SAP Cloud ALM Q4 Updates - Implementation

In the recent SAP Cloud ALM webinar, SAP showcased enhanced features available within this solution part of the release from Q4 2023. The proactive response to user feedback by SAP is particularly noteworthy, demonstrating a commitment to crafting a solution that seamlessly operates and integrates across hybrid environments. Currently, these features span the core capabilities throughout all phases, providing robust support for implementation.

Design Phase Features:

• Solution Components: Enables the addition of a component to a Custom Process within 'Process Authoring' facilitating the association of a software application with the solution process. SAP Best Practice content in SAP Cloud ALM now displays relevant Solution Components of Solution Processes.

• Link Business Activities: Added from a Solution Value Flow to a Diagram of a Solution Process Flow. This enhancing process brings dynamic and improves the way how process authoring is used.

• Document Types: Useful for distinguishing between various document purposes; can be assigned to document objects in a spreadsheet template, allowing the upload of multiple documents in SAP Cloud ALM.

• Documents – Relation to Process Hierarchy: Processes and documents can now be organised using the process hierarchy, integrating documents into the scope, and allowing assignment to one or multiple hierarchy nodes.

Build Phase Enhancements:

• Project Archiving with History: Provides a historical log of project archiving and deletion under 'Projects and Setup,' including user information, date, and time. Archived projects can be restored as needed.

• User Type Attributes in Task: Aids in identifying the group to which the task responsible belongs, facilitating workload distribution planning when groups are involved in a project.

• Pre-Production Role in System Group: A new role added to the System Group to support a 4-tier system landscape.

Test Phase Improvements:

• Tester Assignment in Test Plan: Assists in defining users authorised to execute test cases within a Test Plan.

• Test Execution with Test Plans and Tester Assignment: Enables filtered searches for test cases based on specific testers. Additionally, Test Plans with 'In Testing' status are now available for execution in the current test phase or test cycle.

Deploy Phase Updates:

• Assign Transports Based on Export Tenants: Facilitates the assignment of CTS-managed transports to the project by adding the export client as a development system to a system group and assigning the system group through a deployment plan.

• Navigate to CTS-Managed Transport by Selecting the Transport ID: Allows access to the Transport Organiser Web UI for CTS-managed transport requests to check transport logs. To enable this, ensure the ICF service CTS_ORGANIZER is active, and implement the required SAP Notes.

While these features significantly contribute to project implementation for both cloud and hybrid solutions, additional functionalities are available on the analytic side:

• Milestones-based Progress Report: Introducing a new 'Milestones' tab within the Project Progress Reporting App. This tab allows you to meticulously track task progress associated with planned milestones. The report provides a comprehensive overview, detailing the ‘completion percentage’ and the status of ‘planned, completed, and remaining tasks’ linked to milestones.

• New Cards: Experience enhanced efficiency with new cards that provide a swift snapshot of project-related documents. These cards facilitate easy searching based on status or document type. Notably, the updated SAP Card captures a concise summary of the impact of Activate Roadmap updates on your tasks.

• Test Plan in Reporting: Enhancing visibility into testing, the Reporting feature now offers key performance indicators (KPIs) for a specific test plan. A convenient filter is accessible on the Overview Page. Furthermore, delve into a detailed test execution analysis with a comprehensive history and details of executed manual test actions.

The session concluded with a comprehensive demo, delving into an in-depth exploration of these features. From an objective standpoint, it can be asserted that these functionalities contribute significant value to the manner in which SAP facilitates the acceleration of implementation of projects.