SAP S/4HANA Migration & SAP BW

SAP S/4HANA migration - opportunities for your data and reporting architecture

The migration from SAP ERP to SAP S/4HANA not only changes the technological foundations, but also the central processes of data integration, analysis and reporting.

SAP BW in particular, as an established data warehouse system, is directly affected: Existing data models must be revised, reporting structures adapted and new possibilities for real-time analyses developed.

In this article, we will show you what effects the SAP S/4HANA migration will have on your SAP BW and how you can strategically utilize the new potential for your company.

1. changes in data integration

With the introduction of SAP S/4HANA, the existing data architecture is being fundamentally revised - with a direct impact on SAP BW. The most important changes at a glance:

New Universal Journal (ACDOCA)

"Best practice" recommendation in S/4HANA: The accounting CO-PA largely eliminates previous limitations in Profitability Analysis.

➜ This requires a comprehensive revision of the CO/PA reports in SAP BW: CO-PA, Controlling Profitability Analysis, i.e. profit and market segment accounting, enables profits and losses to be analyzed in detail according to various dimensions such as customers, products, regions or business units. It is used to evaluate market segments and improve profitability.

Reporting and data models in BW must be adapted: In future, all business partners will be stored in a central table, with attributes and relationships distinguishing the different partner types. This requires an adaptation of the existing BW data models and reporting structures.

Changes to master data and hierarchies

New hierarchy structures can influence existing BW hierarchies.

➜ Early review and adaptation is advisable: Many companies use BW for hierarchies (e.g. cost centers, profit centers, customers). SAP S/4HANA often entails changes to these hierarchies - particularly due to the business partner model and the merging of data structures.

Standard extractors and DataSources

Many standard extractors are no longer available or are being replaced by new interfaces.

➜ C ompanies need to review existing BW data flows and switch to ABAP CDS views or Operational Data Provisioning (ODP).

Changes to field lengths and data models

The introduction of SAP HANA as the underlying database leads to technical changes, such as longer field lengths for material numbers and sales documents.

➜ Existing BW transformations and reports must be adapted.

2. adjustments to the data model

How do BW models and reports need to be adapted to SAP S/4HANA?

The new system architecture entails changes to the data model:

Change from accounting-based to costing-based income statement

➜ Adjustment of reporting structures and harmonization of the chart of accounts.

Introduction of the new warehouse management system (EWM)

Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) is being introduced as the new standard solution for warehouse management. Existing warehouse processes from SAP WM will be converted, which may result in changes to the BW data flows.

Dealing with historical data

In many SAP S/4HANA projects, historical transaction data is not migrated automatically, but remains in SAP BW as archive data. BW reports must continue to access archived data and at the same time be compatible with the harmonized data from SAP S/4HANA. A clear strategy for historical data storage is therefore crucial.

➜ Adaptation/extension of the authorization concept for access to data.

➜ Clear strategies for access and authorizations required.

Simplification of data models

The new architecture of SAP S/4HANA enables simplified data models and faster queries. This can reduce redundancies and improve the performance of the BW system, provided that the existing structures are optimized.

➜ Optimization of existing structures necessary.

3. reporting & analytics - using new opportunities

What new analysis options does SAP S/4HANA offer?

In addition to customizations, SAP S/4HANA also offers completely new possibilities for reporting and analytics:

SAP S/4HANA Embedded Analytics

Operational real-time analyses can be carried out directly in the ERP system. This means that real-time operational analyses can be carried out directly in the transaction. The new analysis functions should be used specifically to strengthen collaboration within the system and enable better decision-making.

➜ Enables better, data-driven decisions in day-to-day business.

Find out more ➜

Integration of BW with S/4HANA reporting

Despite the new possibilities, SAP BW / SAP Datasphere remain central components for cross-company reporting and complex analyses, in particular for the consolidation of planned and actual data, the integration of SAP and non-SAP data and the consolidated provision of company-wide key figures and reports.

➜ Development of a clear strategy for the coexistence of embedded analytics and classic BW reporting.

4. SAP BW/4HANA and SAP Datasphere as a strategic option

What role will BW/4HANA and SAP Datasphere play in the future?

Long-term planning for the data warehouse

As the classic SAP BW will not be developed further in the long term, you should consider which path to take: e.g. a direct conversion to SAP BW/4HANA or a migration to the
SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC). You have the option of doing this, migrate BW 7.5 or BW/4 as PCE (Private Cloud Edition) to the cloud and build new data models in a modern, future-proof environment. This enables companies to optimally prepare for AI/ML requirements prepare
and competitive in the long term in the long term.

➜ C heck the possible migration solutions.

Integration into the migration strategy

If you are planning an upgrade to BW/4HANA or a gradual introduction of SAP Datasphere, this should be included in the migration strategy at an early stage. In this way, duplication of effort and unnecessary adjustments can be avoided.

➜ Early involvement and planning prevents duplication of effort.

Utilization of technological advantages

SAP BW/4HANA offers a more modern architecture, better performance and native HANA optimization, especially for large data volumes and real-time analyses. At the same time, SAP Datasphere enables a cloud-based, flexible data architecture for hybrid and heterogeneous landscapes.

➜ Weigh up which data management platform is suitable.

➜ Building a powerful, flexible platform for hybrid data landscapes.

SAP BW/4HANA Migration

The migration from SAP BW to SAP BW/4HANA offers numerous advantages in terms of performance and flexibility. By switching to a modern, simplified architecture, efficiency gains can be achieved while laying the foundation for future requirements. A structured migration process is crucial to fully exploit the benefits of SAP BW/4HANA and address potential challenges at an early stage.

Successful migration through strategic planning

The SAP S/4HANA migration brings significant changes for SAP BW.

A successful changeover requires:

Sophisticated customization of data integration.
Optimization of BW models and reporting structures.
Strategic use of new reporting and analysis options.

Our offer:

With our expertise in data & analytics, we help you to optimally adapt your SAP BW landscape to the new requirements - and to future-proof your reporting processes.

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Giancarlo Schifano

Senior Analytics Consultant

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KNOWLEDGE

Useful information

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