¶ Introduction to CompositeProviders and VirtualProviders in SAP BW/4HANA
SAP BW/4HANA introduces advanced modeling concepts to simplify data warehousing while leveraging the powerful SAP HANA platform. Among these concepts, CompositeProviders and VirtualProviders play a crucial role in enabling flexible, high-performance data integration and reporting.
This article provides an introduction to these two important provider types in SAP BW/4HANA, explaining their purpose, architecture, and use cases.
A CompositeProvider is a multi-provider object in SAP BW/4HANA that allows combining data from various sources into a single logical view. It acts as a virtual layer where data models from different InfoProviders can be joined or unioned to create a comprehensive dataset for analytics and reporting.
- Can combine data from DataStore Objects (DSOs), InfoCubes (if used), Open ODS Views, and other CompositeProviders.
- Supports inner joins, left outer joins, and union (concatenation) operations.
- Optimized for SAP HANA, leveraging its in-memory processing for fast query performance.
- Enables complex data modeling without physically moving or duplicating data.
- Supports both real-time and batch data scenarios.
- Creating a unified view across multiple data sources.
- Combining historical and real-time data.
- Preparing data for analytical queries with complex filtering and aggregation.
- Serving as a semantic layer for reporting tools such as SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP Lumira, or SAP BW queries.
A VirtualProvider in SAP BW/4HANA is an InfoProvider type that allows data to be accessed virtually at runtime without physically storing it inside the BW system. Instead, the data resides in the source system or external systems, and SAP BW fetches it on demand.
- VirtualProvider for SAP HANA Views: Data is fetched from native SAP HANA calculation views or tables.
- VirtualProvider for Remote Sources: Data accessed from external sources via SAP HANA Smart Data Access or other remote connections.
- VirtualProvider with ABAP Logic: Data fetched by custom ABAP code or function modules at runtime.
- No data replication or storage in BW; reduces data redundancy.
- Real-time data access ensures up-to-date information.
- Useful for integrating data from non-BW systems without complex ETL.
- Supports analytical queries and reporting on live data.
- Accessing SAP HANA views directly in BW queries.
- Integrating external data sources such as Hadoop or cloud databases.
- Quick prototyping and real-time reporting scenarios.
| Feature |
CompositeProvider |
VirtualProvider |
| Data Storage |
Combines data from stored providers |
No data storage, fetches at runtime |
| Performance |
High, leverages HANA in-memory |
Depends on source system speed |
| Data Integration |
Joins/unions multiple InfoProviders |
Accesses single external source |
| Use Case |
Complex data modeling and reporting |
Real-time access, minimal duplication |
| Data Movement |
Physical data movement in DSOs |
No data replication |
¶ 4. Benefits of Using CompositeProviders and VirtualProviders
- Flexibility: Model complex scenarios combining different data sources.
- Real-Time Access: VirtualProviders provide always-current data.
- Performance: CompositeProviders optimize queries with HANA’s in-memory power.
- Simplification: Reduces data duplication and speeds up development cycles.
- Integration: Supports hybrid data landscapes combining on-premise and cloud sources.
- Use CompositeProviders when multiple data sets need to be combined or when data transformations and aggregations are required.
- Use VirtualProviders to avoid data replication and achieve real-time access, especially for external or frequently changing data.
- Monitor query performance closely to decide when to use virtual access versus persistent storage.
- Leverage SAP BW/4HANA modeling tools and graphical editors for efficient provider creation.
- Combine CompositeProviders and VirtualProviders for hybrid scenarios to balance performance and real-time needs.
CompositeProviders and VirtualProviders are powerful modeling constructs in SAP BW/4HANA, enabling agile and efficient data warehousing and analytics. Understanding their differences and optimal use cases allows SAP consultants and developers to design data models that meet business requirements while optimizing performance and flexibility.
By leveraging CompositeProviders for combining datasets and VirtualProviders for real-time data access, organizations can build modern, responsive data warehouses that unlock the full potential of SAP HANA’s capabilities.