tech ed 2009 cd106

CD106

Business Rules Framework plus for ABAPEmpowering Business Users

Carsten Ziegler, DA Agile DevelopmentOctober 14, 2009

© SAP AG 2009. All rights reserved. /

Disclaimer

This presentation outlines our general product direction and should not be relied on in making a purchase decision. This presentation is not subject to your license agreement or any other agreement with SAP. SAP has no obligation to pursue any course of business outlined in this presentation or to develop or release any functionality mentioned in this presentation. This presentation and SAP's strategy and possible future developments are subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any reason without notice. This document is provided without a warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. SAP assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document, except if such damages were caused by SAP intentionally or grossly negligent.


Agenda

1. About Business Rules

2. Business Rule Framework plus Business User Empowerment Components and Features Deployment Options Important Artifacts

3. BRFplus in SAP Applications

4. Outlook

5. Summary


What are Business Rules?

ProcurementPlanning and

Analysis

Procurement

Purchase OrderProcessing

Goods Receipt and Service Entry

Invoice Processing

Payment

Demand / Request Creation

Creation

RFx can be created manually or by a predecessor document. RFx specific information (e.g. submission deadline, suppliers) is maintained.

Send to Supplier

RFx is sent to the selected suppliers to obtain a bid.

Receive and Evaluate Bid

Bids are received and can be evaluated according to different criteria (e.g. best price).

Awarding

Best source of supply is selected and notification of acceptance is sent to the supplier. Rejection is send to other suppliers.

Business Rules

A set of decisions / calculation mechanisms applied to a business process: Optimized process output Adherence to regulations/policies Process automation

RFxProcessing

Purchase RequestProcessing


Problems with Conventional Methods

Rules inside Code

Business User

Rules

Roles

UI

Workflow& Task

Event

Data

Process Context

Rules

Roles

UI

Workflow& Task

Event

Data

Process Context

Out of

stock

Product

15 min

Reple-nish-mentorder

Out of

stock

Product

15 min


Business Expert

Rules

Roles

UI

Workflow& Task

Event

Data

Process Context

Rules

Roles

UI

Workflow& Task

Event

Data

Process Context

Out of

stock

Product

15 min


Out of

stock

Product

15 min


Business Analyst

Rules

Roles

UI

Workflow& Task

Event

Data

Process Context

Rules

Roles

UI

Workflow& Task

Event

Data

Process Context

Out of

stock

Product

15 min


Out of

stock

Product

15 min


Rules as Tacit Knowledge

No/Semi AutomationAutomated Enforcement

Rules in Documents

Rules inside Database

Sales CommissionsPremium Calculations…

TriggersStored

Procedures

Costs, archiving, backups, compliance?Agility, visibility for business, changes?


Business Rules Management Flexible & agile business systems Precise & informed decision making

Faster turnaround times for changes Improved visibility for the business

Reduced cost for changes

Benefits of Using Business Rules ManagementRules

Roles

UI

Workflow& Task

Event

Data

Process Context

Rules

Roles

UI

Workflow& Task

Event

Data

Process Context

Out of

stock

Product

15 min


Out of

stock

Product

15 min


Model

Refine

Automate

Manage

Business Rules Management Benefit

Separation of business rules and code

Agile and maintainable systems

Modeling of complex business logic

Automation of key business decisions

Central management of business rules

Consistent application of corporate policy and government regulations

Business Experts can find, change and test critical business rules

Visibility, accountability and error-free business


Example: Insurance Pricing Scenario

Ruleset for data validation and premium calculation

Application for insurance pricing

Error message because of invalid or incomplete data

Success message with calculated

insurance premium


Ubiquitous Business Rules

Banking: Relationship based Pricing, Scorecards, Credit Decisioning

Education: Fee Calculations, Course

Selections

Healthcare: Claims, Patient Monitoring, Fraud Detection

Logistics and Shipping: Parts Management, Duties Calculations,

Pricing Calculations

Public Sector: Tax Calculations, Customs Duties, Land Regulations,

License Fee Calculations

Insurance: New Products, Claims Settlement, Agent Commissions


PWC Technology Forecast 2008

PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Technology Forecast 2008 “Business processes, in whatever form they take, depend heavily on business rules. Rules drive the activities, coordinate data movement and workflow, and provide decision automation in complex situations.”

„For enterprises, BRMSs provide great agility not only because they automate decisioning but also because they enable organizations to modify policies or implement new programs quickly.”

“The quality of rules engines in BPM solutions will likely emerge as a competitive differentiator”

“Enterprises that create value through rapid process changes are beginning to define a market opportunity for a preintegrated suite of tools that supports intelligent business performance management.”

Businessprocessmanagement

Businessintelligence

Businessrulesmanagement

Intelligent business performance platform

IT infrastructure


Agenda




4. Outlook

5. Summary


Business User Empowerment

Change

Test

Manage

Explor

e

FindFacilitates cooperation

of Business and IT


BRFplus Components in SAP NetWeaver

ABAPData Dictionary

Rules RepositoryArtifacts (Rulesets, Data Objects…) & Tools

API

Rules Engine

ABAP Application

Workbench

Rules Composition

User

BRFplus Components

Rule Composition and Testing WebDynpro ABAP transaction

Rules Engine ABAP Objects API

Rules Repository Based on ABAP and Data Dictionary


Rules Composition

Rules CompositionBrowser based, configurable workbench (business user and expert mode)

Multiple rule visualizations: decision tables, trees, ‘if-then’, formulas…

Logs and views for change and execution tracking (audit and regulatory compliance)

Tools: simulation, consistency checks, dependency analysis, xml data exchange …

ABAPData Dictionary


API

Rules Engine

ABAP Application

Workbench

Rules Composition

User


Rules Engine

Rules EngineConvenient API for ABAP applications

On demand code generation for unmatched performance

Runtime traces/logs

WebService and RFC generator

ABAPData Dictionary


API

Rules Engine

ABAP Application

Workbench

Rules Composition

User


ABAPData Dictionary


Rules Repository

Rules RepositoryFull ABAP Server supportChange and Transport System

Access control

Client concept

Fully versioned repository

XML data exchange

Catalogs and filters

Quality tools

Data Dictionary

Various tables types for system customizing or local rules

API

Rules Engine

ABAP Application

Workbench

Rules Composition

User


CentralizedRules management on central instance

Distribution to connected instances or

remote calls

Deployment Options

Distributed

Rules management on all instances

Distribution peer-to-peer

SAP ERP FinancialsApplications

Database

Deployment High deployment flexibility: distributed,

centralized or a combination of both

Local scenarios (access of memory + DB) and remote scenarios (RFC, WebService)

Tight integration of rules into applications

Easy reuse of rules

Local rules for unmatched performance

Very low TCO

Transport/XML Exchange


Mode of Operation

Function

Application Code

Ruleset

Application Code calls BRFplus Function

Only 6 lines of code needed

Context input dataResult output data

BRFplus Function processes rules from assigned ruleset(s)

Rules can evaluate conditions, change data and perform actions


Ruleset

Name, text, documentation, version overview, change tracking, release information, technical ID

Variables for intermediate values,initializations (code, DB, values, rules)

Ruleset precondition, priority, function assignment

Rule validity information and description

Rules to change data by value assignment, variable assignment and expressions (decision tables, formulas, …)

Rules to trigger actions (email, workflow, message log)


Selected Action and Expression Types

Decision/Search Tree

Traverses a binary/non-binary tree with nodes being conditions and leafs being results

Decision Table

Sequentially processes a table of value ranges and returns the first row/all rows for which all ranges returned true

Database Lookup

Performs a database select to retrieve values for processing

Formula Allows the definition of complex formulas to be evaluated at run-time

Loop Process the array of data in the loop and performs operation based on the rules

Table Operations

Operates on entire tables to carry out aggregations, existence checks, line counts…

Routine Call Calls an ABAP routine (method or function module)

Email Sends Email

Message Log

Writes message into message log

Workflow Triggers Business Workflow

Expression Types Expression types define a

self-contained computational unit with a well-defined logic

Expressions use context data or nest other expressions to calculate, determine or derive result

Action Types Instead of returning a

result value, action types trigger an action in response to incoming data


Decision Table

Decision Tables Powerful visualization - compact and structured Completeness and consistency – error prevention made easier Modular knowledge organization - rules grouped into a single table

Column definition: condition, result or action, comparison options, mandatory columns

Table definition: any number of condition or result columns, return of first or all matches

Rows: Checks for overlaps or gaps

Cells: include/exclude, enumerations, many options (equals, greater, less or equals, pattern matching, between, …)

Powerful cell options reduce amount of data compared to DB table


Tailor BRFplus to Your Needs

Extending Scope and Power of Expressions Custom Action and Expression Types

From scratch or inherit from existing types Provide best matching UIs and features

Custom Formula Functions Example: Income * CUSTOM_FUNCTION( Rate, Deduction ) Logic for formula function implemented in ABAP method Parameter definition and documentation derived from ABAP method

Extending Backend Application Exits

Authorization checks Change and save notifications Checks and activation vetos Dynamic value helps

BRFplus Extensions

BRFplus allows extension of capabilities both in the backend and the UI for best possible user experience and integration into applications. Handbooks with detailed instructions are available.


Agenda




4. Outlook

5. Summary


BRFplus in SAP Applications

CRM

Loyalty Management

Territory ManagementReal-Time Offer Management

Business ByDesign

Field Control (dynamic UI attributes)

Automated Incident Dispatching

Human Capital Management (standard working time)

Expense Report (determination of provision variant)

Service Request & Order Management (service level objectives)

Transportation Management

Freight unit filtering

Loading/Unloading duration determination of freight units

Printer determination

Freight Costs Calculation

Social Sector (migration from BRF to BRFplus)

Benefit Decision Making Process Entitlement Calculation

Other

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (rule based event management)

Business Context Viewer

Incentives and Commission Management

Tax and Revenue Management (migration from BRF to BRFplus)

Master Data Governance

Risk Management


Customization and Configuration

FoBuBRF

VSR

Derivation Tool Code Exits

BADIsCustomizing Tables

Simple configuration Limited scope Too many tables

Sophisticated configuration Inappropriate for simple cases Locks out Business Experts,

Developer needed

From simple to complex configuration Addresses business and IT requirements, models logic instead of

coding Multiple visualizations (decision tables, trees, formulas, text rules..) Tools for versioning, simulation, consistency checks, …

Migration

Consolidation of tools and engines towards BRFplus for next generation business rules management in ABAP applications with better user experience and performance at lower TCO.


Agenda




4. Outlook

5. Summary


BRFplus (R)Evolution

2006 2008 2010 2012

Architecture verification

First customer and SAP pilots

Web UI More customer and SAP

usages Restricted release Applicable for simple use cases

Mass adoption Unrestricted release Applicable also for

complex use cases

Migration from various tools/engines to BRFplus

Competitive differentiator Community with

extensions and best practices

NW 7

00 E

HP1

NW 700 EHP2


Agenda




4. Outlook

5. Summary


Summary

Business User EmpowermentGraphical approach for intuitive rule composition and management (modeling rather than programming)

Transparency of rule execution and tracing for audit

Personalization and segmentation of rules (object catalogs, filters, personal configuration, etc.)

Zero Administration Seamless integration with ABAP applications and ABAP server (ABAP, DDIC, Change and Transport System, Web Service and RFC Generator)

High performance and nearly no footprint (<100 kB)

Zero setup effort before rule modeling (no installations, no plug-ins, no business vocabulary setup, no additional sizing, browser-based UI)

Rapid Time-to-ValueRapid prototyping with feedback-based build cycle (build, simulate, optimize) leading to lower project cycle times (up to 60% reduction)

Business users can work with the rules in business semantics while IT experts can technically modify the rules.

Both business and IT can work in the same environment.


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Further Information

è

è SAP Public Web:Business Rules in SDN

http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/nw-rules-management

BRFplus in SDN

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/nw-rules-management?rid=/webcontent/uuid/d00df7db-c783-2b10-aa97-ccfeacc19fcb

BRFplus Knowledge Center in SDN https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/index?rid=/webcontent/uuid/90754865-f283-2b10-6d9f-b10f3c28c3a0

Related Workshops/Lectures at SAP TechEd 2009BPM101 Overview of Business Rules Management in SAP

NetWeaver Composition Environment , Lecture

BPM300 Architecture Guidelines for Composite Applications

BPM261 Accelerating SAP NetWeaver BPM with BRM

http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/nw-rules-management



https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/index?rid=/webcontent/uuid/90754865-f283-2b10-6d9f-b10f3c28c3a0

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/index?rid=/webcontent/uuid/90754865-f283-2b10-6d9f-b10f3c28c3a0

Thank You!

Carsten Ziegler

Development Manager

BS Ext Agile Development Progr

SAP AG

Dietmar-Hopp-Allee 16

69190 Walldorf

T +49 6227 7-62733

F +49 6227 78-34314

M +49 151 16810210

E [email protected]

www.sap.com

http://www.sap.com/

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