SAP Mobile Infrastructure: System available where necessary
Mobile solutions development platform
GUIDE | Author: Michał Jasiński (BCC)
Prepared in 2005 r. | Hits: 950 | Average rating: 0
SAP Mobile Infrastructure, a component supplied along with SAP NetWeaver platform, helps to give mobile employees access to SAP solutions in various functional areas with the use of notebooks, PDAs or cell phones.
What is SAP MI?
SAP Mobile Infrastructure (SAP MI) is a component, thanks to which corporate SAP NetWeaver applications may be used on any device supporting Java technology. It is an universal platform based on open standards, which enables to start both SAP and clients’ own applications. The development of such application on one’s own is possible thanks to tools supplied by SAP in SAP MI.
SAP MI helps optimize and simplify all aspects related to mobile employees’ access to systems and applications, including business roles, user’s interface layout, managing access tools and net connections.
Implementing mobile solutions is possible with minimum expenditure on training and helps improve efficiency through better use of the already existing IT infrastructure.
SAP Mobile Business Solutions
SAP MI can be a basis for starting solutions where employees execute their duties outside the office.
To cater for the needs of teams that provide services in scattered companies’ locations: drivers, staff of warehouses and production halls, controllers, mobile sales representatives or people often going on business trips, SAP has prepared a set of ready-made mobile solutions:
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SAP Mobile Asset Management. A tool for the management and technical staff that supervise and perform tasks outsider the office, eg. in a production hall. Key functions include order handling, technical infrastructure management, business partners relations, managing contracts, stocks and readings of measuring devices.
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SAP Mobile Procurement. It is a solution for management and procurement staff. It enables online purchasing, catalogues of products and services browsing, comparing prices and performing other tasks on the basis of current stock levels. As part of mySAP SRM (supplier relations management), SAP Mobile Procurement enables to manage supply independently or traditionally (supervised by managers) at almost and place any time.
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SAP Mobile Sales. Tools for sales representatives who lack current information on sales (prices, promotions, payment status etc.). This application, which may be used on notebooks and PDAs, provides full sales management at client’s location, based on current data, improves sales process through electronic on-line and off-line data exchange, ensures easy management of client relations and access to current data of products and materials. The application can be used along with mySAP CRM.
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SAP Mobile Time and Travel. A package of solutions that enable employees to manage their business trips (SAP Mobile Travel Expenses) and time (SAP Mobile Time Sheet) on mobile computers. SAP Mobile Travel Expenses helps to manage (create and edit) business trips and related expenses. The application handles settlements of traveling allowances, company cars, mileage and middle points. SAP Mobile Time Sheet is a tool for registering and supervising work time regardless to the place and time of task execution. The application is equipped with a mechanism of cost allocation and managing company’s relationships (control and approval of the data entered).
Key advantages of SAP Mobile Infrastructure
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Access to SAP at any time and place
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Independenceof mobile hardware platform
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Possibility to work online and offline
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Giving a user applications with an interface adjusted to his needs, requirements and skills
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Support for RFID infrastructure
SAP MI – how does it work?
From user’s point of view, SAP MI is a pair of components: SAP Mobile Infrastructure Client, which operates on a mobile device, and SAP Mobile Infrastructure Server on the SAP application server, which enables communication with external systems.
Data and applications available for the user are personalized for his particular needs, determined by his user’s role. The user’s interface is based on a www browser (JSP technology) or standard device interface (Java).
SAP MI recognizes the type of mobile device and adjusts the way of presenting data to its possibilities. For example a van driver will need bigger keys for easily order confirmation. On the other hand, a mobile sales representative must have an opportunity to enter additional data, comments and notes necessary in his work.
Data synchronization
The data are synchronized between SAP MI application server and a mobile application in a two-way mode (from SAP system to the mobile device and vice versa).
It is the same for applications themselves. The data synchronized are packed in special containers in XML format.
Transferred data are compressed and coded by the use of HTTPS protocol for communication between the client’s browser and the SAP Mobile Infrastructure server part.
In order to avoid problems connected to simultaneous changes on both sides of synchronization, SAP MI has an internal support for concurrent work and mechanisms of solving synchronization conflicts.
Easy administration
SAP MI is a solution of easy maintenance and administration. Central installation and update of mobile device platforms, automatic application versioning, convenient installation and role-based authorization system (which easily integrates with the role concept in SAP systems) are functions that will be appreciated by everybody who manages application and IT infrastructure.
Monitoring and logging user’s actions and centralized registration of mobile devices are perfect tools for control and monitoring the security and stability of applications.
Thanks to SAP MI – based applications employees gain a possibility to execute tasks regardless the place, time, device type, or access to the Internet. Remote access to current data and the possibility to influence the company’s processes increase the employees’ efficiency.
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