FAQ - Online Services

Q: What is Online Services
A: Online Services is Boyum Solutions Cloud alternative to B1UP's Server Component that instead of running locally on your server runs in the Cloud (What SAP normally calls a Loosely Coupled App)

Q: Why have you made Online Services?
A: There are 2 main reasons. First is that SAP B1 Cloud does not allow server components and therefore does not allow us to offer a scheduled set of Exchange Rates. The second is to offer a service that gives you as little configuration and maintenance as possible.

Q: What does this cost?
A: During the 'Preview' the service is free to use and try. We are still evaluating the pricing (if any ;-) that the final service should have. You will, however, need a B1UP License on active maintenance before you can use the service.

Q: How do online services work?
A: Instead of a normal Server Component that runs directly on your Server, Online services is "Server Component as a Service" and instead run in the cloud so you do not need to do any setup, configuration, or maintenance. We will instead use the SAP Service Layer for SAP HANA to execute the work for you.

Q: Does Online Services work on MSSQL?
A: No, Online Services uses SAP's Service Layer and since this only exists for HANA there are no plans to offer this service to MSSQL Installations.

Q: Do I need to stop using the normal Server Component if I run HANA?
A: No, the old On-Premise Server Component will still continue to function and be maintained.

Q: Can I only use one or the other (aka do I need to Choose between Online Services or Server Component)?
A: No, You can use both at the same time for different workloads. For example let Online Services handle Exchange Rates while continuing to use the Server component for B1 Print and Delivery.

Q: Online Service only runs Exchange. What about the rest of the Server Component Services?
A: It is still not 100% set in stone but here is the current plan after the initial preview:

Step 1. Exchange Rates are fully planned except for a few of the less used features (described on the Exchange Rate Configuration in B1UP) and these limitations could be removed if you feel they hinder adoption.

Step 2. We are currently evaluating if it is possible to bring the B1 MailChimp nightly Sync to Online Services

Step 3. We are actively exploring with SAP if there is a way to bring B1 Print and Delivery Schedules to Online Services (There are currently some technical limitations around Crystal Reports in Service Layer that make it impossible to do right now, but we hope to find a solution together with SAP)

Step 4. Dynamic Code Component can't be offered as-is because it leverages user-written DI-API code and that can't run in the Cloud but we are looking at a variant where you instead use Service Layer.

Step 5. The File Importer Component (UFFI) can't be offered as it leverages user-written DI-API code and that can't run in the Cloud but we are looking at a variant where you instead use Service Layer.

There are no current plans to offer the following Server Component features

• The dashboard delivery Component is not planned as it requires direct HANA Database connections which most SAP HANA providers do not allow
• The File Exporter Component (UFFE) is technically not feasible as Files are involved and we can't access the HANA Providers File System

Beyond that, we will also evaluate what other SAP Related services would make sense to offer in the future.

Q: What data do you store about me in Online Services?
A: We only store the following:

• Your Service Layer connection info (Url, Username, and Password (encrypted))
• Your requested Schedule (recurrence and time of day you wish to execute the service)
• Your configured Currency Codes and Local Currency (so we can set them)
• Your Success/Error email information (so we can send you success and error emails)
• We will not store any personally sensitive information.

Q: I have further questions. What to do?
A: Please send your further questions to support@boyum-it.com