A key benefit of configuration elements is that you can edit the behavior and appearance of an app without the need to change code, rebuild, and republish it. And because you can leverage one configuration element in multiple apps, the tasks associated with developing and maintaining apps are streamlined.

For example, your organization might use Advanced Inventory apps to handle the PO Receipts, Pick-Pack-Ship, and Inventory Transfer processes. Each of these apps require variable data, such as selecting the applicable business unit. In this case, you opt to create one configuration element for the business unit data and then share the element across all three apps. Depending on how you configure the element, the end user might select the business unit name from a dropdown list, or the app might automatically display the appropriate business unit based on the user's role.

Even when each business unit handles the PO Receipts process differently, your entire organization can use the same PO Receipts app by leveraging configuration elements to handle the aspects of the processes that vary. The end user sees only the PO Receipts process that applies to her business unit, and easily submits information when it's needed.

In addition to leveraging configuration elements for functional aspects of your processes, you can configure an app to support a variety of user preferences that include theme color, font, and how notifications are sent. You also have the option to allow end users to override default values on their devices.

The appropriate roles across your organization should collaborate on how a business process best translates into configuration elements, as well as how the app should ultimately function. We recommend that you document these details before any app development begins. A design process overview and example are provided to help you through these steps.