Setting up Open Content Network Implementation

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Are you looking to implement Open Content Network (OCN) as a content vendor who can make their learning courses available on SAP SuccessFactors Learning? The SuccessFactors Learning OCN option helps to track learners’ online learning without having to create or import the content. Signing up with an Open Content Network (OCN) provider and implementing the connection between SAP SuccessFactors Learning and the provider makes this possible. The provider hosts the content and manages the content. SAP SuccessFactors Learning tracks the learners' content completion. The learning administrators select the content that they want to track and then assign that content like any other learning item in SAP SuccessFactors Learning to their employees.

Here I am introducing the high-level steps needed for OCN implementation and for a full-fledged discussion I invite you to read the Implementation Design Principle (IDP) which is authored by my former colleague Anand Athanur (SAP) with contributions from Janine Zeh (ORBIS), Paul Nolan (SAP) and Karen Perez (SAP).

1. Creating an OCN Administrator

To manage the courses, you need an OCN admin user. We recommend creating one admin user per vendor (content provider). Make sure to create a new OCN role and assign to the OCN admin user.

•  The first step is to create a role with permissions for the OCN Admin user.
• The second step is to create an OCN admin user and associate the role from step 1.

2. Registering the OCN Provider in Learning Administration

Please read the official document on Implementing Open Content Network to register the OCN provider in LMS including labels and logos.

3. Enabling an Open Content Network Third-Party Provider

Navigate to System Administration > Configuration > System Configuration > OPEN CONTENT NETWORK .

• Supply the values for the new OCN vendor as shown below and remember to click on “Apply Changes” to store the values.
• If the vendor you want to enable is pre-existing, for example, LYNDA,  or others, you may simply need to enable them.

Setting up values for the OCN Vendor

Once complete, navigate to Content > Open Content Network and verify if the new OCN provider appears on the screen as shown below.

Confirmation screen after registering the OCN vendor

1. Switching to BizX Token Server

SAP SuccessFactors announced the deprecation of the Learning Token Server endpoint and hence all legacy API calls using the Learning Token Server is obsolete. We do not recommend using the Learning Token Server at all. Instead, all calls must refer to using the BizX Token Server. If you as a partner have been using the Learning Token Server, you must switch to the BizX Token Server. For detailed guidance led by system screenshots, please read through section 5.2.4 of the IDP.

5. Invoking OCN OData API calls

To make OCN OData API calls, you must follow the four steps shown below:

• Generate SAML Assertion
• Obtain SAML Token
• (Optional) Validate SAML Token
• Invoke OCN OData API calls

For detailed guidance led by system screenshots on invoking ODATA APIs, please read through section 5.2.5 of the IDP.

6. Including your AIR Key in all API calls

As SAP continues it’s digital transformation, it has introduced a new requirement for all partner applications that leverage the OData APIs to include what’s known as the Application Interface Register key, abbreviated as AIR Key. Please read the announcement here. 

7. Invoking a sample OData API call using the token from step 5

Copy the access token generated before and paste it to Authorization: Bearer + + access_token If your setup is correct, the response should resemble the screenshot. The response is displayed when you request the OCN metadata.

Sample API call to obtain OCN metadata via a token

8. Importing OCN metadata into SAP SuccessFactors Learning

The figure below shows a sample screenshot of the OCN metadata payload for importing OCN content into SAP SuccessFactors Learning.

Screenshot showing partial OCN metadata payload

Following considerations are important.

• The authorization is Bearer + “ “+ Token if you are using raw or the same as in figure 5-27 if you are using simply setting Authorization to Bearer Token. Simply copy the token from the initial call. 
• The [ and ] brackets in the request payload indicates that you can import an array of content separated by commas, up to a maximum of 1000 per import.
• You must wait for another 5 minutes to do another batch of imports. This is strictly enforced by the system. No exceptions!
• The full payload is documented in the OCN Implementation Guide. 
• Start with a small batch to ensure that your payload structure is correct. 
• The two URLs included in launchURL are visible externally. 
• You must adjust your content to comply with additional locales as needed.

9. Verifying imported OCN metadata in SAP SuccessFactors Learning Administration

After importing OCN metadata into SAP SuccessFactors Learning, you can verify the contents by navigating to Content > Open Content Network as shown below and selecting the OCN vendor you have created.

Verifying the OCN metadata and optionally importing into LMS

For modifying Content Object and changing completion option for learning content universally or individually, please follow section 5.2.9 in the IDP that includes system screenshots making for an easier understanding.

10. Re-importing or Synchronizing metadata

Situations may arise where you may wish to update previously imported metadata in the Learning Admin UI. To do so, log in as an administrator and navigate to the System Administration interface. Navigate to the Automatic Processes tab and select “Open Content Network Content Synchronization”. Mark the checkbox for “Schedule This Process”:

• Schedule as Daily
• Confirm the time zone is correct
• Modify the time to a few minutes in the future, then click “Apply Changes” to save.

Synchronizing metadata

11. Adding OCN Items to a Library

One way to manage bulk assignments is to associate the OCN courses with a Library. Navigate to Learning Administration > Learning Activities > Libraries and click on “Add New” .

Adding a new Library

12. Assigning the OCN Library to an Assignment Profile

You can assign an entire Library to an user/assignment Profile or assign individual items to a user/assignment profile.

If you have followed all the steps described above, you have successfully set up an OCN vendor in your customer’s tenant. The system is now ready for learners to undergo your OCN courses at your website. Congratulations!

SAP SuccessFactors Learning will not permit you to proxy in as another user to complete learning assignments. It’s therefore necessary to log in as the learner into the platform to undergo the learning assignment. Please refer to https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2440835 for more information.

For a detailed description with system screenshots and further topics, I invite you to explore the IDP. Let us know in the comments how has been your experience in implementing an OCN.