In my previous blog, we explored the Shared Environments and the Vertical Process Editor layout, two of the most visible changes to SAP Build Process Automation introduced at the start of 2024. These updates set the stage for more collaborative and intuitive workflow design. However, some of the most significant enhancements, especially for developers, came in the months that followed. Let’s take a closer look at the major updates that have continued to shape SAP Build in 2024.  

1. Intermediate Timer Events: Time-Based Control  

Another feature enhancing time-based automation is the update to Intermediate Timer Events. You can now insert timers events within approvals to run a specified jobs if the timer meets your requirements. This feature allows for better handling of delays, approvals, or other time-sensitive workflows that require waiting for a certain amount of time before progressing. 

The ability to define time-based pauses in a process makes adds another capabilities for LCNC developers! 

 2. Custom Variables and Data Management 

Managing data within processes has become easier with the introduction of Custom Variables. This feature allows developers to define variables that can be reused across multiple process steps, streamlining the data flow and reducing the need for repeated mappings between steps. 

This is a feature that was standard in Business Application Studio, and its inclusion in SAP Build ensures that developers can manage data more effectively without needing to write extensive code. It’s another step toward making SAP Build a powerful, low-code solution with deep functionality​. 

3. Custom Attributes for User Tasks 

SAP has also introduced Custom Attributes for user tasks, allowing for more flexibility in how forms and approvals are managed. This is particularly useful for developers who need to customize tasks based on specific business requirements, such as tailoring forms for different departments or adding specific attributes that guide the workflow.  

4. Additional Process Outcomes and UI5 Support for Task UIs 

Finally, SAP Build has made it easier to configure additional process outcomes for user tasks, giving developers the ability to create multiple paths or actions based on user inputs.  

For example, you can now create more complex decision points within workflows, with different outcomes based on what the user selects in their task interface​. 

5. Script Task with Access to Process Context 

The feature we’ve all been waiting for—Script Task—has finally arrived! SAP Build now allows developers to write custom scripts within the process editor and access the process context, enabling deeper customization and more sophisticated logic. This opens the door to far more complex automations that previously required coding in the Business Application Studio’s Workflow Editor.  

Why It’s So Important: 

• Custom Logic: Developers can now integrate specific business logic or manipulate data in real-time within a process, making it easier to customize workflows based on specific scenarios. 

• Process Context Access: The ability to access and interact with the entire process context directly from the script provides a new level of flexibility that was sorely missed in previous versions of SAP Build. 

This marks a huge step forward, bridging the gap between low-code/no-code accessibility and developer-level flexibility, giving teams the best of both worlds​.  

6. Scheduled Triggers for Process Automations 

Alongside the script task, Scheduled Triggers add another layer of automation control. Developers can now set processes to run at specified times or intervals, eliminating the need for manual intervention. Whether it’s triggering an end-of-month report or automating a daily workflow, scheduled triggers give developers full control over when tasks are initiated.    

As SAP Build Process Automation continues to evolve with new features like Script Task and Scheduled Triggers, it's clear that the platform is getting closer to matching the capabilities of SAP Business Application Studio (BAS) for workflow creation. But how close is it, really? In my next blog, I'll take a deep dive into these changes, comparing them to the workflow tools available in BAS, and explore what's still missing in SAP Build. For example, HTML email notifications, a key feature in BAS, have yet to make their way into SAP Build. Join me as I analyze whether SAP Build is truly ready to rival BAS for advanced process automation—or if there’s still ground to cover.