The Visual Composer server is installed on the Development Server, running on the SAP J2EE Engine, which runs the connected portal. Storyboard is accessed from the client machine through a standard browser. At runtime, the user accesses the deployed model by calling up the portal using the browser.

The following diagram illustrates the Visual Composer high-level architecture.

In runtime, transactional content can run through Web Dynpro and Flex, while analytic content – which may require a more "animated" environment – may run through Flex. The models deployed by Visual Composer to the portal include runtime metadata, which is stored with the model in the PCD (portal content directory) and exported in the business package, for delivery to customers.