SAP Business Data Cloud (SAP BDC) is SAP’s new enterprise data management and orchestration platform. Designed to offer seamless and secure integration of data from a variety of sources, SAP BDC enables companies to unify and govern their data, while guaranteeing optimized interoperability with SAP and non-SAP solutions.
SAP BDC consists of several key elements:
- SAP Datasphere : Data management and virtualization platform, facilitating data access and modeling across the SAP and non-SAP ecosystem.
- SAP Analytics Cloud: Integrated analytics and reporting solution enabling dashboarding, planning and predictive analytics.
- SAP BW or SAP BW/4HANA PCE: Advanced data warehouse for consolidating and transforming enterprise data. Its integration with SAP BDC makes it possible to reuse existing SAP BW data and models in a modern environment, facilitate the transition to the cloud while maintaining current operations, and exploit advanced functionalities such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and data governance. What’s more, by integrating SAP BW with SAP BDC, support is extended until 2030, offering a secure transition to the cloud. Find out more.
- SAP Databricks : A computational engine integrated with SAP Business Data Cloud, SAP Databricks is an adapted version of Databricks that enables Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to be run on SAP Data Product, without having to move or copy data.
SAP Business Data Cloud is based on a pyramid architecture with 4 levels:
- Data Sources – Raw data from source systems.
- Data Products – Transformed, ready-to-use data.
- Data Models – Artifacts defining the data model
with extension and authorization management options. - Dashboards – User interface offering AI-based analysis,
forecasts and recommendations.
New features and functions
Data governance
Les Data Products sont une nouvelle manière conceptuelle de formater et d’unifier les données. Ils regroupent à la fois des données de base (ex : devises, centres de coûts) et des données transactionnelles (ex : écritures comptables). Optimisés pour la lecture seule, ils sont organisés en packages de données et gouvernés par les équipes métier.
- Exemples de Data Products :
- Données de base : CountryRegion, HANACurrency, Cost Center.Données transactionnelles : Élément d’écriture comptable, En-tête de journal.
- Open Resource Discovery (ORD) : Système permettant de documenter, classifier et tracer l’utilisation des Data Products.Assure une meilleure visibilité et compréhension des données au sein de l’organisation.Facilite le partage et la gouvernance des ressources de données.
Analytique avancée (SAP Analytics Cloud, Insight Apps) :
SAP Analytics Cloud est l’interface principale de SAP Business Data Cloud pour la visualisation et l’analyse avancée. SAP Analytics Cloud est nécessaire pour exploiter les Insight Apps fournies par SAP mais aussi permettre leur personnalisation. Une Insight App s’installe comme ceci :
- Recherche et sélection dans le cockpit SAP Business Data Cloud.
- Installation automatique des objets gérés par SAP, y compris :
- Les Data Product associés.
- Les modèles analytiques et les vues SAP Datasphere.
- Un espace dédié dans SAP Datasphere.
- Un tableau de bord SAP Analytics Cloud.
- Attribution des rôles utilisateurs pour accéder aux rapports.
- Remarque : Les objets générés ne peuvent pas être modifiés, mais restent accessibles en lecture pour la traçabilité.
Performances et intégration avec SAP Databricks :
- SAP Databricks permet d’exécuter des workloads analytiques avancés et de machine learning à grande échelle, tout en bénéficiant de l’élasticité et de la puissance du moteur Databricks au sein de l’écosystème SAP.
- Moteur de traitement optimisé pour supporter de grandes volumétries de données en temps réel.
Interopérabilité Cloud avec Delta Sharing et Delta Lake :
- Delta Sharing : Un protocole de partage de données ouvert qui permet un accès direct aux données sans duplication. Il assure une interopérabilité multi-cloud en facilitant l’échange sécurisé des données entre différentes plateformes analytiques et applications. Il est compatible avec divers outils analytiques comme Apache Spark, Python et SQL.
- Delta Lake : Un format de stockage optimisé qui améliore la performance des requêtes et la gestion des mises à jour grâce aux fonctionnalités suivantes :
- Accélération des traitements grâce au caching et aux métadonnées optimisées.
- Exécution de requêtes SQL directement sur les fichiers.
- Gestion efficace des mises à jour incrémentales.
*Le caching est une technique d’optimisation des performances qui consiste à stocker temporairement des données fréquemment utilisées dans une mémoire rapide (cache), afin de réduire le temps d’accès et d’améliorer l’efficacité des traitements.
Intégration avancée (SAP Datasphere, Data Marketplace) :
Connexion native aux solutions SAP et compatibilité avec des sources de données hétérogènes.
Gestion de la sécurité :
Accès basé sur les rôles et conformité avec les réglementations en vigueur. La gouvernance est centralisée, garantissant un contrôle strict des accès.
SAP Business Data Cloud Cockpit :
Le Cockpit SAP Business Data Cloud est l’interface principale permettant d’accéder, configurer et gérer les composants de SAP Business Data Cloud. Il sert de point d’entrée central pour les administrateurs, data analysts et data scientists.
- Objectifs du Cockpit Administration :
- Configuration du paysage et des connexions aux sources de données via SAP for Me.
- Exploration : Recherche et déploiement des artefacts nécessaires à l’analyse.
- Gestion des artefacts : Activation des Data Packages et des Insight Apps.
Why adopt it if you already have SAP Datasphere?
| Features | SAP Datasphere | SAP BDC |
| Data storage and transformation | Yes | Yes |
| Data Sharing | Limited | Yes |
| Inter-organizational collaboration | Restricted | Yes |
| Real-time data access | Yes | Yes |
| Data governance and security | Yes | Yes (advanced) |
Tarification and transition cost :
- Capacity Units” (CUs) model, similar to SAP Datasphere.
- Existing SAP Datasphere customers can migrate to SAP Business Data Cloud with no immediate change in cost.
- The addition of new functionality and the volume of data exchanged influence the final cost.
SAP BDC does not replace SAP Datasphere, but complements it by improving collaboration and data management in a multi-organizational environment.
Why switch from SAP BW to SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC)?
SAP BDC offers a modern, flexible approach that addresses the limitations of SAP BW:
- Continuity with SAP BW: Direct connection to BW models via SAP BW Bridge for gradual migration.
- Openness to external data : Native integration with SAP and non-SAP (SQL bases, Data Lakes, APIs, etc.).
- Advanced governance and secure sharing : Centralized data modeling with granular access.
- Cloud-native and scalable : No infrastructure constraints, scalability according to business needs.
- Optimized for modern analytics : Seamless connection with SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), Databricks and advanced BI tools.
| Features. | SAP BW | SAP BDC |
| Data storage and transformation | Yes | Yes |
| Data Sharing | Very limited | Yes |
| Scalability and flexibility | Infrastructure constrained | Scalable cloud |
| Inter-organizational collaboration | Complex | Simple and secure |
| Real-time data access | Limited | Yes |
| Advanced modeling & Data Mesh | Rigid | Yes (reusable business models) |
SAP Business Data Cloud
Highlights
- Native integration with the SAP ecosystem
- Advanced security and governance
- Advanced analytics and Machine Learning – Optimized analytical power with SAP Databricks
- Flexibility and data sharing via Data Products and Insight Apps
- Multi-cloud interoperability with Delta Sharing and Delta Lake
Weak points
- Adaptation time required for new functionalities
- Optimization sometimes dependent on the SAP ecosystem
- New platform: a promising SAP-Databricks partnership, but integration and stability remain to be seen
Opportunities
- Expansion of data cloud architectures
- Increasing data governance and compliance requirements
- Rise of Data Marketplaces and inter-company exchanges
- Opportunity for SAP partners to offer their own Data Products and Insight Apps
Threats
- Intense competition with established cloud platforms
- Potentially high cost for some companies
Comparison with competitors
| Criteria | SAP BDC | Snowflake | Google BigQuery | AWS Redshift |
| SAP integration | Excellent | Limited | Low | Low |
| Data governance | Advanced (Data Products, Open Resource Discovery) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Performance | High (SAP Databricks) | Very high | Very high | Very high |
| Cloud interoperability | Multi-cloud and hybrid (Delta Sharing and Delta Lake) | Multi-cloud | Google Cloud | AWS |
| Advanced analytics | Yes, with SAP Databricks and Insight Apps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Based on usage and SAP integration | Consumption-based | Consumption-based | Consumption-based |
To conclude…
SAP Business Data Cloud is an essential solution for companies with an SAP ERP that want to unify, govern and exploit their data securely. Thanks to its partnership with Databricks, SAP is strengthening its position in the field of analytical solutions and data management with a comprehensive and competitive platform.
Data Products and Insight Apps facilitate and accelerate the deployment of analytical solutions, offering an integrated and scalable approach. This architecture enables companies to optimize their analytical capabilities while guaranteeing advanced data governance.
However, competition from existing cloud platforms and the challenges of adopting new functionalities remain key elements to watch out for. The success of SAP BDC will depend on its gradual adoption and integration into companies’ Data strategies.SAP Business Data Cloud is establishing itself as a must-have solution for companies with an SAP ERP looking to unify, govern and exploit their data securely. Thanks to its partnership with Databricks, SAP is strengthening its position in the Data arena by offering a comprehensive and competitive platform.
