Subject: SAP-HANA-Live
SAP HANA is an in-memory, column-oriented database platform designed for real-time data processing and analytics. One of its core strengths lies in the capability to perform high-performance data modeling, which is essential for enabling operational and strategic reporting. Within the SAP HANA Live context, data modeling takes on an even more critical role by providing pre-delivered content that allows users to access and analyze transactional data in real-time.
This article introduces the key concepts, components, and best practices of SAP HANA Data Modeling, with a focus on its application in SAP HANA Live.
Data modeling in SAP HANA refers to the process of creating a structured, semantic layer on top of raw database tables. This layer enables users and applications to interact with data in a business-friendly and performant way, abstracting the underlying complexity of the data sources.
In the context of SAP HANA Live, this is achieved primarily through:
Note: SAP HANA Live content is built using CDS views and virtual data models (VDMs), aligning with the modern approach in S/4HANA.
CDS views are the foundation of modern SAP data modeling. They define the data structure and semantics at the database level using a SQL-like syntax and are used extensively in SAP HANA Live.
Types of CDS views:
Example:
@AbapCatalog.sqlViewName: 'ZCUSTOMER_VW'
define view Z_Customer as select from KNA1 {
KUNNR, NAME1, ORT01
}
Developed using SAP HANA Studio or SAP Web IDE, these graphical or SQL-script-based models allow for complex logic, joins, and aggregations. While CDS views are preferred in S/4HANA, calculation views are still widely used in SAP HANA native scenarios.
SAP HANA Live provides a predefined set of CDS views organized into a Virtual Data Model that enables reporting on SAP ERP data in real time.
VDM layers:
One of the primary use cases of SAP HANA data modeling in SAP HANA Live is real-time operational reporting. For example, a business user can analyze open sales orders across regions by leveraging a consumption CDS view that pulls live data directly from the ERP system, with no need for replication.
SAP HANA data modeling is a cornerstone of modern SAP analytics, especially in the context of SAP HANA Live. By leveraging CDS views and virtual data models, organizations can enable real-time, high-performance access to transactional data, empowering users to make informed decisions faster.
Understanding and applying the principles of SAP HANA data modeling is essential for developers, architects, and analysts aiming to build scalable, maintainable, and efficient analytical solutions in the SAP landscape.