Using Open ODS Views in SAP BW/4HANA
Subject: SAP BW/4HANA
SAP BW/4HANA, as the modern data warehouse solution from SAP, provides flexible and simplified data modeling capabilities. One of the standout features enabling this agility is the Open ODS View. Open ODS Views allow you to integrate and consume data from various external and internal sources directly within BW/4HANA, without the need for traditional, complex data loading processes.
This article explains what Open ODS Views are, how they fit into the SAP BW/4HANA architecture, and their benefits in simplifying data modeling and reporting.
Open ODS Views are virtual data models that expose data from external sources or raw data objects to the SAP BW/4HANA system as if they were BW InfoProviders. Unlike classical persistent InfoProviders (like Advanced DataStore Objects), Open ODS Views do not require data replication or physical storage in BW. Instead, they provide a semantic layer on top of source data, enabling direct querying.
- Virtual Access: Open ODS Views enable access to source data in real-time or near real-time without physical data movement.
- Multiple Source Types: They support various data sources including database tables, views, external flat files, SAP HANA views, or even cloud sources.
- Flexible Modeling: Open ODS Views can be extended with semantic fields, such as key figures or texts, allowing enriched data interpretation.
- Integration with BW Objects: They can be combined with other BW objects like CompositeProviders to build complex data models for reporting and analytics.
- Data Access Layer: Open ODS Views form part of the data access layer, enabling BW queries and reporting tools to consume data directly from external sources.
- Complement to Traditional ETL: While traditional ETL processes involve extraction, transformation, and loading, Open ODS Views provide a shortcut to quickly integrate data without lengthy ETL cycles.
- Hybrid Reporting Scenarios: Combining Open ODS Views with persistent BW objects enables hybrid models that unify real-time data with historical or aggregated data.
- Rapid Prototyping and Proof of Concepts: Quickly expose data sources to business users without building full data warehouse pipelines.
- Data Virtualization: Access data from operational systems or external databases in real time, avoiding data duplication.
- Integrating Non-SAP or Cloud Data: Easily bring in data from non-SAP sources or cloud platforms for unified reporting.
- Simplifying Data Models: Reduce the number of layers in data models by avoiding unnecessary staging or consolidation.
- Speed and Agility: Accelerate development cycles by reducing data replication efforts.
- Reduced Storage Costs: Minimize data footprint since data is not physically stored in BW unless explicitly loaded.
- Real-Time Analytics: Enable access to fresh data directly from source systems.
- Flexibility: Easily adapt to changing business requirements by modifying semantic layers without physical reloading.
- Access the BW Modeling Tools in SAP HANA Studio or Eclipse.
- Select the Open ODS View option under the data modeling section.
- Define the data source — this could be a database table, a HANA view, or an external source.
- Map the fields and assign semantic roles (keys, attributes, measures).
- Save and activate the Open ODS View.
- Use the Open ODS View in CompositeProviders or BW Queries for reporting.
¶ Considerations and Best Practices
- While Open ODS Views provide fast data access, be mindful of source system performance because queries run directly on source data.
- For complex transformations or heavy data processing, it might still be preferable to use traditional ETL and persistent InfoProviders.
- Use Open ODS Views primarily for scenarios requiring flexibility, rapid access, or data virtualization.
Open ODS Views are a powerful feature in SAP BW/4HANA that simplify data integration by enabling virtual access to diverse data sources. They enhance agility, reduce data duplication, and support real-time analytics, making them an essential tool for modern data warehousing and business intelligence strategies.