7 Most Commonly Asked Questions About Package Conf...

JayBisnik · ‎06-26-2020

Co-authored by abishek.suvarna

SAP implementation partners today invest a considerable amount of time in configuring SAP SuccessFactors instances manually with standardized configurations that are common across customer implementations. This activity is time-consuming, often repetitive, and could be prone to manual errors.

The application of these standard configurations for the different SAP SuccessFactors modules can now be applied quickly with the click of a button using the Package Configuration Manager. It is a business configuration tool that enables harmonious customer implementations using SAP Best Practices foundation along with qualified partner packaged solutions.

With this tool, partners can focus more on customer-specific requirements during an implementation phase. These customer-specific business configurations can also be created and applied in an automated manner using the tool. This process improves quality through standardization and saves customer’s time and money, ensuring higher satisfaction.

The following are the most commonly asked questions when we recently presented this tool to SAP Partners.

Who can access the Package Configuration Manager?

The tool is available to certified SAP SuccessFactors Partners. The access to this tool comes with no cost.

The modules that are currently supported by this tool are:

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central

SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting Management

SAP SuccessFactors Compensation Management

SAP SuccessFactors Performance and Goals Management

SAP SuccessFactors Succession and Development

SAP SuccessFactors Onboarding 2.0

Every registered partner will have a separate secured workspace in the tool to create their configuration content.

What are the different capabilities in the Package Configuration Manager?

The following are the capabilities of the Package Configuration Manager.

Build partner-specific configuration or building blocks on top of existing SAP Best Practices with easy-to-use scripting capabilities

Deploy configuration blocks, and SAP delivered Best Practices to SAP SuccessFactors instances available in any datacenter

Package configuration blocks into logical groups or bundles based on end-to-end business processes or industries etc.

Analyze using built-in Analytics Dashboard to monitor the usage of your package, its success rate, and various key adoption metrics

How can you build a package?

SAP Partners can now develop their industry-specific flavors and localizations that can be reused across several customer implementations. The tool provides the ability for partners to extend industry-proven Best Practices delivered by SAP. These configurations can be easily adapted, extended, or modified periodically as the leading industry practices evolve.

Registered Partners can package or assemble the configuration blocks into logical groups based on business processes or industry flavors.

How can the package be deployed in the partner landscape and tested?

Once a configuration block is developed, you can test it by deploying to your own SAP SuccessFactors test instance. The results of the deployment are available with detailed and easy to understand troubleshooting logs. Once tested, you can use your configuration blocks in combination with the configuration blocks delivered by SAP Best Practices for your customer implementations.

Does this mean we do not require a ‘Golden Master’ instance?

SAP Partners can choose to maintain a ‘Golden Master’ instance. However, it is possible to gradually transfer your configurations into the tool, and eventually have the possibility of generating your ‘Golden Master’ instance on the fly.

How to get a login to Package Configuration Manager?

We are launching an openSAP Course ‘Automate Build and Delivery of SAP SuccessFactors Packages’ on June 30, 2020. This course is a prerequisite for registering your partner organization in the Package Configuration Manager in order for you to be qualified to use the tool.

Please register for the course, and we look forward to collaborating with you in making your implementations better. In the next blog, we will dive deeper into the process of building your packages with Package Configuration Manager.

chiru_sf · ‎07-22-2020

Hello jayendra.bisnik ,

Thank you for the very useful article. The videos are very helpful.

I have an issue with the WEEK 3 Assesment.

Could you please provide us with a respective person/team with whom we could sort this issue out?

Thank you in advance!

Best Regards,

Chiru

JayBisnik · ‎07-23-2020

Hi Chiru,

Kindly post your comments on the discussion forum and my colleague from openSAP training team will help you out with the assessment issue.

Thanks,

Jayendra

PrabuSR · ‎02-15-2021

jayendra.bisnik

Is there any addition to the modules supported in PacMan apart from the 6 mentioned in this article?

If not what is the availability schedule for other modules?

Thanks.

PrabuSR · ‎02-15-2021

jayendra.bisnik One more quick question. If we deploy configurations via PacMan and for some reasons if anything goes wrong, is there an option to roll back like we have in upgrade center?

Thanks.

JayBisnik · ‎02-16-2021

Hi prabusr

Currently, we support 6 modules in the Package Configuration Manager. We are working on EC Payroll functions to be included in the Package Configuration Manager. Tentatively, we are targeting to pilot this with identified partners towards the end of Q1 2021.

Thanks,

Jayendra

JayBisnik · ‎02-16-2021

Hi prabusr

In the Package Configuration Manager's current design, if there is an error during deployment, there is no update to the instance. However, if the update is successful, there is no option to rollback. This behavior is consistent with the SAP Best Practices upgrades in the Upgrade Center.

We have recently introduced a new 'Simulation' feature in the Package Configuration Manager. With this simulation, you can validate whether your configuration block will run successfully in your target instance. We recommend that every configuration block be applied to a test instance and thoroughly tested before it is applied in a customer implementation.

Thanks,

Jayendra

marcelholler · ‎03-02-2021

Thank you for the article which is really helpful.

There are the 6 above mentioned modules in scope. Is it possible to build a building block for GDPR (cross-product/platform feature) and set up building blocks for the DRTM objects?

Kind regards,
Marcel

JayBisnik · ‎03-05-2021

Thank you marcelk1 ! We are glad that you found this blog post beneficial.

The DRTM objects, like any other MDF objects, can be created and updated using Package Configuration Manager.

Regards,

Jayendra

elizem · ‎03-19-2021

Thanks for the article.

Will there be a new OpenSAP course we can attend in 2021?

Thanks

Elize

JayBisnik · ‎03-26-2021

Hi emaass,

Yes, a newer version of our openSAP course is planned for Q3 2021.

Thanks,

Jayendra

CarsonWongIVC · ‎05-29-2021

Does it mean that we cannot be certified by taking the old course in openSAP, but only wait for the next one in Q3 2021?

Thanks,

Carson

JayBisnik · ‎06-16-2021

Hello carson_ivc,

You can get certified before Q3 2021 by reactivating the above-mentioned openSAP course ‘Automate Build and Delivery of SAP SuccessFactors Packages’ by paying a nominal fee. Hope this answers your question.

Thanks,

Jayendra

Romina · ‎12-02-2022

Hello,

is there an explanation what exactly are the advantages and differences between Pacman and an instance copy?

Thanks

Romina

JayBisnik · ‎12-02-2022

Hello,

Package Configuration Manager (PCM) is a tool to deploy business configurations into any SAP SuccessFactors instance. This tool is not used to clone instances.

PCM provides flexibility in deploying configuration from another instance or a new configuration using import files. Depending on your customer's requirements, you can create your own packages using PCM and use or reuse those packages in your implementation projects.

Thanks,

Jayendra.

P_Lippmann · ‎12-09-2022

Hi,

which (RBP) permissions does my user need to have in the respective Instances in order

a) to extract configuration data from a Souce Instance; and

b) to apply a package to a Target Instance

Thx/Peter

JayBisnik · ‎01-10-2023

peterlippmann the only permission that your user should have for both extraction and deployment is :

Allow Admin to Access OData API through Basic Authentication

Thanks,

Jayendra

cebope · ‎03-08-2023

Hi Jayendra

My user has this exact permission, however I am met with an authentication error, when trying to simulate. (Error 401, status code = 4).

I have typed the correct user name and password.

Who should I contact in order to troubleshoot?

KR Cecilie

JayBisnik · ‎03-08-2023

Hello cbp1

You can reach out to us by using the "Contact Us" feature in the Package Configuration Manager.

Jayendra

akashbansal2

Hi,

hi @JayBisnik

I was trying to push the sap best practice block from Pacman to preview instance for one of our customer. But it got skipped. May I know what is the possible reason for that because when i pushed same block for our own instance it got successfully deployed but now failed for our customer preview instance.

br,

Akash Bansal

JayBisnik

Hello @akashbansal2

There could be multiple reasons for your issue. You can contact our team from within PCM, and we will help you out.

Thanks,

Jayendra