When businesses grow supporting underlying processes have to be checked for efficiency and sometimes need to be evolved in order to keep up with speed, user friendliness and reliability. At Camelot, the timesheet management time recording was one of those processes which became more critical. The standard timesheet app in S/4HANA Cloud had served its purpose for quite a time, but we as an innovative consulting company were looking for a more advanced, convenient, and customizable solution. In this blog article, we will introduce a timesheet application we have built internally using SAP CAP (Cloud Application Programming Model), S/4HANA Cloud and SAP BTP (SAP Business Technology Platform) using side by side extensions principle.
Let’s explore how this application helped our consultants to manage their time recording more conveniently and provides numerous benefits, including enhanced customizability, seamless data access, and improved project management.
Several features offer a more comfortable Timesheet Application solution
Our S/4HANA team developed a Camelot timesheet application as an alternative to the standard timesheet application in S/4HANA Cloud. This application is a single-page SAP UI5 application, developed using side-by-side extension principle and is deployed into SAP’s BTP (SAP Business Technology Platform). With the logging and monitoring facilities in SAP BTP and Kibana dashboards (picture 7), we can monitor the application’s health and peak load performance, ensuring optimal performance.
The picture below illustrates the technical setup of our Camelot Timesheet application. Whereas the custom APIs primarily retrieve data tailored to specific requirements (projects, timesheet records, employee availability, and work location) the standard API facilitates data writing. The entire BTP setup adheres to SAP best practices and Corporate GitLab serves as the code repository and DevOps platform for the application deployment.
The Camelot timesheet application offers several advantages over SAP standard solution, which we will highlight in detail below.
- Single Sign-On (SSO) with Corporate Identity: By integrating with the Corporate Identity provided in BTP, the Camelot timesheet application ensures a secure and seamless user authentication through SSO and seamless integration with our organization’s existing IT infrastructure.
- Entire Month Data Overview: The application provides an overview of the entire month’s data, giving users a comprehensive perspective of their projects and work hours. This streamlined view enables better project planning and time allocation which makes it easier for users to monitor project progress and allocate resources efficiently.
- Projects Overview: The “projects overview” feature allows consultants to access an inclusive summary of all their assigned projects, in addition to detailed analysis of budget allocation versus usage.
- Individual Record Saving and Submission: Users can save and submit individual records, providing them with more control over their time entries and enabling accurate reporting. This feature is particularly useful for users who need to submit timesheets for a specific project or task.
- Progress Tracking with Charts and Indicators: The Camelot timesheet app incorporates charts and progress indicators, allowing users to track their monthly bookings and gauge their performance making it easier to visualize their progress.
- Excel Download and Custom Filters: The application includes an Excel download option and custom filters, enabling users to analyze their data in a familiar format and apply tailored filters to gain insights relevant to their needs.
- Customizability: As a custom UI application, this new timesheet app allows us to add new features as requested by users. This flexibility enables us to tailor the application to our specific user needs, ensuring an ideal fit for their unique requirements.
Detailed Logging and Monitoring Capabilities Help to Address Potential Challenges
The Camelot timesheet application leverages logging and monitoring capabilities of SAP BTP, ensuring optimal app performance and real-time insights into the application health. The Kibana dashboard, available in BTP, provides a visual representation of log data, helping us to identify potential issues. For example, a sudden spike in response times might indicate a performance bottleneck requiring further investigation.
Those new monitoring and logging options support application health, optimize performance and proactively address potential problems.
Importance of DevOps as Methodology of choice in Software Deployment
DevOps can be a critical aspect of modern software development, as it bridges the gap between development and operations teams. By implementing DevOps principles, a methodology in the IT and software development offering a set of practices and tools, we achieved faster deployment, higher-quality releases, and more efficient collaboration. When developing the Camelot timesheet application, the use of DevOps concepts helped to enable a smooth and efficient deployment. We are using corporate GitLab as the platform for deployment ensuring faster time to market availability and more streamlined updates.
The Camelot timesheet application built using SAP CAP, S/4HANA Cloud, and SAP BTP offers an innovative approach for Camelot to managing timesheet more efficiently. By leveraging advanced technology and embracing customization, this application provides a multitude of benefits, including seamless data access, improved workload management, and streamlined user experience. Furthermore, the integration of DevOps principles in the development and deployment process ensures that our application remains relevant and up to date with short release cycles.
While this blog primarily focuses on Camelot timesheet application, its technical insights extend to a wide range of business applications, empowering your organization to thrive in a competitive landscape. By leveraging our expertise in SAP centered best practices, Camelot helps you develop customized, cutting-edge business applications that not only add value to your operations but also elevate productivity and streamline processes. Our team of dedicated professionals are committed to understanding your unique business needs and crafting tailor-made solutions that drive growth and efficiency. In addition to timesheet application, our portfolio of services includes S/4HANA Transformation, SAP BTP Cloud consulting, SAP Cloud Application Programming (CAP) / RESTful Application Programming (RAP) application development and more.
When you partner with us, you gain access to unparalleled industry knowledge, innovative strategies, and continuous support in every step to ensure your organization’s success. Whether you’re looking to improve existing systems or embark on a transformative digital journey, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
If you’re interested in learning more about how our services can benefit your organization, or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re eager to help you unlock the full potential of your business and achieve new heights of success.
