OData services
PFCG	Role maintenance
SICF	Activate services
SEGW	Create OData services
SU01	User management

These T-Codes are frequently used during SAP Fiori custom app development and configuration.

Development Workflow for SAP Fiori Custom Apps

The process of building a custom app generally follows these steps:

1. Requirement Analysis – Understand the client’s unique business needs.
   
2. Backend Service Preparation – Create OData services or configure RFCs/APIs.
   
3. UI Development – Develop a SAPUI5 app with desired features.
   
4. Launchpad Configuration – Add the app tile, define target mapping, and assign catalogs.
   
5. Role Assignment – Provide access through PFCG roles and business groups.
   
6. Testing – Validate both functionality and data integration.
   
7. Deployment – Host the app on SAP Fiori Launchpad for end-user access.
   

Benefits of SAP Fiori Custom App Development

Custom apps bring significant advantages for organizations:

• Tailored to unique needs – No dependency on generic solutions.
  
• User-friendly experience – Built with SAP Fiori design guidelines.
  
• Integration flexibility – Works with both SAP and non-SAP data.
  
• Scalable and secure – Supported by SAP’s robust framework.
  
• Better adoption – Employees use tools designed for their workflows.
  

This flexibility ensures companies can stay agile while maintaining SAP best practices.

Conclusion:

Creating custom SAP Fiori apps is more than simply a way to get around regular apps. It connects SAP’s built-in features to the unique and frequently complicated business processes that companies use every day. Businesses can use SAPUI5, OData, RFCs, and web services to make apps that not only work well with SAP systems but also add features that regular apps don’t have.

Unlike generic solutions, personalized Fiori apps are tailored to each user’s position, are easy to use, and respond quickly, ensuring that staff have access to the right resources. This leads to more people using it, less time spent training, and more productivity for the whole company. Companies can also unite their digital landscape without being hindered by technological silos because they can connect to both SAP and non-SAP systems.

Custom development also guarantees that extensions are secure to upgrade for IT teams. Businesses can stay flexible, stay compliant, and grow their apps as their needs change by hosting them on the Fiori Launchpad and keeping the SAP ERP core clean.

Call to Action

At Cremencing.com, we specialize in SAP Custom Development, including SAP Fiori custom app development. Whether your business requires standard app extensions or end-to-end custom applications, our team is here to help.

Contact us today to design and implement custom SAP Fiori solutions tailored to your business needs.

FAQs

Q1: Why should we build a custom Fiori app instead of using a standard one?
Custom apps address unique requirements that standard SAP apps cannot cover.

Q2: What skills are required to develop SAP Fiori custom apps?
Knowledge of SAPUI5, OData services, SAP Gateway, and role management is essential.

Q3: Can Fiori custom apps integrate with non-SAP systems?
Yes, integration is possible using web services or APIs.

Q4: Where are custom Fiori apps hosted?
They are hosted on the SAP Fiori front-end server and accessed through the Launchpad.

Q5: How are users given access to custom apps?
Through PFCG role assignments and catalog configuration in Fiori Launchpad.

Resources

• SAP Fiori Official Overview 
• Cremencing SAP Custom Development Services