How WalkMe Works :A Visual Guide to its Deployment...

ramysalem · ‎2025 May 13

WalkMe is more than a digital adoption tool, it's a structured platform with a thoughtfully engineered architecture. This blog walks through each part of the WalkMe deployment workflow, using the diagram below to break down what happens behind the scenes when you deploy WalkMe in your SAP Enterprise environment.

Diagram Overview

Below is the high-level architecture diagram of WalkMe’s deployment and operational flow. We’ll now explore each section in detail, mapping directly to the blocks in this visual:

1. Content Creation

Diagram Nodes: A1, A2, A3,B1

WalkMe Editor (A1): The state-of-the-art desktop client used by content creators and admins to build WalkMe content. It's a desktop-based authoring tool used to build walkthroughs, tooltips, and guidance layers.
Editor Browser Extension (A2): Complements the desktop editor, allowing users to test and preview content in real-time. The editors and admins can install the WalkMe editor and the editor browser extension to create, test and deploy WalkMe content.
WalkMe Console (A3): Central admin hub manage content and roles. Content creators log in to the console to access projects and deploy content.
AWS S3 Bucket (B1): WalkMe content is stored securely in an Amazon S3 bucket. Each customer's content is logically separated, meaning it's like each client having their own locked room in a shared, secure facility. This ensures privacy and security.

➡️These tools are used by content creators and admins to design and test digital adoption experiences before deployment.

2. Content Deployment

Diagram Nodes: B2, B3

Akamai CDN (B2): To optimize speed and performance, content is distributed globally through the Akamai content delivery network (The content is then cached by Akamai CDN
for fast and reliable delivery to end users)
User Browser Cache (B3): Once delivered, content is cached in the user's browser, meaning no repetitive downloads are required unless content is updated. (The snippet will instruct the end-user browser to download the WalkMe JavaScript files from the CDN and stores them in the browser cache. The files hold the data needed to use WalkMe content and is typically one or two megabytes in size. Users can view all the content created for them without downloading or any other actions. To enhance performance, there is no need to constantly communicate with the server.)

➡️Ensures users get fast, consistent access to WalkMe overlays without affecting performance.

3. Deployment Options

Diagram Nodes: C1, C2

Snippet in HTML (C1): If the organization controls the app’s codebase, the snippet is inserted directly into the master page header.If you can't add the snippet to the app's code, WalkMe provides a browser extension for users. This injects the snippet when they visit the relevant page, allowing users to see WalkMe content.
WalkMe Browser Extension (C2): Injects WalkMe into the app dynamically. Includes URL filtering, checked locally (no server transmission). In cases where inserting a snippet isn’t feasible, WalkMe provides an extension that injects content based on matching URLs. The URL check is performed locally in the browser, so no data is sent to the server. The browser extension lets WalkMe work, even where the snippet can't be installed manually. This makes it simple to support workflows across different applications

➡️Offers flexible deployment paths based on access level to application code.

4. UX Layer & Execution

Diagram Nodes: D1, D2, D3

Overlay UI (D1): The guidance interface that appears in your app (tooltips, walkthroughs, etc.).An interactive layer that appears on top of web apps—guiding users with notifications, prompts, and walkthroughs.
User Interactions (D2): All clicks, form entries, and behaviors captured here. Everything a user clicks or inputs is monitored here for performance and behavior analysis.
Underlying Web App (D3): Your native SAP or enterprise application continues to function uninterrupted. The original enterprise app (e.g., SAP) remains completely unaffected. WalkMe loads asynchronously to avoid performance hits.

➡️WalkMe sits on top of your existing UI, without altering your app’s logic or backend.

5. WalkMeX – Generative AI

Diagram Nodes: F1, F2, F3, F4

AI Assistant (F1): Offers prompt suggestions and helps users fill out forms or reviews using AI.
DEI Language Checks (F2): Automatically rewrites problematic phrasing to ensure compliance.
Feedback Summary (F3): Uses peer review input to generate summaries.
AI-Generated Suggestions (F4): Helps write performance reviews, goals, and forms.

➡️WalkMeX turns WalkMe into an AI-powered productivity booster, especially helpful for managers and reviewers.

6. Workstation Notifications

Diagram Node: G1

A desktop app that allows IT to push proactive reminders or required actions (e.g., “Time to complete your goals”) before the browser is even launched.

➡️Ensures key communications reach employees at the right moment—without relying on email or intranet.

7. Analytics & Insights

Diagram Nodes: E1, E2, E3

Send Usage Data (E1): Captured automatically from the overlay during interaction.

GCP Servers (E2): Data is sent securely to WalkMe’s analytics backend hosted on Google Cloud Platform

Insights Dashboard (E3): Visual analytics to understand engagement, friction, and process success rates.

➡️Enables data-driven decision-making and continuous optimization of digital adoption efforts.

Final Thoughts

WalkMe’s architecture balances performance, flexibility, privacy, and intelligence. Whether you’re deploying across SAP S/4HANA, SuccessFactors, or third-party apps, the structure allows you to scale guidance, reduce training time, and enhance user experience without code changes or performance trade-offs.

If you're planning a rollout or just curious about how it all works behind the scenes, we hope this breakdown of the WalkMe architecture helps you see the bigger picture.

If you interested to learn more about SAP WalkMe feel free to register for Demo here https://www.walkme.com/

Thank you

Ramy Salem

Global Enterprise Architecture Advisory ,SAP