Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Govinda, Senior Manager at Cognizant, has 14+ years of expertise in SAP & Non-SAP Data Analytics, delivering innovative BI solutions.
Delivering accurate and efficient Group Reporting (GR) in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) on SAP S/4HANA data can be challenging, particularly when dealing with mandatory parameters in SAP Core Data Services (CDS) views. While OData connections provide an option, they introduce complexities such as SQL-based filtering and limited performance optimization. The SAP BW connection in the SAC list of acquired connections you can see the name as SAP BW (including BW/4HANA), despite its name, is not tied to an external BW system but is an inbuilt SAC connection that enables direct data replication from SAP S/4HANA into SAC, offering a more robust and scalable solution.
Having delivered Group Reporting in SAC after extensive troubleshooting, I found that leveraging the SAP BW connection significantly improved performance, usability and data reconciliation. This article explores the benefits of using the SAP BW connection, the prerequisites for setup, challenges and best practices.
Challenges With OData Connections:
While OData is a standard approach for integrating SAP S/4HANA with SAP Analytics Cloud, it comes with several limitations when used for Group Reporting:
Complex Query Handling
• OData queries require writing free SQL for filters and prompts, making applying mandatory parameters from SAP CDS views difficult.
• This complexity increases development time and the risk of query errors.
Performance Issues
• OData fetches data dynamically, leading to slow query execution and potential performance bottlenecks when dealing with large datasets.
• Unlike data replication, OData pulls real-time data, impacting system performance during high usage.
Limited Data Transformation Capabilities
• OData does not support advanced data transformations, making it harder to cleanse, aggregate or merge data within SAC.
• Handling currency conversions, intercompany eliminations and consolidation logic requires additional SAC modeling efforts.
Scalability Concerns
• OData is not optimized for high-volume data extraction, leading to limitations in data loads and incremental updates.
The SAP BW Connection In SAC
The SAP BW connection, though named similarly to BW/4HANA, is actually an embedded integration option within SAC that facilitates direct data replication from SAP S/4HANA—enabling faster, more efficient reporting. It resolves OData limitations and provides several key advantages:
Simplified Query Execution
• The SAP BW connection automatically handles CDS view parameters, eliminating the need for manual SQL-based filtering.
• This results in faster data extraction and improved usability in SAC.
Improved Performance And Data Replication
• Unlike OData’s real-time fetch, the SAP BW connection replicates S/4HANA data into SAC, ensuring faster reporting without impacting system performance.
• Incremental data loads ensure that only new or updated records are transferred, reducing unnecessary data pulls.
Enhanced Data Transformation And Modeling
• SAC can leverage the replicated S/4HANA data for aggregation, filtering and merging without impacting the source system.
• Supports complex calculations such as currency conversions, consolidation logic and hierarchical rollups for Group Reporting.
Better Data Reconciliation
• Since data is extracted and stored in SAC, it is easier to track changes, validate data and reconcile reports before final submission.
• This ensures greater accuracy and auditability in financial consolidation processes.
Prerequisites To Set Up The SAP BW Connection
To establish a SAP BW connection for SAP S/4HANA data replication in SAC, you need to configure the following key components:
SAP Cloud Connector
• Enables secure communication between S/4HANA and SAP Analytics Cloud.
• Acts as a bridge for data replication while maintaining security standards.
SAP Analytics Cloud Agent
• Required for data extraction and transfer from SAP S/4HANA to SAC.
• Ensures smooth data movement while preserving metadata and structure.
Java Connector
• Facilitates CDS view extraction from S/4HANA, ensuring mandatory parameters are properly applied without manual intervention.
Configuration In SAC
• Define the SAP BW connection under Data Connections in SAC.
• Select CDS views and set up incremental load scheduling for optimized performance.
SAP Best Practices
Adopting SAC for GR requires planning and adherence to best practices. Below are key recommendations:
Optimize Data Integration
Best Practice: Select an integration method to balance performance and maintenance.
Tip: SAP BW connection is preferred over OData to improve reporting accuracy and system efficiency.
Common Mistake: Over-reliance on OData, leading to slow queries and system strain.
Improve CDS Views Efficiency
Best Practice: Pre-filter and structure CDS views before loading them into SAC.
Tip: Use SAP Cloud Connector and JCo to handle CDS view parameters.
Common Issue: Poorly structured CDS views cause data extraction errors.
Implement Incremental Data Loading
Best Practice: Use incremental loads instead of full data refreshes.
Tip: Configure SAP BW connection to extract only updated records, reducing load time.
Common Mistake: Lack of incremental updates causes slow refresh rates.
Ensure Data Governance
Best Practice: Establish data validation and reconciliation processes.
Tip: Leverage SAC audit logs for data integrity verification.
Common Issue: Poor reconciliation leads to financial inconsistencies.
Drive User Adoption
Best Practice: Provide hands-on training to finance and analytics teams.
Tip: Promote SAC’s Augmented Analytics for better insights.
Common Hurdle: Resistance from SAP BW/BOBJ users slows adoption.
Following these best practices ensures performance optimization, accurate reporting and successful SAC adoption.
Final Thoughts
After encountering challenges with OData, I found that following these best practices enables organizations to maximize the value of SAC for GR. The SAP BW connection proves to be the most efficient, scalable and performance-driven approach for S/4HANA data replication, offering advantages over real-time OData queries.
To ensure a seamless and accurate financial reporting experience in SAC, leaders should focus on:
• Incremental data loads for optimized performance.
• Proper CDS configuration to handle mandatory parameters.
• Robust governance controls for data accuracy and compliance.
By properly configuring the SAP BW connection with the right governance and data strategy, organizations can transform their Group Reporting into a streamlined, high-performance analytics framework. Leaders who embrace this approach will unlock real-time insights, enhanced financial accuracy and a future-proof analytics ecosystem—giving them a significant competitive advantage in today’s data-driven world.
For organizations still struggling with OData’s limitations, making the switch to the SAP BW connection streamlines integration, enhances data accuracy and improves GR reconciliation in SAC.
Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
