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The Monthly Momentum
May 2024 | All the latest scoop on the FIET Project...
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📰 Welcome back to The Monthly Momentum!
The Monthly Momentum is your monthly update on the FMMI Intelligent Enterprise Transformation (FIET) Project progress.
This month, we’ll take a closer look at Fiori, get familiar with FIET terminology, and introduce the Financial Training Forum. Read on to stay in the know!
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Fiori in Focus
Let’s zoom in on Fiori, the biggest change you’ll notice during the FMMI upgrade.
FMMI is getting a facelift! Fiori will serve as the new FMMI interface, transforming the look and feel of the system with minimal impact to processes.
There’s a lot to love about Fiori:
✏️ Personalization. Users can customize their Fiori launchpad layout, organizing apps in a way that makes sense for their role. Additional customization options include preset filters and color scheme.
👆 Ease of Use. Fiori employs the app-based design users have come to know and love in smart phones. Each transaction has its own clearly labeled app that users will click to initiate a transaction. Most frequently used apps as well as most recently used apps are easily accessible to users for quick navigation.
🧹 Neat & Tidy Display. Users will only see apps and transactions relevant to their role, minimizing visual clutter. The interface is overall more visually appealing, harnessing clean lines, sans serif font, and high-contrast elements.
🔎 Searchability. The search bar has increased functionality, allowing users to search for transactions, data records, and more. Within transactions, additional search fields allow users to find records more easily.
📊 Data Analytics. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) appear directly on Fiori tiles, and users can click into operational reports to drill down and make decisions using real-time data.
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 Fiori Launchpad in FMMI
(High-contrast colors on the launchpad are available for accessibility.)
The new Fiori Launchpad will be available via the FMMI Portal at go-live in February 2025.
Ask your agency’s Change Champion about the Fiori demo they saw in April. Be on the lookout for a demo available to all users at the Financial Training Forum in July.
Topical Terms
📖 The FIET Project has introduced a batch of new terminology. If you’ve caught yourself wondering what some of the key terms mean, here’s a refresher:
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FMMI (Financial Management Modernization Initiative): USDA’s financial management system and department-wide instance of SAP.
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FIET (FMMI Intelligent Enterprise Transformation): The project by which the existing FMMI system is being upgraded from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA.
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Fiori: A modern, app-based interface that will serve as the new primary FMMI interface and will be accessed via the Portal.
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Fiori Launchpad: The homepage of Fiori and entry point to apps and transactions.
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SAP ECC: The current enterprise software version that FMMI runs on.
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SAP S/4HANA: The more advanced enterprise software version that FMMI is being upgraded to, with the go-live date in February 2025.
Looking for a term not mentioned here? Check out the FIET Glossary.
What We're Hearing From You
Thank you for providing your questions and feedback via the FIET webpage, the April pulse survey, and other forums. We’re here to listen! Recently asked questions are featured in the bubbles below.
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Benefits of S/4HANA include improved performance and speed, real-time data usage, simplified data management, and ease of use. Check out the “Fiori in Focus” section above to read about Fiori-specific benefits! |
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In addition to the many benefits of S/4HANA, SAP is retiring maintenance and support for ECC in 2027. Our system upgrade will ensure FMMI is supported long-term.
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Besides the look and feel of the system, the transition to S/4HANA will have minimal impact on most end users. The upgraded system is intuitive and user-friendly, and most transactions will run the same as they do today. The FIET Project team is working to ensure a smooth transition for all FMMI users. |
Online Help Procedures (OLHP), job aids, eLearning courses, and virtual instructor-led training sessions will all be available. More training details coming soon!
Visit the FIET FAQs for more questions and answers!
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Financial Training Forum
FMS is proud to present the Financial Training Forum, a series of virtual sessions available to all USDA employees. Spread over two weeks featuring a variety of topics, there’s something for everyone.
💰 Week 1: 7/23 – 7/25: Financial Management topics
💲 Week 2: 7/30 – 8/1: FIET topics
Keep an eye out for the Financial Training Forum announcement from FMS. Details including schedule and registration instructions will also be provided in future newsletters.
Survey Success
Thank you for taking the FIET Stakeholder Survey! Your feedback is vital in helping the FIET Project team develop the best possible FMMI upgrade experience. We’re carefully reviewing submissions to understand and address your concerns. Be sure to check the FIET webpage regularly for refreshed resources including FAQs, communications, and other information.
📫 You can expect another FIET survey to pop up in your inbox this fall. In the meantime, submit feedback at any time here.
THE FUTURE OF FIET: Roadmap & Vision Updates
As we navigate the dynamic landscape of the FIET Project, this monthly roadmap is designed to provide you with a clear view of our current focus, and where we plan to go in the coming weeks and months.
📍 Transparency and Collaboration: We encourage each team member to review the roadmap and ask questions to help ensure we are sharing the right level of detail for our FIET stakeholders.
Follow our progress with the FIET Project Roadmap:
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Key upcoming dates and milestones to pay special attention to include:
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This month!– Super Users will be involved in test script development review and will be available for consultation and questions as System Integration Testing 1 (SIT 1) begins.
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July 2024 – Virtual FIET informational sessions will be held during Week 2 of the Financial Training Forum (7/30 – 8/1).
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Winter 2024 – We will begin to launch training in Winter 2024 to provide a couple of months for end users to review training before go-live.
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February 2025 – FMMI upgrade go-live!
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FACES OF FIET: Key Player Spotlight
Each month, get to know the devoted minds driving FIET’s success. Each edition will spotlight one of the individuals who make our team extraordinary. Learn about their roles, experiences, and what fuels their excitement for FIET.
Meet FIET Project key player, Sachi Ramasamy!
How long have you been with USDA/FMS? I have been with USDA for 12 years and with OCFO for 4 years.
What is your role in OCFO/FMS? I am the Senior Enterprise Architect providing IT architecture framework, roadmap, and guidance in business, data, application, and technical architecture areas for the three agencies (FMS, NFC, and FPP) under OCFO.
What is your role on the FIET Project? I serve as the Data Workstream Lead responsible for data migration from ECC to S/4HANA including Federal Ledger to Universal Journal conversion. I am also the Co-lead for the technology workstream.
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What are you most excited about regarding FIET or S/4HANA? I am excited to be a part of a project that aligns with OCFO’s vision to “advance our tomorrow as the lead financial and strategic advisor.” After delivering the first-of-its-kind SAP data archive in the federal government, I am looking forward to the Universal Journal data migration, which will again be the first of its kind in the federal space using SAP as an enterprise management platform. I’m also excited about improving user experience for all FMMI customers through better processes, an improved user interface, and enhanced analytics in S/4HANA.
What are you currently watching? I just watched Blackberry, a Canadian movie about the meteoric rise and fall of Blackberry phones. The movie brought back memories of the early 2000s where the Blackberry was a status symbol, but ultimately met its nemesis with the launch of the iPhone.
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What is something you’ve always wanted to try or learn? I have always wanted to learn how to scuba dive! I’m fascinated by the beauty of the underwater world.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done? My biggest adventure was kayaking in the open sea with my family where the kayak drifted into the rough sea and capsized. We clung to the capsized kayak for dear life and were finally rescued by good Samaritans on jet skis nearby.
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Questions & Feedback
If you have any questions or recommended topics for our next newsletter, click here.
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