Data Consumption Made Easy with SAP BW/4HANA
Data consumption is the process of accessing, analyzing, and reporting the data in your data warehouse. Data consumption is essential for gaining insights, making decisions, and taking actions based on your data.
SAP BW/4HANA is the next-generation data warehouse solution from SAP that leverages the power and flexibility of SAP HANA. SAP BW/4HANA provides a simplified and modern data consumption approach that allows you to access and analyze your data in an easy and user-friendly way.
In this blog post, we will cover some of the key concepts and best practices for data consumption with SAP BW/4HANA, such as:
- The main objects and tools that you can use to consume your data
- The open and flexible options that you can use to consume data from various sources and types
- The advanced and intelligent features that you can use to enhance your data consumption
Main Objects and Tools for Data Consumption
SAP BW/4HANA supports two main objects for data consumption, each with a specific purpose and function:
- Queries: These are metadata objects that allow you to define the layout and logic of your data analysis and reporting. Queries are based on InfoProviders or CompositeProviders that provide the data for your queries. Queries can be used to specify the characteristics, key figures, filters, variables, or calculations of your data analysis and reporting.
- Workbooks: These are metadata objects that allow you to create and edit interactive reports using Microsoft Excel. Workbooks are based on queries that provide the data for your reports. Workbooks can be used to create charts, tables, or dashboards using Excel features.
SAP BW/4HANA provides various tools for creating and executing queries and workbooks, such as:
- Query Designer: This is a tool that allows you to create and edit queries using graphical editors or wizards. Query Designer is integrated in SAP HANA Studio or Eclipse platform. Query Designer provides various features, such as validation, activation, transport, or documentation of queries.
- Analysis for Microsoft Office: This is a tool that allows you to create and edit workbooks using Microsoft Excel. Analysis for Microsoft Office is an add-in that integrates with Microsoft Office applications. Analysis for Microsoft Office provides various features, such as navigation, filtering, formatting, or charting of workbooks.
- Analysis for OLAP: This is a tool that allows you to execute queries using a web browser. Analysis for OLAP is a web application that runs on SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform. Analysis for OLAP provides various features, such as cross-tabulation, charting, or exporting of queries.
- Web Application Designer: This is a tool that allows you to create and edit web applications using HTML or JavaScript. Web Application Designer is a standalone application that runs on Windows. Web Application Designer provides various features, such as templates, components, or events of web applications.
The following table summarizes the main objects and tools for data consumption in SAP BW/4HANA:
| Object | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Query | Define layout and logic of data analysis and reporting |
| Workbook | Create and edit interactive reports using Microsoft Excel |
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Query Designer | Create and edit queries using graphical editors or wizards |
| Analysis for Microsoft Office | Create and edit workbooks using Microsoft Excel |
| Analysis for OLAP | Execute queries using a web browser |
| Web Application Designer | Create and edit web applications using HTML or JavaScript |
Open and Flexible Options for Data Consumption
SAP BW/4HANA also supports open and flexible options for data consumption that allow you to access and analyze data from various sources and types, such as:
- SAP HANA Views: These are native objects that allow you to create data models on top of SAP HANA tables or views using SQL or graphical editors. SAP HANA views can be used to access and analyze data from SAP or non-SAP systems, such as databases, files, or web services, using Smart Data Access (SDA) or Smart Data Integration (SDI) technologies.
- Core Data Services (CDS) Views: These are native objects that allow you to create data models on top of SAP HANA tables or views using SQL-like syntax and annotations. CDS views can be used to access and analyze data from SAP S/4HANA systems using Operational Data Provisioning (ODP) framework.
- Calculation Views: These are native objects that allow you to create data models on top of SAP HANA tables or views using graphical editors or scripting languages. Calculation views can be used to perform complex calculations, aggregations, or transformations on the data.
- ABAP Managed Database Procedures (AMDPs): These are native objects that allow you to create database procedures on SAP HANA using ABAP syntax and annotations. AMDPs can be used to perform complex logic or operations on the data using SQLScript language.
The following table summarizes the open and flexible options for data consumption in SAP BW/4HANA:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| SAP HANA View | Create data models on top of SAP HANA tables or views using SQL or graphical editors |
| CDS View | Create data models on top of SAP HANA tables or views using SQL-like syntax and annotations |
| Calculation View | Create data models on top of SAP HANA tables or views using graphical editors or scripting languages |
| AMDP | Create database procedures on SAP HANA using ABAP syntax and annotations |
Advanced and Intelligent Features for Data Consumption
SAP BW/4HANA also supports advanced and intelligent features for data consumption that allow you to enhance your data analysis and reporting, such as:
- Planning: This is a feature that allows you to create and edit plans using Microsoft Excel or web applications. Planning is based on InfoProviders or CompositeProviders that provide the data for your plans. Planning can be used to perform budgeting, forecasting, or simulation on the data.
- Predictive Analytics: This is a feature that allows you to apply predictive algorithms and models to your data using SAP HANA or SAP Analytics Cloud. Predictive Analytics can be used to perform classification, regression, clustering, or time series analysis on the data.
- Machine Learning: This is a feature that allows you to apply machine learning algorithms and models to your data using SAP HANA or SAP Data Intelligence. Machine Learning can be used to perform natural language processing, image recognition, or sentiment analysis on the data.
The following table summarizes the advanced and intelligent features for data consumption in SAP BW/4HANA:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Planning | Create and edit plans using Microsoft Excel or web applications |
| Predictive Analytics | Apply predictive algorithms and models to your data using SAP HANA or SAP Analytics Cloud |
| Machine Learning | Apply machine learning algorithms and models to your data using SAP HANA or SAP Data Intelligence |
This content is generated by AI.