The requirements for modern data architectures are increasing rapidly: real-time reporting, self-service analytics, AI integration, and flexible scalability are crucial for competitiveness today. Companies that currently still use SAP Business Warehouse (BW) are facing a strategic decision:
Many SAP BW systems have grown over the years – technically stable, but increasingly difficult to expand, maintenance-intensive, isolated from non-SAP data sources, and not AI-ready. Furthermore, mainstream maintenance for SAP BW 7.5 will end on December 31, 2027.
At the same time, business requirements are changing dramatically:
Integration of hybrid data landscapes
AI-supported analyses
Real-time reporting
Data governance & compliance
SAP Business Data Cloud combines modern data management with deep integration into SAP and non-SAP systems. The value proposition: optimized provision, management and use of data – also as the foundation for analytical applications and AI use cases. Bot how can companies best leverage the potential of SAP BDC for their own requirements? We answer the top 10 questions about SAP Business Data Cloud.
Integration of AI and machine learning scenarios
Real-time data and high-performance cloud architecture
Flexible adaptation to growth and new business models
Strategic focus on SAP cloud solutions
Reduction of infrastructure and maintenance costs
SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) is a fully cloud-native SaaS platform for modern data and analytics architectures. It enables the integration of SAP and non-SAP data, supports approaches toward a business data fabric, and creates the basis for AI-driven innovations. Using the Object Store as an integration layer, SAP BDC makes data products available for use in other components and applications. These features make SAP BDC ideal for companies that are strategically committed to the public cloud and want to fundamentally realign their data landscape.
SAP BW 7.5 Private Cloud Edition (PCE) and SAP BW/4HANA PCE combine the proven SAP BW architecture with a cloud operating model. Infrastructure and technical operations are outsourced, while existing data models can largely be retained. SAP BW 7.5 PCE and SAP BW/4HANA PCE thus represent a low-risk intermediate step for companies that want to prepare for their cloud transformation in a structured manner and do not want to switch directly to a completely new data architecture – while protecting their investments in SAP BW. Private Cloud Edition offers the option of becoming part of the SAP Business Data Cloud formation.
SAP BW/4HANA is deployed on-premise and has a maintenance guarantee until 2040. Companies retain full control of the system, benefit from simplified data modeling, and enjoy HANA performance. The solution is particularly suitable for organizations with a clear on-premise strategy, high compliance requirements, or existing infrastructure investments. However, companies must be aware that innovations and functional enhancements take place exclusively in SAP cloud solutions and that SAP BW/4HANA will not be included in this regard.
Are you planning to replace your SAP BW system? Or would you like to strategically realign your data & analytics architecture?