Manually creating Collaborations in SAP Integrated Product Development (IPD) often requires several steps: creating the Collaboration itself, adding Reference Objects and Participants, starting Workflows, and more. Public APIs let you automate these steps. By invoking those APIs from a Process in SAP Build Process Automation – triggered by a Start Form – you can deliver an app-like experience to users inside SAP Build Work Zone.

This post shows how to provide dedicated Start Form apps for common IPD Collaboration scenarios. The main steps are:

• Configure the Collaboration Type.
• Design the Process and Start Form.
• Add the Start Form to SAP Build Work Zone.

Configure the Collaboration Type

Create a Collaboration Type that maps to your business needs. Define a Status Profile, add Reference Objects, and attach Workflows. Using APIs to create Collaborations imposes no extra requirements.

Configure Collaboration

Design the Process and Start Form

Make sure that you have imported all required Actions for SAP Integrated Product Development Collaboration from SAP Business Accelerator Hub. Create a new Process in SAP Build Process Automation and design a Form as Trigger for the Process.

Start Form Designer

Add the Actions you need based on the Collaboration properties you want to set. In our example:

1. Create a new Collaboration.
2. Add a Participant.
3. Add a Reference Object.
4. Optionally start a Workflow (based on a user choice).

There are no tasks that require user interaction in this example. Of course, you can use all features provided by SAP Build Process Automation.

Process Design

Add Start Form to SAP Build Work Zone

Create a local copy of the Process Trigger App and provide the Launchpad Configuration Parameters of your deployed Process. Add this to your site and apply the required authorizations. The form will become visible as separate tile.

Start Form in SAP Build Work Zone

When users click the tile, the Start Form appears. 

Start Form

After they complete required fields and submit, the Process invokes the APIs to create the Collaboration, add the Reference Object and Participant, and start the Workflow if requested. The collaboration is ready within seconds and contains all necessary data for users to begin work.

Ready to use Collaboration

Summary

Start Forms are an efficient way to expose frequently used Collaboration setups to end users. By leveraging custom Processes, you can enrich user input with external data, add validations, and improve data quality and the overall experience – enabling smoother, faster collaboration.