In the ever-evolving landscape of SAP's data modeling and reporting tools, SAP HANA Live and Core Data Services (CDS) represent two key technologies developed to optimize real-time analytics and data consumption. While SAP HANA Live once played a crucial role in providing real-time operational reporting capabilities, the emergence and growing adoption of CDS Views has marked a significant shift in how data models are created, consumed, and maintained within the SAP ecosystem. This article explores the journey from HANA Live to CDS, examining the reasons behind the transition, the differences between the two, and the strategic importance of CDS in SAP's modern architecture.
SAP HANA Live is a solution that provides pre-developed SAP HANA calculation views that allow real-time access to data stored in the HANA database. These views are delivered as part of various SAP Business Suite applications and are designed to support operational reporting directly on transactional data without the need for ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes.
However, as SAP’s technology stack evolved with SAP S/4HANA, so did the approach to data modeling and access.
With the introduction of SAP S/4HANA, SAP began encouraging the use of Core Data Services (CDS) for defining semantically rich, reusable data models that are tightly integrated into the ABAP stack and the SAP HANA database. CDS represents a next-generation data modeling infrastructure built to support modern application development.
CDS Views are a part of the ABAP CDS framework (although also available in native HANA CDS) and allow developers to define complex data models using a high-level syntax. These models are interpreted at runtime, allowing tight integration with ABAP-based applications and tools.
| Feature | SAP HANA Live | Core Data Services (CDS) |
|---|---|---|
| Technology Base | HANA Calculation Views | ABAP CDS (or HANA CDS) |
| Deployment | Pre-delivered on Business Suite on HANA | Embedded in SAP S/4HANA |
| Integration | Database level | Deep ABAP layer integration |
| Extensibility | Limited | High, with CDS extensions |
| Tooling | HANA Studio | Eclipse ADT / SAP BAS |
| Security | DB-level authorizations | ABAP role-based authorizations (DCLs) |
| UI Support | None by default | Tight integration with SAP Fiori and OData |
Several strategic and architectural reasons drove the shift from HANA Live to CDS:
Organizations currently using HANA Live are encouraged to transition to CDS-based reporting, especially if they plan to migrate or are already running SAP S/4HANA. For developers, this means upskilling in CDS syntax, annotations, and integration with SAP Fiori. It also necessitates a review of existing HANA Live views to identify equivalent or improved CDS views.
SAP provides tools and guides to help in this transition, including:
The evolution from SAP HANA Live to Core Data Services (CDS) is a significant milestone in SAP's journey toward an intelligent, integrated, and modern digital core. While HANA Live helped lay the foundation for real-time analytics, CDS builds upon and extends this vision by enabling semantically rich, integrated, and cloud-ready data models that are fully aligned with SAP S/4HANA.
For any SAP-focused organization, embracing CDS is not just a technological upgrade—it’s a strategic step toward aligning with SAP’s future-ready architecture.