SAP BW (Business Warehouse) has been a cornerstone for enterprise data warehousing, enabling organizations to consolidate, transform, and analyze vast amounts of business data. With the advent of SAP HANA — a high-performance in-memory database platform — SAP introduced SAP BW on HANA, combining the proven data warehousing capabilities of SAP BW with the speed and agility of the HANA platform.
This article provides an introduction to SAP BW on HANA, its architecture, key benefits, and why organizations are rapidly adopting this powerful combination.
SAP BW on HANA refers to the deployment of the SAP BW system on the SAP HANA database platform. Unlike traditional BW systems that run on conventional relational databases, SAP BW on HANA leverages the in-memory computing capabilities of HANA to accelerate data processing and analytics.
SAP BW on HANA supports:
- Real-time data loading and reporting
- Simplified data models
- Advanced analytics and faster query execution
-
SAP HANA Database
- Stores all BW data in-memory for lightning-fast access.
- Supports columnar data storage, compression, and parallel processing.
-
SAP BW Application Layer
- Manages ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes.
- Provides data modeling, query design, and administration tools.
-
Data Modeling
- Enhanced modeling capabilities with BW objects optimized for HANA.
- Use of CompositeProviders, Open ODS Views, and Advanced DataStore Objects (aDSO) for flexible and simplified data structures.
-
Analytics Layer
- Supports SAP BusinessObjects BI tools, SAP Analytics Cloud, and other front-end applications.
- Enables real-time operational reporting and analysis.
- In-memory storage allows queries and data loads to execute significantly faster.
- Real-time analytics with near-zero latency.
- Reduced need for aggregates and indexes due to HANA’s power.
- Leaner, more flexible data models that are easier to maintain.
- Support for operational reporting and real-time decision-making.
- Accelerated data integration and transformation processes.
- Integration with SAP HANA’s advanced analytical processing capabilities.
- Support for predictive analytics, text analysis, and geospatial processing.
- Consolidation of multiple data workloads onto a single platform.
- Reduced data redundancy and storage footprint.
Many organizations running SAP BW on traditional databases consider migrating to SAP BW on HANA to capitalize on its benefits. Migration involves:
- Assessing existing data models and customizations.
- Upgrading BW system to a version compatible with HANA.
- Migrating database and adjusting models for HANA optimization.
- Testing and validating performance and functionality.
SAP provides tools and methodologies to facilitate smooth migration and minimize downtime.
- Enterprise-wide data warehousing and reporting.
- Real-time sales, finance, and operational analytics.
- Complex data integration from SAP and non-SAP sources.
- Advanced planning and forecasting scenarios.
SAP BW on HANA represents the next generation of data warehousing, blending SAP BW’s robust capabilities with SAP HANA’s revolutionary in-memory technology. Organizations adopting SAP BW on HANA can achieve superior performance, streamlined data management, and real-time business insights — essential for maintaining competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced market.