Architecture and technology

Integration of the Allevo platform into your SAP system

Database and frontend

Allevo consists of two components: An ABAP program as an SAP add-on and an Excel file, the so-called Allevo Master. This constellation makes Allevo very flexible, because the layout of the Allevo Master can be determined by the user and adapted to future changes. All program components are located in the protected namespace /KERN/. Planning transactions are carried out using the SAP BAPIs. Allevo respects all SAP authorizations and offers you its own roles in addition to the rights of the administrator, status manager and planner.

  • Only the best of everything. You combine the functionality of Excel with the process and data security of SAP.
  • Maximum benefit. Because of the direct and permanent interaction between SAP and Excel, you use your hardware and software exactly as it is today.
Allevo architecture: This technology is behind the interface between Microsoft Excel and SAP.
Allevo architecture: This technology is behind the interface between Microsoft Excel and SAP.

The Allevo Engine is the foundation of Allevo. It consists of modules, transactions and functions that we have developed in ABAP (SAP's programming language). Thus, all SAP-specific data, authorizations, processes and functions of Allevo are also part of the Allevo Engine.

To use Allevo in your company for the first time, all you need is an SAP transport request with the Allevo Engine and the Excel template. Your SAP Basis routinely imports this transport request into the SAP system (approx. 1 hour of effort).
 

Prerequisite for working with Allevo

You need authorization for the Allevo transactions and an additional authorization for S_PROGRAM. If this is given, Allevo is available with all SAP-side features and the project work can begin. Otherwise usual preparatory work such as setting up a database, setting up servers, implementing applications on the clients, changes in SAP customizing or even modifications in the SAP system are not necessary, because Allevo uses the infrastructure of your SAP system that is already in place.

The Allevo Master is the Excel or web template with which you create optimal usability for your users and at the same time organize efficient business processes. The goal is to design the template for an interface that guides the user in entering information (plan, actual or master data), structures his procedure well and supports him with a catchy menu navigation. We always use the familiar Excel formulas, formats and functions. The Allevo Master serves as a copy template for the SAP-integrated Excel interface (Allevo Junan) or as a prototype for the design of the web interface (Allevo Koodai). For this reason, there is no master or transaction data in the Allevo Master - these are and remain in SAP.
 

Countless options

You decide on the number of Allevo Masters and their different characteristics yourself (or in cooperation with us). Your ideas for the optimal mapping and control of your business processes are the sole criterion for evaluation. To make it easier for you to find your optimum, the number of Allevo Masters is not a licensing criterion.

Allevo Junan is the Excel interface integrated in SAP. You start Allevo Junan within SAP with an Allevo transaction. When you execute the transaction, Allevo copies the Excel template (the Allevo master) and fully integrates the copy of the master into the SAP GUI as a data entry interface. The benefit of Allevo Junan is that you can customize and influence your business processes, your calculation model, and the visual presentation of your information and messages.

There are three application forms of Allevo Junan, which differ mainly in how the Excel interface is presented to the user:

  • ABC - Allevo Business Client
    The Allevo Business Client (ABC) replaces the SAP GUI with a custom frontend developed by us for using Allevo that you launch outside of SAP. We have developed the ABC in the .NET programming language. This provides options for designing the user interface and menu navigation that increase usability compared to the SAP GUI.
  • Allevo Workplace
    Allevo Workplace is the Excel user interface embedded in SAP. In SAP jargon, this display method is called Excel-Inplace - a basic technique that SAP offers in many transactions. You can design Allevo Workplace according to your own requirements. In practice, you work your ideas about the arrangement of rows and columns, colors, formats, formulas and macros into the Allevo Master. When you start up, Allevo copies this master and integrates it into the SAP interface as an Excel inplace. Finally, Allevo fetches the data directly from SAP and transfers it to the SAP-integrated Excel front end.
  • Allevo Workbook
    The Allevo Workbook is an Excel file derived directly from Allevo Workplace and used offline. Once the work is complete, this Excel file can be uploaded back into the SAP GUI. This turns the Allevo Workbook back into an Allevo Workplace. SAP postings are executed exclusively in the bidirectional connection between SAP and the Workplace.

With the help of Allevo Koodai, an intuitive web interface is created that, like Allevo Junan, communicates bidirectionally with SAP. This allows users to work in an SAP-compliant manner without having to call SAP themselves.

Allevo Koodai asks the user for the access data to the SAP system or logs them on directly in SAP in single sign-on mode. The web front end is the work interface here and the Allevo Engine organizes the bidirectional communication between the browser and SAP. At the touch of a button, the data can be easily posted in SAP. Extensive browser functionalities, such as browsing or copying page content, make Allevo Koodai a popular web alternative.

Kern AG applications with SAP and Excel or browser

System requirements

Allevo Junan

Excel integration in SAP for tasks with sophisticated calculation models.

  • Server: No own server, running in SAP
  • Client: Microsoft Excel (from version 2010) with own template
  • SAP: from SAP R/3 ECC 6.0 to SAP S/4HANA

Allevo Koodai

Web user interface with interface to SAP for many users

  • Server: Web server, e.g. IIS version 7.0 or higher, no separate hardware required
  • Client: Google Chrome as of V71 or Microsoft Edge as of V42
  • SAP: from SAP R/3 ECC 6.0 to SAP S/4HANA

Office Integration and SAP GUI Compatibility

Microsoft and SAP are constantly striving to improve and expand their applications. They are also actively working to improve the integration between the two environments with a particular focus on the SAP GUI. SAP GUI is a Windows application, and functions independently from the SAP release used. Each patch level contains numerous fixes, so performing regular updates will proactively prevent errors. Allevo therefore works best with the latest versions of the SAP GUI.

Compatibility SAP GUI and Office (32 Bit)

Compatibility SAP GUI and Office (64 Bit)

Macro Security and Kern Certification

All masters and other files for your planning with Allevo are provided in XLSM format. To protect against malicious software, many companies set the macro security settings high. In order for Allevo to work in this case, a certificate must be installed on all Allevo workstations, which identifies Kern AG as a trustworthy manufacturer. Together with the signed files, it ensures that the macros required for your process with Allevo are executed. We will be happy to provide you with this certificate with the corresponding signature for your files. We sign your files and send them back to you.