On the cutting edge: 2D-Visualization in the IPC

Sybit Configuration Visualizer displays an image of the configuration

In the SAP world the IPC is an important tool for configuring product models. In the IPC, product configuration means assigning values to a set of characteristics. However, to the inexperienced user it is often hard to understand the impact of setting a certain value.

The Sybit Configuration Visualizer (SCV) resolves this dilemma. It displays an image of the current product configuration at all time in the configuration process, enabling your users to actually understand what they are doing.
The benefits of visualization are evident: On the one hand, it speeds up the configuration process significantly. The visual feedback reassures your users and accelerates their work. On the other hand, visualization leads to higher quality. It avoids misconfigurations by inexperienced users.

The Sybit Configuration Visualizer (SCV) consists of two parts: First, it adds an additional tab to the IPC. This enables the visualization of products at configuration time. Second, the Visualization Modeling Environment (VME) is a web-based modeling tool to maintain images and model display logic. The SCV is easy to use for both IPC users and VME users. And last but not least the best thing: It comes for free!

Now you ask

• What does it mean to my users?
  Please see the section on what your IPC users will see.

• What will I have to do?
  Please see the section on the Visualization Modeling Environment (VME).

• What does it mean to our IT department?
  Please see the section on what your IT division will see.

• Is it really for free?
  Please see the section on Licensing and Pricing.

 

What your IPC Users will see

With the SCV, the IPC gets a new tab displaying the product at configuration time. Our video shows an example using the standard IPC Web-UI.

Video: Practical Use / Your Values

The Visualization Modeling Environment

To maintain images and display logic, the SCV comes with the Visualization Modeling Environment (VME). The image that is displayed to the user is produced as an overlay of partial images.
The VME realizes a simple 3-step method

1. Upload images to the Image Database: The Image Database contains all images that are needed to create the overlays.

Video: Step 1

2. Scale and place images: To produce meaningful overlays, all images for a given product are aligned according to a designated canvas.

Video: Step 2

3. Create rules to model the display logic: In the VME, a rule connects characteristics and values from the IPC knowledgebase with images, e.g. if the user chooses color=yellow and type=comfort, a rule ensures that the IPC displays the yellow comfort variant.

Video: Step 3

What your IT Division will see

The figure gives an overview of the system landscape. The left hand side (a) shows the standard IPC scenario. Here, the IPC user communicates with the IPC Web UI through his web browser. The IPC Web UI runs inside an SAP WebAS Java and communicates with the IPC Server. The right hand side (b) shows the enhanced scenario that includes the visualization. To the IPC user the only visible change is an additional tab in the Web UI that visualizes his current configuration.
From a system point of view, the visualization is displayed in a so-called customer tab. With the technology of customer tabs, SAP provides a visual component that is targeted to contain third party applications.
The person who creates and maintains the visualization takes the role of visualization modeler. He interacts with the Visualization Modeling Environment (VME) using his browser. Similarly to the IPC Web UI, the VME runs inside the SAP WebAS Java. It stores the modeling information (i.e. images and rules) in the standard WebAS data base. To access the IPC model the VME communicates with the IPC Server by means of a user command.

The system requirements for using the SCV include

• Works only for single-level configuration
• Web AS Java 7.0
• IPC 5.0 = AP 7.0
• Available for eCommerce, Portal, CRM, ERP 2005

Our shipment package contains a standard version of the IPC Web UI where the 2D-Visualization tab is already integrated. This enables you to set it up easily and test it within your environment. We provide this scenario for your convenience and consider it for test only.

Once your are convinced of using the system, you integrate the visualization tab into your productive version of the IPC. Our shipment package contains a step-by-step manual that describes the integration in detail, enabling you to integrate it on your own. Alternatively, we will provide you with support as described in the section on licensing and pricing.

Licensing and Pricing

First of all: Yes, you can use the solution free of charge, if no support is required. As it is free of charge, any liability on whatever legal theory is excluded, except in the event of intent on the side of Sybit GmbH. Please note, that the use of the Sybit Configuration Visualizer (SCV) package outside the European Union is completely at your own risk. Any license ordered or provided hereunder is subject to the Sybit GmbH General terms & conditions which may be viewed and printed out if you follow the link.

For integrating into your productive IPC we offer an integration support package. It contains one month of email support with regard to integration issues. We offer the package at a fixed fee. Take advantage of our introductory price of € 950. After we receive your payment, the month will start with the first support request. You can order the integration support package at any time. Please contact us.

If you would like use our solution but do not meet the requirements or if you need additional features, please do not hesitate to contact us.

To obtain the solution please fill out our order form.