Blueskyx – UX, INNOVATION, CLOUD Webinar

UKISUG Webinar on UX, Innovation and Cloud technology with our Blueskyx platform and service. We investigate the trends around UX innovation using the SAP Cloud Platform, debunk some myths about the cloud and take you through some methodologies for successful UX innovation.

Discover more about UX innovation and how combining elements of UX and design thinking creates the perfect storm in our other UX resources.

If you are looking to improve your UX, discover our UX Services here

Cloud Service Provider industry trends

Internet of things

When we talk about the Internet of things (IoT), it can come across as a vague term. All it means is any physical device with sensors or processing capabilities. So if you have a modern robot vacuum cleaner controlled by an app or a smart bulb in your home, this is a good example of how you are already using the IoT. With everything IoT being controlled via the cloud, it’s something we’re only going to see grow. Both for sustainability and convenience, it has major potential for any enterprise seeking digital transformation.

 

Big data

Big data is as it sounds- vast amounts of data that are mined by an organisation for information. It can be broken down into three types- structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data. Due to the size of big data, it’s too large to be sorted by traditional data processing techniques and is often processed instead by machine learning and AI.

The implication for organisations is greater statistical power, leading to smarter decision-making. These processes are often done via the cloud as the server space needed would be inefficient and expensive to keep on-premises.

 

DaaS

Any cloud-based software or tool working towards processing, managing or analysing data is classed as Data as a Service (Daas). We have seen an upward trend in Daas for two reasons. One, as the cloud becomes more affordable than on-premises solutions it improves IT cost effectiveness whilst reducing hardware overheads- a win-win. Secondly, Access to machine learning and analytical tools has transformed the way businesses can extrapolate and use data. This means that businesses can make better-informed decisions, improving agility whilst slashing costs.

 

AI deep learning

This is probably the most niche trend we have noticed and closely links to DaaS. Rather than just using AI for data processing, deep learning is about applications in a broader sense. Chatbots for example- using their transactions as a way to improve. This creates an easy route to automation using less resources.

 

Mobile and UX

The rise in mobile UX and app customisation has led to a sharp rise in SAP users on mobile devices. This enables businesses to run systems and manage processes on the go. It also enables users to be mobile on a factory floor for example, instead of revolving around an office with a desktop.

However, this trend is a double edge sword. Clients can get excited by the idea of mobile UX without considering the task they are trying to achieve. When it fits its great but if it does not, mobile UX can overcomplicate the process. This leads to added complexities, which are unnecessary.

 

Cloud

All these trends have one thing in common- the Cloud. It’s access to and investment in the cloud that have led to these tools being created. In short, the cloud creates flexibility and scalability for a business. The resources on offer are only limited by the need of the organisation. This makes scaling business operations and systems simple, without having to worry about spending on additional resources internally.

 

 

What is the SAP Cloud Platform? (BTP)

The SAP Cloud Platform- now known as the Business Technology Platform, is a platform for enterprises seeking digital transformation. It’s a platform as a service designed to help you innovate, integrate and extend applications with agility, flexibility and choice.

The BSX view of the cloud platform is to look at it as a layer of agility. It’s where, you, the customer request and (co-)build new innovations outside of, but at the same time integrate with the core systems running the core business.

The agile layer is where you can apply more modern disruptive methods and technologies allowing breakthrough innovation and innovative business models.

 

Why adopt the Cloud Platform? (BTP)

  • User experience transformation
  • Integration and APIs
  • Quick innovation including pre-delivered content
  • Consistent user interfaces

 

What are the capabilities of the Business Technology Platform?

 

In short, there’s a tonne of capabilities. We think this can be quite overwhelming and confusing when looking at this from a fresh perspective, so here’s a quick list which breaks down the key capabilities:

  • Analytics
  • Blockchain
  • Collaboration
  • Commercialisation
  • Data Management
  • Data Privacy and security
  • Developer Experience
  • Devs and operations
  • Document control
  • Globalisation
  • Integration
  • Internet of things
  • LoBs and industries
  • Machine learning
  • Master data
  • Mobile
  • Orchestration
  • Output management
  • Rates and measures
  • Runtimes and containers
  • User experience
  • User management.

 

What are the main use cases for the Cloud Platform? (BTP)

Extend

It might be used for extending cloud and on-prem apps, improving them or making them fit for a specific business.

Experience

It could focus on user experience. The people and the data using the application and the relationship between them both.

Build

It can purely be a development platform for building brand-new applications which fill an unforeseen gap.

Integrate

Integration of app, data and processes, either SAP or non-SAP.

 

UX Practice- methods and new tech

Design thinking for app development

When building applications, we follow the design thinking principles. We have written about design thinking in more detail in our ultimate guide to design thinking, which can be read here.

 

To summarise, it’s about understanding the user need and the enterprise problem and defining what that problem is. Then we build up ideas for solutions- through techniques lie workshops. But very quickly, we are driven to a prototyping phase. Initially, these might be paper prototypes- and we do this to perfect the user experience side of the design.

 

The 5 points criteria we look for in our apps whilst using design thinking are

  • Learnability: The ease of users to complete a task when they initially use the app
  • Efficiency: How quickly can the users complete tasks?
  • Errors: How many errors do the users make? Severity and recovery.
  • Memorability: How quickly do users gain proficiency after a period of non-use
  • Satisfaction: How enjoyable is it to use?

 

SAP UI5 for Cloud Platform

We deploy UI5 (Fiori) wherever possible on the cloud platform as it allows us to create a unified entry point with a customised UI. The positives are:

  • Interaction and control of back end and data.
  • Consistent design guidelines across all devices is the current preferred technology from SAP
  • Future proof
  • You can adopt some standard apps with limited extensions
  • Re-imagine business processes

There are of course some negatives- as there are with everything. The negatives of using UI5 are:

  • Need to customise some areas of standard apps do not cover all bases
  • Technical skill required.

 

Screen Personas for Cloud Platform

Screen Personas is also a great option for development on the Cloud Platforms for the following reasons:

  • Quick and cost-effective
  • Low code & low skill required
  • Scripting can be used for some responsive designs for use on mobile and tablet.
  • Future proof in line with UX strategy
  • The new UI5 engine builds apps in minutes
  • Can reside on SAP Fiori launchpad/ client

The negatives of using Screen Personas for Cloud Platform development are:

  • No offline capacity

 

What is Partner Managed Cloud for BTP?

We felt things were too complex for our customers, so decided to launch our UX in the cloud. skills required for UX are not readily available as you think and can be expensive. Partner Managed Cloud has been around for a while but essentially, we have started a gateway in the cloud with pre-packaged content (for both Fiori and custom Fiori apps, like Screen Personas and Slipstream. The PMC is billed as a monthly subscription, including the initial set up and you choose from the apps you need from our catalogue. If the apps you need aren’t there, we can build them for you.

 

 

Why use a Partner Managed Cloud?

In short, working using a Partner managed cloud gives organisations value, flexibility and support of a dedicated hosting partner on terms that are affordable and tailored to that organisation.

It’s about having the resources of an extensive on-prem IT landscape in a virtual, cost-effective and streamlined way which leaves the organisation digitally transformed.