SAP BW/4HANA represents the next-generation data warehousing solution from SAP, designed to fully leverage the power of the SAP HANA in-memory database platform. As a cloud-ready, real-time data warehouse, BW/4HANA transforms traditional SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW) architecture and processes, particularly impacting how data modeling is approached. This article provides an overview of BW/4HANA and explores its significant influence on data modeling within SAP BW environments.
SAP BW/4HANA is a modernized, simplified version of the classic SAP BW system, built exclusively to run on SAP HANA. It offers:
By exploiting the speed and flexibility of HANA, BW/4HANA provides businesses with faster insights and more agile data management.
| Feature | SAP BW (Classic) | SAP BW/4HANA |
|---|---|---|
| Database | Supports multiple databases | Runs only on SAP HANA |
| Data Modeling Objects | InfoCubes, DSOs, MultiProviders, etc. | CompositeProviders, Advanced DSOs |
| Data Storage | Aggregate InfoCubes and DSOs | ADSO (Advanced DataStore Object) |
| ETL Tools | InfoPackages, DTP | DTP with simplified interfaces |
| Querying Tools | BEx Analyzer, BEx Query Designer | BEx + SAP Analytics Cloud |
| Performance Optimization | Aggregates, Indexes | HANA native features (no aggregates) |
BW/4HANA introduces Advanced DataStore Objects (ADSOs) that combine the functionalities of traditional DSOs and InfoCubes into a single, flexible object. ADSOs support different modeling scenarios like staging, corporate memory, and reporting layers — reducing the number of objects to manage.
Traditional BW often used aggregates to improve query performance by pre-summarizing data. With BW/4HANA’s in-memory processing power, aggregates are no longer necessary, simplifying data models and reducing data redundancy.
CompositeProviders replace MultiProviders and InfoSets, providing more flexible and performant views by combining data from multiple ADSOs and external sources with support for joins and unions, enabling complex data modeling scenarios.
BW/4HANA supports real-time data acquisition with optimized ETL processes using Data Transfer Processes (DTPs), making it easier to model data flows for timely insights.
Open ODS Views in BW/4HANA enable modeling on top of external data sources without physically loading data into BW, supporting virtualization and reducing data duplication.
BW/4HANA allows seamless integration with HANA Calculation Views and other native HANA artifacts, empowering data modelers to leverage HANA’s powerful analytical capabilities directly.
SAP BW/4HANA is a game-changer in the SAP BW landscape, fundamentally reshaping data modeling practices to be more efficient, flexible, and performance-oriented. By harnessing the power of SAP HANA’s in-memory computing, BW/4HANA simplifies traditional data warehousing challenges and empowers organizations to deliver real-time, actionable insights. For SAP BW professionals, understanding BW/4HANA’s data modeling paradigms is essential to unlocking the full potential of modern data warehousing.