Skybuffer RTE is an ecological record of staff business travel and expenses. It is a solution which minimizes the time of data gathering and that of composing business reports. It is an excellent means of automatic and accurate reporting on the way business travel affects the environment. Skybuffer RTE add-on is efficiently used for credible data gathering for the purposes of ISO 14001 ecological management system audit.
This solution offers
- Integration of data gathering process with Google Cloud Platform geo-service;
- Multiple files loading on the reporting level and on the expenses type level;
- Dynamic prompts when filling in the addresses fields;
- GPS coordinates determination by addresses;
- Distance calculation depending on the transportation mode (by highway, by railway, by air, by ferry, etc.)
- Assistance mode (delegating authorities to another employee to create a business trip report from SAP Fiori application);
- Displaying additional information on the addresses and the calculated distances in SAP GUI);
- Customized grouping of business trip expenses in analyses;
- Business trips approving process via email (optional Skybuffer add-on).
2476 :: Assistant Mode in Travel and Expenses Fiori Application
Includes Features
2477 :: OData Service Enhancement for Non-Personnel Travel Expenses (Assistant Mode)
2478 :: Security Model for MTE Fiori UI Filed Visibility Control
2479 :: Customizing DDIC table to Switch On/Off Assistant Mode in Fiori MTE UI for Trip Provision Variant
User story
Manager wants his Expense Reports to be input by another assistant/accountant.
To make the process simple, it can be made via Fiori application.
Implementation
User with extended authorization has an ability to display and edit Expense reports of other users.
Expense Report for current Person chosen in field (1) can be selected in region (2) and they both can be displayed and edited – use Edit button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen (3). New Expense Report can be created for selected Person (4).
Text on the header level shows information about currently opened Expense Report (5).
2481 :: IMG Node “Activate Assistant Mode in Fiori MTE”
User story
Assistance mode can be activated for specified list of Trip Provision Variants using IMG Node “Fiori RTE1 My Travel & Expenses Application Additional Settings”.
Implementation
To switch on/off assistance mode for a required Trip Provision Variant, assistance mode activation can be performed using Assistant Mode Activation:
2480 :: SKYBFR ABAP Extension to Redefine Authorization Check for Fiori MTE UI Assistant Mode
Customer wants to manage authorization check for Fiori MTE UI assistance mode. This current feature provides a possibility to redefine P_TRAVL AUTHP = E check to the custom one.
2482 :: IMG Node “Custom Authorization Check for Fiori RTE1 Assistant Mode”
User story
Business users sometimes need assistance in creation of Expense Reports (especially in case when a new employee is hired).
In this case assistance mode can be used to simplify the process of providing help from the accountant (or the manager).
Created Expense Report can be opened both in display and edit mode.
Assistance mode can be activated for specified list of Trip Provision Variants using IMG Node “Fiori RTE1 My Travel & Expenses Application Additional Settings”.
For security reasons, the user assisting the employee should have roles with proper authorizations.
Implementation
To Activate Authorization Check for Assistance Mode Custom IMG Note is implemented:
2483 :: Attachment File Size Delimiting
User story
To prevent Database overload, it is possible to delimit maximum size of a file attached to Expense Report (photo, or scan of receipt for direct expense, or group of expenses)
Implementation
The size of a file attached in Fiori web-application can be limited at the Header level and the Item level.
For example, if the limit is set to 1 Mb, in case of exceeding the file size there will appear a message:
This setting can be set according to the Trip Provision Variant
2484 :: IMG Node for Attachment File Size Delimiting
User story
If it is important to delimit the maximum size of a file being attached to the Expense Report by the employee (photo, or scan of receipt for direct expense, or group of expenses), the maximum size of file can be set using IMG Node for “Fiori MTE Attachment File Size”.
Implementation
For Maximum File Size Limits settings can be performed in IMG Node.
Custom item in SAP Customizing Implementation Guide is added:
Where Header and Item level attachment size can be set for each Trip Provision Variants:
2491 :: OData Service Enhancement to Send File Size (Header and Item levels)
User story
According to business requirements, there is a number of features which may be applied to files attachments:
- Delimitation of maximum uploading file at the header level and the item level
- Multiple uploading of attachments
To simplify understanding of errors while attaching files, an error message can contain information on comparison of uploaded and limited file size.
Implementation
Comparing done on the Header level:
Comparing done on the Item level:
2493 :: Multiple Attachment Files Loader
User story
To speed up the process of uploading files, multiple uploading of files can be used. To upload anumber of files, a business user can select files by scope and upload them all at once.
Implementation
Multiple files uploading attachment for Expense Report in Fiori web-application is available on the Expense level:
4047 :: “Departure From” and “Arrival In” Length Enhancement up to 255 Symbols in Fiori
User Story
Standard length of fields “Departure From” and “Arrival In” is 3 symbols and the purpose of the fields are to input IATA codes of airport. Such kind of information is not enough to receive coordinates and complete further distance calculation.
Length of the standard fields of “Departure From” and “Arrival In” for transportation expenses type and “From”, “To” for Mileage expenses type need to be enhanced up to 255 symbols.
Implementation
To enter an entire address, the length of “Departure From” and “Arrival In” fields has been enhanced to 255 symbols.
To meet the requirements, standard fields have been linked to custom properties of the oData service.
The same enhancement up was made for Mileage Expenses Type for the fields From/To.
Additional properties of the oData service transfer data to Back End side and store values in cluster and long-time storing in database.
4048 :: Tooltip for “Departure From”, “Arrival In” Fields for Transportation Expenses Types
User story
Tooltips for “Departure From”, “Arrival In” fields need to be informative to make trip report fulfillment easier.
Implementation
For these options, tooltip ‘Please enter a valid address’ for “Departure From” and “Arrival In” fields in transportation expenses types were formatted and displayed when a user hovers over the field or the name of the field:
Also, the tooltip ‘Please enter a valid address’ for “From” and “To” fields in Mileage Expenses types was formatted and displayed when a user hovers over the field or the name of the field:
4052 :: Address Suggestion List for “Departure From”, “Arrival In” Fields for Transportation Expenses Types
Covered features
4055 :: Address Suggestion List for “From”, “To” Fields for Mileage Expenses Types
User story
Address suggestion list gives applications the type-ahead-search behavior of the Google Maps search field. When a user starts typing an address, autocomplete will fill in the rest.
Suggestion list of place predictions supplied as the user enters the search query.
Implementation
For these options, suggestion list for “Departure From” and “Arrival In” fields will be formatted and displayed when a user starts inputting an address:
Google API is used to form the suggestion list.
Multilanguage input, for example:
These fields are cleared if the user does not select the address.
4058 :: Forming Suggestion List for Transportation/Mileage Expenses Types from Defined Symbols Populated (with Setting as Parameter)
User story
For these options, suggestion list for “Departure From” and “Arrival In” fields will be formatted and displayed when a user starts inputting an address from defined (for example 2) symbols. Multilanguage input is also supported:
These fields must be cleared if the user does not select the suggested address.
Implementation
Length of search string can be entered for needed Trip Provision Variant using Fiori RTE1 My Travel&Expenses Google API Settings:
An appropriate method of calculation is to be used for different transport types:
- Bus, Car, Taxi – distance calculation using the road network;
- Train – distance calculation via railway;
- Ferry – direct distance calculation between points;
- Flight – distance calculation by air.
Implementation
Distance is calculated according to the type of transport as shown below using Goggle API:
- Bus, Car, Taxi – distance calculation using the road network;
- Train – distance calculation via public transit routes;
- Ferry – distance calculation for walking via pedestrian paths & sidewalks;
- Flight – distance calculation by arc (standard ABAP function).
Data saving is forbidden if the estimated distance equals zero.
All these data (addresses and distance) is stored in a database table.
This functionality is realized with both sides: Front End and Back End. On the Front End part, estimated distance set of fields and logic of handling are added. Address data is stored by data storage component. Also, specialized program component to get Google API services is implemented.
4064 :: Forbid Saving Trip and Display Error Message if Estimated Distance Equals Zero for Transportation/Mileage Expenses Types
User story
For data consistency purpose, there is a need to forbid saving a trip report with zero estimated distance calculation. This function is used to ensure that the database has full and consistent data on distances.
Implementation
When a business user selects both addresses in “Departure From” and “Arrival In” fields, estimated distance is automatically calculated using Google API:
Data saving must be forbidden if the estimated distance equals zero.
4066 :: Round Trip Function Implementation for Transportation/Mileage Expenses Types
User story
When a business user inputs data about some transportation expenses or mileage data and it is a round trip, the user can select Round Trip switch that indicates that transportation was used to the point of destination and back.
It affects estimated distance calculation, too.
Implementation
Round Trip option will affect estimated distance calculation. Distance will be doubled:
This option will be realized with both sides: Front End and Back End.
Round Trip data must be stored by data storage component.
4069 :: Google API with Google Key Implementation (Setting)
User story
Depending on the intensity of using RTE1 add-on, you can select one of the options provided by Google API.
- If you are a Standard Plan customer, with an API key you have access to generous free daily quota (2,500 requests per day), as well as the option to increase your daily quota by enabling pay-as-you-go billing.
- If you are a Premium Plan customer, you must use an API key to access all the custom features and benefits of your Premium Plan (100 000 free requests per day).
Implementation
To use the Google Maps APIs, you are to register your app project on the Google API Console and get a Google API key which you can add to your app or website.
Google Key can be defined using Google API Key Maintenance:
4071 :: Google API Activation for Trip Provision Variant
User story
Google API can be activated for a specified list of Trip Provision Variants using IMG Node “Fiori RTE1 My Travel & Expenses Goggle API Settings”. This customizing setting is used for the sake of convenience of activating/deactivating Google API if necessary.
Implementation
To switch on/off Google Maps Geocoding API for a required Trip Provision Variant, Google API activation can be performed using Google API Mode:
4217 :: Integration with /SKYBFR/YCA1 ERP (ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION FRAMEWORK ERP)
User story
Management wants to approve trip reports before reimbursement before posting to FI and reimbursement. Integration with Simple Communication from Skybuffer is the best way to cover requirements.
Implementation
EXIT class for SAP Workflow, Inbound class and e-mail template with decision buttons are part of the solution.
4219 :: License Management
User story
The product is licensed per each SAP system (installation number) and has a limited performance period until the subscription expiry date
Implementation
/SKYBFR/YLM1 is Skybuffer License Management component. Licensing is made via license string definition through SAP Implementation Guide node for Skybuffer Add-on. License is SAP Installation number and date dependable.
4277 :: Duplicate Address SKYBFR Fields Values for Duplicate Function of Expenses (Including Mileage)
Values of the SKYBFR fields in Fiori application are to be copied with Duplicate Expense Report standard function to make seamless enhancement of the solution.
4284 :: PR05 Custom Screen with Destination Data
User story
To display all the extended details in Travel Expense Manager, Custom Details screen is available.
Implementation
To review Extended details via PR05, an additional screen may be reached – Custom Details is available on the header line of Expenses Report Details:
All the required details are available with one click.
4465 :: Emails with Approve/Reject Buttons Processing :: Integration with YCA1 Add-On
User story
To use all the advantages of Electronic Communication Add-On from Skybuffer integration feasibility is provided
Implementation
Electronic Communication SAP Add-on is designed to provide universal emailing framework for business workflows and email-to-SAP type of communication.
- Decision actions on workflow items and decision comments on documents level
- Event-based and decision-based work items processing via email
- SAP inbound emails processing is fully configurable
- ABAP toolbox to generate HTML emails for business workflow including templates of workflow exit classes
In general, any SAP business workflow or SAP communication to business users process can be leveraged with Electronic Communication Add-on functionality to:
- Speed up approval process
- Save costs on not getting timely decisions
- Leverage user experience of communication from and to SAP
- Provide easy option for offline decision-making mode
- Capture in SAP comments from business user without login to SAP GUI, NWBC or SAP Fiori
4466 :: License Management in SPRO IMG Node
License of the Solution can be configured in SAP Customizing IMG node.
4467 :: Specific Expense Type Grouping for Transportation Type Definition in Distance Calculation
User story
In order to calculate distance using Google API in the manner corresponding to the actual route of the trip, for each transportation Expense Type an appropriate mode of transit should be:
- driving
- walking
- cycling
- transit (bus | subway | train | tram | rail)
Implementation
For fast and simple Grouping Types Creation and Adjusting, Table maintaining may be processed via IMG Node:
Clear Names of Grouping Types are easily configurable:
IMG Node for Google API Command line generation is also available:
Mode of Transit may be adjusted for all the required Grouping Types:
4468 :: Trip Duplication in FIORI with Destination Fields in Expenses and Mileage
User story
To make the process of Expense Reports creation and submitting easy and fast, duplication option may be used for several similar Expense Types creation by copying from one.
All the custom fields will be copied, Database tables entries will be added for new Expense Report after saving.
Implementation
Duplication button is available both on the Header Level and on the Item Level.
On the Header Level Date and Name of Expense Report may be changed:
4469 :: Distance Calculation by Google API or by Arc
User story
For some cases calculation by Google API may be switched off. In this case distance will be calculated by Arc using the coordinates of departure and arrival locations.
Implementation
Custom ING Node is available for setting the parameter which defines the way, distance will be calculated:
- Using Google API
- Using Departure and Arrival locations coordinate – by Arc
5171 :: Estimated CO2 Emission Field in Fiori
User story
It is quite informative to see estimated CO2 emission calculated by Estimated distance for transportation expenses types and mileage expenses type.
Implementation
/SKYBFR/RTE1_CO2 Transaction is used to input Average values of CO2 Emission with a valid period of time for each transportation and mileage expenses type.
Calculation of the estimated CO2 emission is done in real time in the process of inputting the destination points.
Unit of Measure is adapted to the result of the calculation. If CO2 emission is over 1000 G, the value will be displayed in GK.
5197 :: Make Average Value of CO2 Emission Depend on Distance
User story
User wants to manage CO2 emission depending on distance. For instance, the farther the flight, the lower the emissions of carbon dioxide.
Implementation
/SKYBFR/RTE1_CO2 transaction has Distance field. Value limits the high level for the entry. Entry with zero value has the lowest priority.
