Data extraction is a fundamental step in the SAP Business Intelligence (SAP BI) process, serving as the bridge between source systems and the data warehouse environment. The ability to efficiently and accurately extract data is crucial for delivering reliable analytics and reporting that support business decision-making.
This article provides an overview of the Basics of Data Extraction in SAP BI, explaining key concepts, methods, and tools involved in getting data from various SAP and non-SAP sources into the BI system.
Data extraction refers to the process of retrieving data from different source systems—such as SAP ERP, SAP S/4HANA, or external databases—and loading it into the SAP BI system (like SAP BW or SAP BW/4HANA). This data forms the foundation for building analytical models, reports, and dashboards.
SAP BI supports extraction from a variety of source systems, including:
There are two main types of extraction methods:
In SAP BI, a DataSource defines the structure, metadata, and extraction logic for source data. It acts as an interface between the source system and SAP BI. DataSources are typically pre-delivered by SAP for standard modules but can be custom-built for specific needs.
SAP ERP provides specialized extractors tailored for different modules (FI, MM, SD, etc.) that efficiently gather data for BI.
SLT allows real-time data replication from SAP and non-SAP systems to SAP HANA or SAP BW. It captures changes at the database level, enabling near real-time analytics.
Data can be loaded from CSV, XML, or other file formats using SAP Data Services or SAP BW’s file-based extraction methods.
Modern SAP systems expose APIs (OData, REST) for data extraction, supporting integration with cloud platforms and external applications.
Data extraction is a critical step in the SAP BI lifecycle that ensures timely and accurate data availability for analytics. Understanding the basics of extraction techniques, DataSources, and tools empowers organizations to design efficient data flows from diverse systems into their BI environments. As SAP continues to enhance data provisioning capabilities with technologies like ODP and SLT, businesses can achieve more real-time, flexible, and scalable data integration solutions.