CAF / GP Versus Business Workflow

[Former Member]

Hello All...

When would you use Guided Procedures versus Business Workflow? Are there any implementations using Guided Procedures for an Enterprise Class Production application?

Thanks!

BK

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

BWF is an Abap WF engine highly coupeld with R3. So it'll work very well WF procedures that SAP has predefined. It can leverage SAP business objects interfaces and rules in a natively integrated environment with SAP data layer like HR infotypes and Org structures. BWF runtime is proven and robust and loaded with tools. Its design time is scary and complex to work with.

GP is a Process engine whose technical foundation Netweaver Java WF engine. It can also integrate with the Abap WF but that's messy. While it'll work with existing SAP rules and data, it's more appropriate for new process-based scenarios or composite processes (the collaborative kind or innovative kind like SAP likes to call them, those processes that gravitate around ERP and are cross-departmental, cross-functional and cross-systems) and non-SAP environment. GP runtime is new and lack the maturity and toolset compared to BWF. Its design time is easier to work with than BWF.

[Former Member]

HCM is using GP. Look at the self-services business packages for ECC6

[Former Member]

Not a problem, Please do assign points if you found it useful.

Thanks,

Samir

[Former Member]

Thank you very much Depankar and Samir...

I would like to hold this thread open a little while longer and appeal to others to add their views and experiences...

Regards,

BK

[Former Member]

Composite Applications should be used when there is need to leverage the existing business function. Its basically result of SOA. The SAP Composite design pattern enables your process to adopt the changes quickly. The process should be looked upon on bigger scale for its reusability. (if not the whole process, at least the designed service should be reusable). CAF enables you to connect to multiple system (using services).

Mostly the business workflows are not very flexible to react to changes. And I am not sure how to make the Business Workflow reusable or the component of it reusable, Mostly the Business Workflow is driven on data-flow also, where as composite flows are more so from application functionality.

Composites are on top of Application, Business workflows are along with Applications. These are some of the points which I can think of, Hope this helps you!

[former_member4529]

Hi,

You can use Business Workflow when the business process is limited to a specific backend system e.g. SAP ERP only and no composite layer is used.

Guided Procedure should be used when the backend is not limited to a single system and/or composite layer (CAF Core) is used.

Thanks,

Dipankar