In the evolving landscape of enterprise data management, SAP BW/4HANA stands out as a modern data warehousing platform designed to leverage the power of SAP HANA’s in-memory computing. One of the core strengths of SAP BW/4HANA lies in its ability to utilize HANA-optimized data models, which enhance reporting performance, simplify data structures, and enable real-time analytics. This article explores the concept of HANA-optimized data models and best practices for reporting on these models within SAP BW/4HANA.
HANA-optimized data models are data structures specifically designed to take full advantage of the SAP HANA database’s in-memory capabilities. Unlike traditional BW models that rely on aggregates and indexes, HANA-optimized models simplify the data layer by minimizing redundancy and leveraging HANA’s processing power for complex calculations and joins at runtime.
Common HANA-optimized modeling objects in BW/4HANA include:
HANA-optimized models reduce data redundancy and unnecessary pre-calculations. They leverage SAP HANA’s columnar store, parallel processing, and advanced compression techniques, enabling faster data retrieval and on-the-fly calculation during reporting.
By eliminating legacy BW layers such as traditional InfoCubes and multi-layered aggregates, the data model is simplified. This simplification reduces data latency and eases maintenance.
With data loaded and processed directly in memory, reporting on HANA-optimized models supports real-time analytics, empowering business users with up-to-date insights.
CompositeProviders enable federated queries across heterogeneous sources, including non-BW data, making reporting more comprehensive and flexible.
SAC is SAP’s cloud-based analytics platform offering intuitive visualization and augmented analytics. SAC can connect natively to SAP BW/4HANA’s HANA-optimized models via live data connections, ensuring real-time data access without replication.
BusinessObjects tools, such as Web Intelligence and Analysis for Office, integrate seamlessly with BW/4HANA queries based on HANA-optimized models. Users benefit from familiar interfaces combined with enhanced query performance.
The BW Query Designer enables the creation of queries on top of CompositeProviders and aDSOs. It supports key figures, calculated key figures, restricted key figures, and filters optimized for HANA queries.
SAP Fiori offers role-based, user-friendly reporting apps that connect to BW/4HANA’s HANA-optimized data models, providing mobile and desktop access to critical KPIs and reports.
Reporting on HANA-optimized data models in SAP BW/4HANA offers significant advantages in performance, simplicity, and flexibility. By leveraging SAP HANA’s in-memory power and optimized modeling techniques, businesses can achieve real-time, high-performance analytics that drive timely and informed decision-making. Following best practices and choosing the right reporting tools ensures that enterprises maximize the value of their SAP BW/4HANA investment.