SAP BW (Business Warehouse) has long been the backbone for enterprise data warehousing, enabling businesses to consolidate and analyze data across diverse sources. With the emergence of SAP HANA as a revolutionary in-memory database platform, SAP introduced SAP BW/4HANA, a next-generation data warehouse solution designed specifically to harness HANA’s full potential.
This article explores the key differences and improvements of SAP BW/4HANA compared to the traditional SAP BW, highlighting why organizations are moving towards this modern platform.
SAP BW: A mature, feature-rich data warehouse system originally designed to run on various databases including Oracle, SQL Server, IBM DB2, and later SAP HANA.
SAP BW/4HANA: A completely redesigned data warehouse solution built exclusively for the SAP HANA platform, offering simplified architecture, advanced features, and optimized performance.
| Aspect | SAP BW | SAP BW/4HANA |
|---|---|---|
| Database Platform | Multiple databases (Oracle, SQL Server, HANA) | Exclusively SAP HANA |
| Data Modeling | Uses classic InfoCubes, MultiProviders, DSOs | Uses Advanced DataStore Objects (aDSOs), CompositeProviders, Open ODS Views for simplified modeling |
| Architecture | Layered and complex, with aggregates & indexes | Streamlined, lean architecture with no aggregates or indexes |
| Data Tiering | Limited support for data tiering | Built-in data tiering capabilities via HANA native features |
| ETL/ELT Processes | Traditional ETL with process chains and transformations | Supports native HANA capabilities and integration with SAP Data Intelligence |
| User Interface & Tools | SAP GUI-based BW Modeling tools | Modern Web-based BW Modeling Tools & SAP HANA Studio |
| Real-time Data Processing | Limited real-time capabilities | Real-time data replication and operational reporting |
| Data Sources Support | Supports both SAP and non-SAP sources | Enhanced support for diverse sources including cloud, IoT, and Big Data |
| Simplification | Complex data models with multiple layers | Simplified data models and object types, easier maintenance |
| Advanced Analytics | Limited integration with advanced analytics | Deep integration with SAP Analytics Cloud and HANA advanced features |
| Cloud-readiness | On-premise focus | Designed for hybrid and cloud deployments |
SAP BW/4HANA removes legacy objects like classic InfoCubes and MultiProviders, replacing them with simplified and more flexible objects like Advanced DSOs and CompositeProviders. This reduces complexity and speeds up development and maintenance.
Exclusively running on SAP HANA allows SAP BW/4HANA to fully leverage in-memory computing, columnar storage, and parallel processing, delivering significant performance improvements in data loading, query execution, and analytics.
BW/4HANA supports modern data integration scenarios, including cloud data sources, IoT, and big data platforms. Native support for SAP Data Hub and SAP Data Intelligence enables end-to-end data orchestration.
SAP BW/4HANA introduces new web-based modeling tools that enhance user experience and collaboration. The modeling environment is more intuitive, aligned with SAP HANA Studio and SAP Web IDE.
Integration with SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP BW/4HANA’s capabilities support embedded planning, predictive analytics, and machine learning scenarios, enabling more advanced use cases.
BW/4HANA is designed for flexible deployment options, supporting both on-premise and cloud environments, allowing organizations to adopt hybrid architectures aligned with their digital transformation strategies.
SAP BW/4HANA represents a significant evolution from traditional SAP BW, offering a simplified architecture, enhanced performance, and integration with the latest SAP technologies. As organizations move toward digital transformation, SAP BW/4HANA provides a robust, future-ready platform to meet modern data warehousing and analytics needs.