SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW) is a robust data warehousing platform that enables organizations to consolidate, transform, and analyze business data from across the enterprise. Among the foundational elements of SAP BW are InfoObjects, InfoCubes, and InfoProviders. These core components form the backbone of data modeling, storage, and reporting in SAP BW systems.
In this article, we will break down these key concepts to help you understand their roles and relationships within the SAP BW architecture.
InfoObjects are the smallest units of information in SAP BW and serve as the fundamental building blocks for data modeling. They define the structure of information that is used for data analysis.
InfoObjects are broadly categorized into the following types:
InfoObjects are reused across multiple InfoProviders, allowing consistency and reducing redundancy in data models.
An InfoCube is a central data storage component in SAP BW designed using a multidimensional model. It organizes data in a star schema with a central fact table surrounded by dimension tables.
InfoCubes are ideal for OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) scenarios and support analytical queries, dashboards, and reports.
An InfoProvider is a generic term in SAP BW for any object or view that can supply data for reporting and analysis. InfoCubes are a type of InfoProvider, but the term encompasses a broader range of data sources.
Basic InfoProviders:
Virtual InfoProviders:
InfoProviders allow flexible data modeling and integration, supporting various business scenarios including historical reporting, real-time analytics, and planning.
Understanding the concepts of InfoObjects, InfoCubes, and InfoProviders is essential for any professional working with SAP BW. These components work in tandem to create a scalable and efficient data warehousing environment:
Mastery of these elements is key to building robust and insightful business intelligence solutions in SAP BW.