Brief Summary
This video explains the system landscape in SAP SuccessFactors implementations, detailing the roles of development, quality, and production systems. It covers the concept of system landscape, including development, quality, and production environments, and the flow of changes between them. The video also discusses the integration with third-party systems and the specifics of the SuccessFactors landscape, including provisioning and BizX instances, and the roles of certified consultants.
- System landscape includes development, quality, and production systems.
- SuccessFactors uses provisioning and BizX instances.
- Certified consultants are needed for provisioning system access.
Introduction to System Landscape
The discussion begins with an overview of how an implementation project is carried out, typically involving three different systems: development, quality, and production. The development system is where initial configuration and coding take place. Once a small part of a process is completed and tested, the changes are moved to the quality system.
Development and Quality Systems
In the development system, unit testing is performed on small parts of the configuration. For example, if the requirement is to create a department object, the basic details such as department name, location, and PIN code are tested. After the unit testing is complete, the changes are moved to the quality system. The quality system is used for user acceptance testing (UAT), where users from the client side test the changes to ensure they meet the requirements.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
During UAT, the client tests the configurations and provides feedback. This process can involve back-and-forth communication to refine the configurations until the client is satisfied. Once all requirements are met and testing is complete, the changes are moved to the production system. The production system is where the client starts maintaining live data.
System Landscape and Third-Party Integration
The concept of a system landscape is explained as the setup of development, quality, and production systems. The landscape can differ based on the client's needs. Smaller clients might merge the quality and development systems, while larger clients will have additional systems for integration with third-party applications. These third-party systems can include insurance providers, benefits providers, and other external services.
Third-Party Systems and Data Privacy
Integration involves linking the production system with these third-party providers to share necessary employee data. It's crucial to send data in the format accepted by these companies. Data privacy is also a key consideration, especially in regions like Europe, where regulations like GDPR require companies to delete unnecessary personal data after a certain period.
Three-Tier Architecture
The video touches on the three-tier architecture, which includes the presentation layer (user interface), application layer (coding and configuration), and database layer (data storage). This architecture is consistent across the development, quality, and production systems.
SuccessFactors Landscape: Provisioning and BizX
In SuccessFactors, the development system is divided into two parts: the provisioning system and the BizX (Business Execution) or SuccessFactors instance. The provisioning system is used to enable or switch on/off features, while the actual configuration happens in the BizX system.
Provisioning System Details
The provisioning system uses a company ID, which is a unique identifier for each company, similar to an address. This ID ensures that changes made in the system are specific to that company. Only certified consultants working for a service partner have access to the provisioning system.
Access and Certification
To gain access to the provisioning system, a consultant must be certified and work for a service partner. The client's IT head must send an approval email to SAP with the consultant's certification details and the company ID. SAP then grants access to the provisioning system. Certification involves paying for access to the SAP certification portal and passing the required exams.
SuccessFactors Instance (BizX)
The SuccessFactors instance is where all the configuration takes place. It includes various modules such as Goal Management, Performance Management, Recruiting, and Time Management. Access to these modules depends on the company's subscription. If a module is not licensed, it will not be available for configuration.
Implementation Guide and Further Steps
The video concludes by mentioning the implementation guide, a document that helps consultants configure the system correctly. The guide is a reference for understanding the options and configurations available in SuccessFactors.
