User experience is more than just looks. A typical classic SAP UI (user interface) is transaction-based, ie- from one set of transactions, we can perform all the tasks related to one business object (document) – example VA01, VA02, VA03 – for create/change and display sales order.
But classic SAP UI can be quite intimidating for a new user. A better user interface is role based, and has real business benefits, such as:
- Increased productivity
- Low training costs
- Increased user satisfaction
- Customer Loyalty
All these benefits can no longer be ignored by any business, and everyone wants a better user experience now. Here the confusion begins: which tool to opt for – SAP Fiori, SAP Fiori Elements or SAP Screen Personas?
Well, the answer is simple. These tools are not competing with one another (why would they? SAP developed all of them), rather they are complementary and can be used together depending on the business requirements to create the optimal user experience.
To understand this, let’s see the SAP UX (user experience) approach in this simple diagram.

If you have a standard business scenario, first look for out of box solutions developed by SAP. In case there is no out of box solution – consider SAP Screen Personas to simplify your classic UI screens and give it a Fiori-like look and feel.
If it is a new or customer-specific business scenario, then check if your requirement matches one of the Fiori Elements templates (provided by SAP). Fiori Elements is a low code and more efficient way of app development.
Finally, for free style (or native mobile) apps development, you can create custom apps, typically what people mean when they say Fiori App development.
