Business Information Warehouse Business Information Warehouse 

This Session provides you with:This Session provides you with:

an overview of the functions and technology in the SAP an overview of the functions and technology in the SAP

Business Information Warehouse (BW)Business Information Warehouse (BW)

basic knowledge of how BW worksbasic knowledge of how BW works

OverviewOverview

What is a data warehouse? What is a data warehouse?

OLTP Vs OLAPOLTP Vs OLAP

A multi-dimensional data modelA multi-dimensional data model

SAP BW architectureSAP BW architecture

mySAP Business ApplicationsmySAP Business Applications

What is Data Warehouse?What is Data Warehouse?Defined in many different ways, but not rigorously.Defined in many different ways, but not rigorously.

A decision support database that is maintained A decision support database that is maintained separately from the organization’s operational separately from the organization’s operational databasedatabaseSupport information processing by providing a Support information processing by providing a solid platform of consolidated, historical data for solid platform of consolidated, historical data for analysis.analysis.

““A data warehouse is a A data warehouse is a subject-orientedsubject-oriented,, integratedintegrated, , time-varianttime-variant, and , and nonvolatilenonvolatile collection collection of data in support of management’s decision-of data in support of management’s decision-making process.”—W. H. Inmonmaking process.”—W. H. InmonData warehousing:Data warehousing:

The process of constructing and using data The process of constructing and using data warehouseswarehouses

Categories of Data Warehouse:Categories of Data Warehouse:

•Data WarehouseData Warehouse

•ODSODS

•Data MartsData Marts

•Dependent Data MartsDependent Data Marts

•Independent data MartsIndependent data Marts

•EDWEDW

OLTP Vs OLAPOLTP Vs OLAP

OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) refers to the type of data OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) refers to the type of data processing typically done in an R/3 system.processing typically done in an R/3 system.

BW is an OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) system.BW is an OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) system.

SAP BW Data ModelSAP BW Data Model

• Data that has been loaded into BW from various source Data that has been loaded into BW from various source systems, is stored in BW in the form of star schemas. This systems, is stored in BW in the form of star schemas. This type of table assignment is ideal for reporting purposes.type of table assignment is ideal for reporting purposes.

• The dimensions answer question such as "Who?" "What?" The dimensions answer question such as "Who?" "What?" and "When?"and "When?"

• The facts provide answers to questions such as; “how The facts provide answers to questions such as; “how much money, how many people, how much did we pay”?much money, how many people, how much did we pay”?

Example : SalesExample : Sales

Star SchemaStar Schema

SAP BW: Extended Star SchemaSAP BW: Extended Star Schema

MDM/Star Schema and BWMDM/Star Schema and BW

Info CubeInfo Cube

SAP BW ArchitectureSAP BW Architecture

BW has a multi- level architecture to provide the BW has a multi- level architecture to provide the maximum degree of flexibility.maximum degree of flexibility.

Bottom Layer:Bottom Layer:

BW can extract and use data provided by a variety of BW can extract and use data provided by a variety of sources. These include R/3 and R/2 systems, non-SAP sources. These include R/3 and R/2 systems, non-SAP systems, flat files, commercial data providers, and even other systems, flat files, commercial data providers, and even other BW systems.BW systems.

Middle Layer:Middle Layer:

The BW server provides all the tools necessary to The BW server provides all the tools necessary to model, extract, transform, aggregate, store, and access data. model, extract, transform, aggregate, store, and access data. Since the description of the data, regardless of its source, is Since the description of the data, regardless of its source, is contained in a common Metadata Repository, data from a contained in a common Metadata Repository, data from a variety of sources can be combined to give you enhanced variety of sources can be combined to give you enhanced data analysis options.data analysis options.

Top Layer:Top Layer:

BW users can access data through the SAP Business BW users can access data through the SAP Business Explorer, a standard Web Browser, or third-party display Explorer, a standard Web Browser, or third-party display tools, which have been certified for use with a common BAPI tools, which have been certified for use with a common BAPI interface.interface.

mySAP Business ApplicationsmySAP Business Applications

The SAP Business Information Warehouse has a central The SAP Business Information Warehouse has a central position among the mySAP solutions. Typical characteristics position among the mySAP solutions. Typical characteristics of the individual solutions are separate development, of the individual solutions are separate development, implementation, and maintenance of the components, and implementation, and maintenance of the components, and independent release cycles in the different areas.independent release cycles in the different areas.

BAPI and ALE technology takes care of communication BAPI and ALE technology takes care of communication between these various systems.between these various systems.

The advantages of this architecture include quicker The advantages of this architecture include quicker implementation, flexibility, openness, and extendibility.implementation, flexibility, openness, and extendibility.

BW Strategy: An End-To-End Solution

BW Strategy: An End-To-End So

BW Strategy: An End-To-End SolutionBW Strategy: An End-To-End Solution

BW is a complete data warehouse solution, from the BW is a complete data warehouse solution, from the extraction of data from various source systems, to providing extraction of data from various source systems, to providing a set of tools for analyzing and displaying the data.a set of tools for analyzing and displaying the data.

Open Hub Service:Open Hub Service:•The open hub service enables you to distribute data from The open hub service enables you to distribute data from an SAP BW system into external data marts, analytical an SAP BW system into external data marts, analytical applications, and other applications. applications, and other applications.

•Through the open hub service, SAP BW becomes a hub Through the open hub service, SAP BW becomes a hub of an enterprise data warehouse.of an enterprise data warehouse.

System Landscape:System Landscape:

The System Landscape of SAP BW is similar to that of The System Landscape of SAP BW is similar to that of SAP R/3.SAP R/3.

ExtractionsExtractions

• This Section discusses the SAP BW extraction and load process This Section discusses the SAP BW extraction and load process of data from various source systems.of data from various source systems.

Non-SAP Source systems:Non-SAP Source systems:

Data from non-SAP data sources can be loaded into SAP BW in one Data from non-SAP data sources can be loaded into SAP BW in one of the three ways.of the three ways.

•Flat file source systems (loaded through Flat Files).Flat file source systems (loaded through Flat Files).

•External source systems – connect to external systems with third- External source systems – connect to external systems with third- party custom extraction tools (using staging BAPIs).party custom extraction tools (using staging BAPIs).

•External data providers such as Nielsen. External data providers such as Nielsen.

SAP Source Systems:SAP Source Systems:

•SAP R/3 Source system (after release 3.1H).SAP R/3 Source system (after release 3.1H).

•SAP BW System - using Myself.SAP BW System - using Myself.

•Other SAP products.Other SAP products.

Data Sources and Info Sources:Data Sources and Info Sources:

Flat Files:Flat Files:

•Flat files can be used to load both Master and Transactional Flat files can be used to load both Master and Transactional data from non-SAP source system into SAP BW. data from non-SAP source system into SAP BW.

•SAP BW can load data from 3 non-ASP Formats.SAP BW can load data from 3 non-ASP Formats.

1. CSV is a Character Separated Value file type 1. CSV is a Character Separated Value file type

(extension .CSV).(extension .CSV).

2. ASCII is a fixed-length record format file.2. ASCII is a fixed-length record format file.

3. XML files.3. XML files.

Third-Party Extraction Tools:Third-Party Extraction Tools:

Third-party vendors of extraction products certified for SAP BW Third-party vendors of extraction products certified for SAP BW include.include.

• Acta Works for SAP from Acta TechnologiesActa Works for SAP from Acta Technologies

• Evolutionary Technology Inc. (ETI)Evolutionary Technology Inc. (ETI)

• GenioGenio

• Informatica etc.,Informatica etc.,

External Data Providers:External Data Providers:

External data providers are suppliers of data to SAP BW External data providers are suppliers of data to SAP BW (e.g., A.C. Nielsen and Dun & Bradstreet). They usually are value (e.g., A.C. Nielsen and Dun & Bradstreet). They usually are value added services that are available. External data providers use the added services that are available. External data providers use the BAPI concept to load data into SAP BW.BAPI concept to load data into SAP BW.

Types of extractions:Types of extractions:

•Flat FileFlat File

•GenericGeneric

•CO/PACO/PA

•LIS & LOLIS & LO

•FI/SLFI/SL

Generic Data Extraction:Generic Data Extraction:

This extraction is used when:This extraction is used when:

• There is no Data Source in business content.There is no Data Source in business content.

• SAP R/3 tables to be extracted from a cross-application SAP R/3 tables to be extracted from a cross-application or customor custom

tables (Z Tables).tables (Z Tables).

CO/PA Data Extraction:CO/PA Data Extraction:

•This method is specific to the extraction of data from the This method is specific to the extraction of data from the CO/PA application component from SAP R/3.CO/PA application component from SAP R/3.

•It collects all of the OLTP data for calculative margins It collects all of the OLTP data for calculative margins (sales, cost of sales, overhead costs).(sales, cost of sales, overhead costs).

LIS and LO Data Extraction:LIS and LO Data Extraction:

LIS and Lo are two very closely related application-specific LIS and Lo are two very closely related application-specific extractor types.extractor types.

LIS (Logistics Information Systems) is a cross application LIS (Logistics Information Systems) is a cross application component of SAP R/3 collecting supply chain information component of SAP R/3 collecting supply chain information from the following : from the following :

•Sales Information System.Sales Information System.

•Purchasing Information System.Purchasing Information System.

•Inventory Controlling.Inventory Controlling.

•Shop Floor Information System.Shop Floor Information System.

•Plant Maintenance Information System.Plant Maintenance Information System.

•Quality Management Information System. Quality Management Information System.

• LIS Data Extractors suffer from limitations like Performance, LIS Data Extractors suffer from limitations like Performance, Volume of data and Complexity of Usage.Volume of data and Complexity of Usage.

• To remedy these limitations, SAP developed the LO data To remedy these limitations, SAP developed the LO data extraction method.extraction method.

• This method is used to extract data from the LO (Logistics) This method is used to extract data from the LO (Logistics) application component in SAP R/3.application component in SAP R/3.

FI/SL Data Extraction: FI/SL Data Extraction:

• Finance, Special Ledger (FI/SL) is another application-Finance, Special Ledger (FI/SL) is another application-specific extraction method in SAP BW.specific extraction method in SAP BW.

• It collects all of the OLTP data for Financial accounting, It collects all of the OLTP data for Financial accounting, Special Ledger.Special Ledger.

• FI/SL combines data from different levels of OLTP FI/SL combines data from different levels of OLTP applications (e.g., FI/GL, EC/PCA, CO/CCA). applications (e.g., FI/GL, EC/PCA, CO/CCA).

Update Methods:Update Methods:

An Update method is a scheme used to update data in SAP An Update method is a scheme used to update data in SAP BW. The updates available in SAP BW are:BW. The updates available in SAP BW are:

•Full Update – extract all the data from source system.Full Update – extract all the data from source system.

•Initialization - reset.Initialization - reset.

•Delta Update – extract only the data that have been Delta Update – extract only the data that have been changed or added since the last extract.changed or added since the last extract.

Business Explorer (BEx) Business Explorer (BEx)

Contents:

BEx Analyzer BEx Browser

BEx ComponentsBEx Components

The Business Explorer helps to analyze the data in the The Business Explorer helps to analyze the data in the SAP Business Information Warehouse.SAP Business Information Warehouse.

BEx Analyzer:BEx Analyzer:

BEx Analyzer is a Microsoft Excel-based interactive BEx Analyzer is a Microsoft Excel-based interactive environment where analyses and queries are defined by environment where analyses and queries are defined by selected characteristics and key figures.selected characteristics and key figures.

BEx Browser:BEx Browser:

The BEx Browser is a graphical interface for organizing The BEx Browser is a graphical interface for organizing reports of SAP BW.reports of SAP BW.

BEx BrowserBEx Browser

Creating a QueryCreating a Query

Choosing Characteristics and Key Choosing Characteristics and Key FiguresFigures

SAP Business Explorer Toolbar:SAP Business Explorer Toolbar:

The SAP Business Explorer toolbar integrates SAP BW The SAP Business Explorer toolbar integrates SAP BW reporting functionality into Microsoft Excel.reporting functionality into Microsoft Excel.

Sample Report:Sample Report:

Some Reporting Topics:Some Reporting Topics:

• ExceptionsExceptions

• ConditionsConditions

• VariablesVariables

• Calculated Key FiguresCalculated Key Figures

• FormulasFormulas

• FunctionsFunctions

• FiltersFilters

• Free CharacteristicsFree Characteristics

Q&A