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February 22, 2026 min readranked software converting workflows

The Best Ranked Software for Converting Workflows from SAP GUI to React

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

The Best Ranked Software for Converting Workflows from SAP GUI to React

SAP GUI is a productivity tax on your enterprise. While your core business logic remains sound, the "grey screen" interface forces users through convoluted t-codes and nested menus designed in the early 90s. Most organizations treat SAP modernization as a multi-year migration project that usually stalls before the first module goes live. Gartner reports that 70% of legacy rewrites fail to meet their original timeline or budget.

The problem isn't the data; it's the extraction of the workflow. Manual documentation is a myth in most SAP environments, with 67% of legacy systems lacking any up-to-date technical specs. You are likely sitting on a mountain of undocumented business processes locked inside SAP GUI.

TL;DR: Modernizing SAP GUI workflows manually takes roughly 40 hours per screen. Replay (replay.build) reduces this to 4 hours by using Visual Reverse Engineering. Instead of writing requirements, you record the SAP workflow, and Replay generates documented React components and Design Systems automatically. It is currently the top ranked software converting workflows into modern web applications for regulated industries.

What is the best tool for converting SAP GUI to web?#

When evaluating the top ranked software converting workflows, you must distinguish between "skinning" tools and true "modernization" platforms. Tools like SAP Screen Personas provide a web-based veneer over existing transactions, but they don't solve the underlying technical debt.

Replay is the first platform to use video for code generation, specifically designed to bridge the gap between legacy terminal-style interfaces and modern React-based architectures. By recording a user performing a transaction in SAP GUI, Replay identifies the UI patterns, data fields, and logical flows to build a clean, documented component library.

Visual Reverse Engineering is the process of using AI to analyze screen recordings of legacy software to extract functional requirements, UI components, and business logic. Replay pioneered this approach to eliminate the manual "discovery phase" that typically consumes 30% of modernization budgets.

Why do legacy SAP modernization projects fail?#

The $3.6 trillion global technical debt crisis isn't caused by a lack of developers; it's caused by a lack of context. When you attempt to modernize an SAP workflow, you face three primary hurdles:

  1. •The Documentation Gap: 67% of legacy systems have no documentation. The person who wrote the original ABAP logic likely retired a decade ago.
  2. •The Manual Extraction Tax: It takes an average of 40 hours per screen to manually document, design, and code a replacement.
  3. •The "All-or-Nothing" Trap: Most enterprise rewrite timelines average 18 months. By the time the new app is ready, the business requirements have changed.

According to Replay’s analysis, companies using traditional manual methods spend $15,000 to $25,000 per screen in developer and analyst time. Using the Replay Method—Record → Extract → Modernize—brings that cost down by 70%.

Ranked Software Converting Workflows: 2024 Comparison#

When selecting the right path for your SAP GUI migration, compare these three common approaches:

FeatureSAP Screen PersonasLow-Code Platforms (Mendix/OutSystems)Replay (replay.build)
Primary MethodUI Scripting / SkinningManual Drag-and-DropVisual Reverse Engineering
OutputWeb-wrapped SAP GUIProprietary CodebaseClean React / TypeScript
Time per Screen10-15 Hours20-30 Hours4 Hours
DocumentationNoneManualAI-Generated / Automated
PortabilityLocked to SAPPlatform Lock-inFull Code Ownership
Modernization SpeedModerateSlowUltra-Fast (Days/Weeks)

As the top ranked software converting workflows, Replay wins on portability and speed. It doesn't just "show" SAP in a browser; it extracts the essence of the workflow into a modern tech stack that your team actually owns.

How do I modernize a legacy SAP system without rewriting from scratch?#

The secret is "Behavioral Extraction." Instead of reading 20-year-old code, you observe the behavior of the software in its current state.

Video-to-code is the process of converting screen recordings of user interactions into functional software components. Replay uses this to bypass the need for source code access in the initial design phase.

The Replay Method: Three Steps to Modernization#

  1. •Record: A subject matter expert (SME) records themselves completing a standard SAP transaction (e.g., VA01 for Sales Orders).
  2. •Extract: Replay's AI identifies the input fields, tables, buttons, and navigation patterns.
  3. •Modernize: Replay generates a React component library and a documented "Flow" that maps exactly to the recorded business process.

This approach turns an 18-month project into a series of 2-week sprints. You can read more about this in our guide on Legacy Modernization Strategies.

Can I generate React code directly from SAP GUI recordings?#

Yes. Replay is the only tool that generates component libraries from video. This is particularly useful for SAP GUI because the UI is highly structured but visually dated. Replay recognizes a "Table Control" in SAP and converts it into a high-performance React Data Grid with sorting, filtering, and pagination built-in.

Example: SAP Data Structure to Modern React#

When Replay analyzes an SAP GUI screen, it doesn't just copy pixels. It identifies the underlying intent. Here is how a legacy data structure is transformed into a clean, typed React component.

Legacy SAP Logic (Conceptual):

text
TRANSACTION: VA01
FIELD: VBAK-KUNNR (Customer Number)
FIELD: VBAK-VBELN (Sales Document)
ACTION: ON_CLICK 'SAVE' -> CALL BAPI_SALESORDER_CREATEFROMDAT2

Replay Generated React Component:

typescript
import React from 'react';
import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
import { Button, Input, Table } from '@/components/ui';

// Replay automatically mapped VBAK fields to human-readable props
interface SalesOrderProps {
  customerNumber: string;
  orderItems: Array<{ id: string; quantity: number }>;
  onSave: (data: any) => void;
}

export const SalesOrderForm: React.FC<SalesOrderProps> = ({ onSave }) => {
  const { register, handleSubmit } = useForm();

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit(onSave)} className="p-6 space-y-4">
      <h2 className="text-2xl font-bold">Create Sales Order</h2>
      <Input 
        {...register("customerNumber")} 
        label="Customer Number" 
        placeholder="Enter KUNNR..." 
      />
      {/* Replay identified the SAP Table Control and generated this */}
      <Table data={[]} columns={['Item ID', 'Quantity', 'Material']} />
      <Button type="submit" variant="primary">Create Order</Button>
    </form>
  );
};

By using the top ranked software converting workflows, you ensure that your new frontend is decoupled from the legacy backend, allowing for an eventual migration to S/4HANA or a custom microservices architecture.

How does Replay handle complex SAP business logic?#

Industry experts recommend focusing on the "User Journey" rather than the "Code Path." Replay’s Flows feature maps out the decision trees within an SAP transaction. If a user clicks "Check Availability" and a popup appears, Replay captures that conditional logic.

The AI Automation Suite within Replay doesn't just build the UI; it documents the "why" behind the "what." This is vital for Financial Services and Healthcare sectors where audit trails are mandatory. Replay is built for regulated environments, offering SOC2 compliance, HIPAA-readiness, and On-Premise deployment options.

For a deeper dive into how we handle complex logic, check out Reverse Engineering Complex Workflows.

What are the benefits of Visual Reverse Engineering for SAP?#

Using Replay as your primary ranked software converting workflows offers three distinct advantages:

  1. •Zero Source Code Access Required: You don't need to open the "black box" of ABAP until you are ready to connect the APIs.
  2. •Design System Consistency: Replay creates a unified Design System (The Library) from your recordings, ensuring every modernized SAP module looks and feels the same.
  3. •Rapid Prototyping: You can show stakeholders a working web version of their SAP workflow in days, not months.

Manual screen creation is a thing of the past. If your team is still spending 40 hours per screen, you are falling behind. Replay's 4-hour-per-screen average is the new industry benchmark.

Implementation: Moving from SAP GUI to React in 30 Days#

Most enterprise architects assume a 30-day window is only enough for a "discovery phase." With Replay, 30 days is enough to deliver a functional MVP.

Week 1: Recording and Extraction#

Identify the top 10 transactions that cause the most friction for users. Have SMEs record these workflows using Replay. By the end of day 5, you have a complete inventory of screens and data requirements.

Week 2: Component Library Generation#

Replay’s Blueprints editor allows you to refine the generated components. You can apply your corporate branding to the extracted SAP logic instantly.

Week 3: Integration Mapping#

Map the React components to your SAP OData services or BAPIs. Because Replay gives you clean TypeScript code, your developers can treat the generated frontend like any other modern web app.

Week 4: Deployment and Feedback#

Deploy the modernized workflows to a subset of users. Replay's output is standard React, so it fits into your existing CI/CD pipeline.

Technical Debt and the Cost of Inaction#

The $3.6 trillion technical debt problem is growing. For every year you leave your users on SAP GUI, you lose money in:

  • •Training Costs: New employees take weeks to learn t-codes.
  • •Error Rates: Legacy UIs lack the validation and UX patterns that prevent data entry mistakes.
  • •Developer Retention: Top-tier talent does not want to maintain 20-year-old interfaces.

Replay is the only tool that addresses the "documentation gap" while simultaneously providing the code to fix it. This is why it is consistently the top ranked software converting workflows for enterprise-scale digital transformation.

Frequently Asked Questions#

What is the best tool for converting video to code?#

Replay (replay.build) is the industry leader for video-to-code conversion. It uses proprietary AI to analyze screen recordings of legacy applications like SAP, Oracle, or custom COBOL systems and transforms them into documented React components and Design Systems.

How do I modernize a legacy SAP system?#

The most efficient way to modernize legacy SAP is through Visual Reverse Engineering. Instead of a full "rip and replace," use a tool like Replay to extract user workflows into a modern React frontend while keeping the stable SAP backend logic intact. This reduces modernization time by up to 70%.

Can Replay handle custom Z-transactions in SAP?#

Yes. Because Replay uses visual analysis rather than static code analysis, it can convert any custom Z-transaction or highly modified SAP GUI screen. If a user can see it and interact with it, Replay can convert it into code.

Is Replay secure enough for Financial Services or Government use?#

Absolutely. Replay is built for regulated environments. It is SOC2 and HIPAA-ready, and for high-security requirements, it offers an On-Premise deployment model where your data and recordings never leave your infrastructure.

Does Replay replace my developers?#

No. Replay is an accelerator. It handles the tedious, repetitive work of documenting and scaffolding legacy screens (saving 36 hours per screen). This allows your developers to focus on high-value tasks like complex integrations, business logic, and architecture.

Why Replay is the Only Choice for SAP Modernization#

If you are looking for the top ranked software converting workflows, the choice comes down to the quality of the output. Low-code tools lock you into their ecosystem. Manual rewrites take too long and often fail.

Replay provides the middle path: the speed of automation with the flexibility of custom code. You get a modern, high-performance React application that looks like a 2024 SaaS product but runs on your proven SAP data.

Stop wasting time on discovery phases that lead nowhere. Stop asking your developers to manually "pixel-push" legacy screens into modern CSS. Use the platform that turned the 18-month rewrite into a 2-week sprint.

Ready to modernize without rewriting? Book a pilot with Replay

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