SAP Datasphere (formerly SAP Data Warehouse Cloud): The Future of Data Warehousing

What are the special features of SAP Datasphere (formerly SAP Data Warehouse Cloud)? Can reports and data models be built with SAP Datasphere? Can the SAP Datasphere be tried out? These and other questions are answered here.

 SAP Datasphere (formerly DWC) - The Future of Data Warehousing

SAP's innovative cloud-based data warehousing solution for business and IT users enables self-service data modelling and avoids shadow IT solutions. Its reusability and ability to link central and individual data sources creates an excellent basis for storytelling and advanced analytics use cases. 

All cool Data Warehouse (DWH) features will be released first in SAP Datasphere

SAP describes the SAP Datasphere as the "strategic product" of the data warehouse solution. This means that new features (such as the Data Marketplace) will only be released in the Datasphere in the future. Other data warehousing products (such as SAP BW on /4 HANA) will still be maintained, but not further developed.

Managed self-service

Departments are enabled to build their own data models or extend central ones.This accelerates the process and makesreports available more quickly.

Cloud-based

Ka Investment in on-premise hardware necessary and fast availability.

Connect to all

Integration with other (SAP) analytics tools:remote data access and clear presentation of all data, even with non-SAP products. BW4 and S/4 HANA integrations continue to be allowed.

 

Screenshot DWC
Analyst working with Business Analytics and data management syst

What is the SAP Datasphere (formerly DWC)?

  • The Data Warehouse Cloud (DWC) was released by SAP in2019. There were two key milestones: (1) the release of the beta version in early 2019 and (2) general availability in November 2019.
  • The first customer worldwide to implement DWC as a data warehouse was Swiss biotech company Idorsia. As an SAP partner, s-peers AG was heavily involved in the DWC implementation and as such can draw on many years of experience in DWC implementation.
  • The DWC is a DWH Cloud solutionwhich enables user groups to create their own analytics applications in a quick and agile way. Together with the SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), which has already been established on the market for some time, the SAP Data Warehouse Cloud (DWC) forms the core of the "SAP HANA Cloud Services" product range.
  • The product in the SaaS (software as a service) model is a HANA-based end-to-end solution for data warehousing that combines data management processes with advanced analytics.
  • 08.03.2023: Renaming DWC to SAP Datasphere

Components and features in the SAP Datasphere

Spaces

Spaces are virtual workingenvironmentsthat enablespecific user groups for each case, for data modelling, data integration and the creation ofstory dashboards. What is most interesting here are what is known as the OpenSQL schemas, which provideanopen interface for data storage in anSAP DataWarehouse Cloud space. A whole host of other details on this aspect can be found in a comprehensive article by Sven Knöpfler (Head of Technology at s-peers). Click here to read it. 

Data Builder

  • In terms of the data modelling process, the Data Builder offers various options for integrating, transforming (syntactically and semantically) and then linking data (Figure 1). Data integration can be carried out via a CSV import, a graphic view or an SQL-based view.The latter two options provide convenient access to all tables that are either connected via a live connection (e.g. to an on-premise HANA database) or stored in the data warehouse cloud.
  • For sophisticated data transformations or replication services, the Data Flow makes it possible to use Python programming language in addition to graphical transformation tools.
  • It is also possible to define entity relationship models (ERM), which represent the semantic layer. ER models can help to visualise and better understand the relationships between different data sets. In addition, the "Join Recommendation" function is activated in the Data Builder and used in a graphical view to automatically set the described relationships between the tables during a join.

Business Builder

Both the functional reference to the data via business entities, for example the articles or the customer, and fact tables which contain key figures, can be generated in the Business Builder.The business layer that is created is decoupled from the data layer, enabling atop-down modelling approachwith the departmentindependent of changes in the data layer.

Explorer

The Explorer offers a very intuitive and quick way of finding existing models, such as dimension and fact data models. These can be maintained with metadata (purpose, responsible teams/persons, tags) and can thus be comfortable via various filterfilter options searched for and found.

Story Builder

The Story Builder connects the Datasphere (formerly DWC) with the integrated SAC. In this, various functions are made available for the creation of reports and thus for the visualization of key figures. If a dedicated SAC is already available, this can also be used as an alternative.

Further information on the SAC can be found here. (INSERT LINK TO SAC)

Connections

The Connections component offers the possibility to use theDatasphere (formerly. DWC) with external data sources (e.g. a locally operated SAP HANA) and also to check this connection.

Security

In this area, you canmanage such data as users, authorisationsand roles and track activities.

Data Access Control

As well as the technical authorisationand role concept offers Data Access Control offers the possibility the functionaldata accessat line level for the users.

Data Integration Monitor

Whenusing data replication from other sources, theData Integration Monitor offers the possibility of adjustingthe loading frequencies and also monitoring.

Content Network

 Examples of business scenarios for data modelling can be imported via the functions in the Content Net. Furthermore,you can shareyour own scenarios with other systems.

Download the "SAP Data Warehouse Guideline" guide free of charge

Screenshot-Whitepaper-SAP-Data-Warehouse-Guideline

SAP Datasphere (formerly DWC) compared to the other BW ON|4 HANA data warehousing solutions.

The SAP Datasphere (formerly DWC) is an end-to-end solution that covers all areas from data management to modeling and analysis. With the Datasphere, both business and IT are provided with an environment in which they can perform all their necessary activities such as transforming, modeling or visualizing data. While BW applications are primarily aimed at IT staff, the Datasphere empowers business users to independently create data models and connect sources. With the Datasphere, on the other hand, the focus is primarily on the collaborative aspect, in order to dissolve the restricted data access between the business department and IT. On the one hand, the goal is to provide IT with an application in which it can manage its data, and on the other hand, to offer the business the option of using this data and enriching it with its own local data. The business departments are provided with their own Spaces for this purpose, in which they can select their data independently and establish connections to other data sources. In this way, the business users can model and transform their data in the Spaces without running the risk of modifying or even deleting reports that do not belong to the same department. In addition, the Spaces provide users with an overview of how much storage and computing resources are being consumed.

 

Unlike previous BW applications, Datasphere takes atop-down approach to data modeling. Data models are built from the top (semantic layer) down (data layer). In the semantic layer, all business users speak the same language with regard to dimensions, key figures and metadata. Business users no longer have to deal with technical terms, since all dimensions and metrics are described in natural language. and metrics are described in natural language. The business user does not need to know anything about the underlying data models. The main purpose of the top-down approach is that IT no longer has to filter the business-relevant information for each department; instead, the department can do this independently and tailor it to its own needs. needs. Thus, the Datasphere is not only centrally located in IT, as is usual with a DW, but is also part of the business department.

Since Datasphere is a SaaS solution, it naturally also benefits from the advantages of a cloud solution. With Datasphere, it is much easier to develop a prototype compared to the previous BW applications, since no setup or installation is necessary at the beginning. SAP takes care of updates and maintenance at this point. In terms of elasticity, computing resources are also distributed in such a way that they adapt to the respective requirements and can be scaled up or down as needed.

Test possibility

Can the SAP Datasphere be tried out?

"Yes, there are free demo accounts. Description of conditions: 30-day free trial. Gladly accompanied by us. "
Paul Vatter
Data workshop manager

"Since2019, there has been the Data Warehouse Cloud (DWC), which has been further developed as SAP Datasphere since 2023. At s-peers, we have been allowed to implement SAP DWC for our customers since the beginning and this now also applies to SAP Datasphere. It is great to beallowed to further develop this innovative product with SAP ."

Paul Vatter, Head of Data Workshop

Paul Vatter Head of the Data Warehousing Competence Centre at s-peers AG
Paul Vatter
Data workshop manager

How long does the implementation process take and what are the individual steps?

The implementation process depends on various factors and usually takes four-to-eight weeks. It consists of the following steps:

Step 1

Objective

Step 2

Requirements

Step 3

Analysis of current situation

Step 4

Design

Step 5

Implementation

Step 6

Coaching

SAP Datasphere: 5 tips for successful implementation

SAP Datasphere is THE warehousing product of the future from SAP. But what is the Datasphere and what do I have to consider for a successful implementation? Our video answers this and much more.

  1. What is the SAP Datasphere?
  2. What are the actual benefits for the customer?
  3. What makes it different from other SAP data warehousing solutions?
  4. How does the implementation process work?
  5. Success stories from businesses
Data Warehouse Cloud: Five tips
Play Video about Data Warehouse Cloud 5 Tips

SAP Datasphere

  • We also offer regular training in small groups on the topic of SAP Datasphere.
  • Duration of the introductory training: 1 day
  • Duration of the advanced training: 1 day
  • We are an SAP training partner - so you will also receive a globally recognised certificate.
  • On site or online possible
 
CONTACT
Contact person for SAP Datasphere training
Self-service BI: Image shows two people in front of a dashboard of the Data Warehouse Cloud

KNOWLEDGE

Useful information

IFURTHER INFORMATION

Further Data Warehousing & Reporting Solutions

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