With the evolution of SAP S/4HANA, embedded analytics has become a game-changer for real-time, operational reporting directly within the transactional system. At the heart of this capability lies Core Data Services (CDS) views, which provide a powerful semantic layer to model, expose, and consume data efficiently.
This article explores the role of CDS views in embedded analytics within S/4HANA and how they contribute to the SAP HANA Live architecture.
Core Data Services (CDS) are a data modeling infrastructure integrated into the ABAP layer of SAP systems, especially S/4HANA. CDS views:
Embedded analytics means analytics capabilities are built directly into the transactional system without the need for a separate data warehouse. This enables:
CDS views form the semantic layer that abstracts and models raw tables into meaningful business data. Key characteristics include:
CDS views use annotations like @Analytics.query, @Consumption.valueHelpDefinition, and @AccessControl.authorizationCheck to enable:
Embedded analytics requires flexibility. CDS views support extensibility through:
CDS views can be exposed as OData services to feed frontend tools such as SAP Fiori or SAC, enabling real-time data consumption.
| CDS View Type | Purpose | Example Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Basic CDS Views | Foundation views on database tables | Customer, Material master data |
| Composite Views | Combine multiple basic views | Sales Order combined with Customer data |
| Consumption Views | Tailored for frontend consumption | Analytical queries for reporting |
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Poor performance | Complex joins, missing indexes | Optimize CDS view design, analyze SQL plans |
| Authorization failures | Missing analytical privileges | Check and assign proper roles and privileges |
| Data inconsistencies | Outdated or incorrect CDS extensions | Review and correct extensions and mappings |
| UI display issues | Missing or incorrect annotations | Validate annotations and metadata exposure |
CDS views are the backbone of embedded analytics in SAP S/4HANA, enabling real-time, secure, and extensible data models that power operational reporting and advanced analytics. Mastering CDS views within the SAP HANA Live framework equips SAP professionals to deliver insights that drive business decisions faster and more effectively.
Embedded analytics powered by CDS views is a key enabler for the digital transformation journey with SAP S/4HANA.