Personalization
Personalization in SAP lets users and administrators tailor the interface, defaults, layouts, favourites, launchpad, to individual roles and preferences, improving speed, comfort and adoption without changing the underlying system.
Personalization changes the experience without altering business logic or configuration; customization (in SPRO) changes how the system actually behaves.
- For list and ALV screens, users can save layout variants, chosen columns, sorting and filters, so a report always shows the way…
- In Fiori, users personalise the launchpad (favourites, tile arrangement) and often individual apps (columns, filters).
- Personal: favourites, user settings/parameter IDs, GUI options, layout variants for lists.
- Watch out: Confusing personalization with configuration.
Levels of personalization
- Personal: favourites, user settings/parameter IDs, GUI options, layout variants for lists.
- Role/admin: role-based menus, Fiori catalogs and groups, default screen variants.
- Screen-level: hiding or defaulting fields via transaction/screen variants.
Layout variants
For list and ALV screens, users can save layout variants, chosen columns, sorting and filters, so a report always shows the way they want. This is a widely-used, high-value personalization that avoids re-configuring output every time.
Fiori personalization
In Fiori, users personalise the launchpad (favourites, tile arrangement) and often individual apps (columns, filters). Administrators shape what is available via roles and catalogs.
Personalization vs customization
Personalization changes the experience without altering business logic or configuration; customization (in SPRO) changes how the system actually behaves. Knowing the difference keeps changes in the right place, personal preferences stay personal, business rules stay governed.
Common pitfalls
- Confusing personalization with configuration.
- Not saving layout variants for repeated reports.
- Over-hiding fields and confusing other users.