The extensive capabilities of SAP HANA and its ability to perform with drastic power helped it to make its way into many SAP ERP modules. But, SAP HANA in itself is an excellent database, data platform and application platform. However it does not provide a number of own functions that is required in a complex Enterprise Data Warehouse. Thus, this high performance appliance is integrated with SAP BW (Business Warehouse) platform.
For those functions, SAP provides the BW EDW platform – BW takes care of SAP security and authorizations, complex hierarchies, non-cumulative data for stock and many other capabilities. In addition, the BW team has worked hard to update SAP BW 7.4 for the HANA generation, with a set of technologies it calls LSA++, which simplify and accelerate the build and operations of an EDW.
In short – if you want to build an app, data-mart, data platform or database, then use HANA on its own. If you want to build an Enterprise Data Warehouse, then use BW on HANA.
So SAP is still investing in BW?
Yes – more than ever, in my opinion, with the latest BW 7.4 version. If you’re interested in the detail, there is a good Roadmap available, but the short version is that the BW team have invested to take advantage of the HANA DB. This means faster data loading, fewer layers of information, more agility. It allows you to mash-up BW and non-BW data (if you have a mixed license that allows for this) and real-time with batch. Plus, a lot of the tooling has been reworked. The BW guys have been hard at work and BW 7.4 is a real step change.
In addition, because BW uses a very low level of HANA calculation (lower than you can model in HANA Enterprise), for complex reporting requirements and query structures, BW on HANA can be much more flexible and performing than HANA Enterprise. If you’re interested in the detail, there is a good explanation by BW lead Thomas Zurek. Yes, in some cases, BW on HANA is more capable than HANA Enterprise.
In addition, SAP changed the license late last year, and whilst you should check license detail with your sales rep, you should find that your license allows you to load data into HANA via BW, but then use all the HANA modeling tools to build data-marts, if you so wish. This is very useful for the build of custom data-marts in BW on HANA, though remember, you lose some of the BW functionality by doing this so it must be done with care.
What about cold data. Does BW on HANA support this?
Yes, and it supports it very well with the NLS connector for Sybase IQ. We find that for data warehouses larger than 5TB in Oracle, that a good portion of that 5TB is cold data that is rarely accessed. In this case, it doesn’t make sense to buy expensive in-memory hardware to store the cold data, and it makes sense to store it in a separate store. SAP allows this in BW via a connector for Sybase IQ for Near-Line Storage.
So your older, non-changing data becomes stored in IQ and is visible the same way in BW and this improves the TCO equation for HANA significantly. If you have a smaller BW system then this won’t be necessary but it is a great addition for large-scale systems.
Find a course provider to learn SAP BW
Java training | J2EE training | J2EE Jboss training | Apache JMeter trainingTake the next step towards your professional goals in SAP BW
Don't hesitate to talk with our course advisor right now
Receive a call
Contact NowMake a call
+1-732-338-7323Enroll for the next batch
SAP BW bi Online Training
- Jun 11 2025
- Online
SAP BW Online Training
- Jun 12 2025
- Online
SAP BW Online Training
- Jun 13 2025
- Online
Related blogs on SAP BW to learn more
The need for SAP Functional Consulting in SAP BW projects
It is inevitable for this world to stop adapting to changes. When it comes to working with business applications like SAP BW
Importance And Need Of SAP BW
For any enterprise, in order to achieve competitive edge, to optimize its processes and easily adapt to the ever changing market is a huge task. The enterprise must be equipped with a tool which can assist with the reporting, analysis and data interp
5 Questions Every SAP BW Beginner Needs To Focus Upon
SAP BW or Business Information Warehouse or SAP NetWeaver BW is a powerful software system that groups together and formats large volumes of business-critical data in the Enterprise Data Warehouse. It leverages SAP BI tools, and is supported by a gam
Exclusive Business Warehouse features in SAP BW
The favorite platform for businesses for business warehousing and other capabilities, SAP BW has several unique features and advantages. Let us examine some of the highlighting features in this blog. Modern modeling environment
Now Spark Based HANA appliance in SAP BW Business Intelligence
Recently, SAP revealed its new flavor of HANA which hybridized Spark/Hadoop-based technology with the revolutionary SAP Enterprise BW BI and OLAP systems.
Worried about add-on space cost in SAP BW? V7.4 comes to the rescue…
The incredible return of investment (ROI) and many other surprises makes every dollar spent on SAP Business Warehouse worth it. In addition to the initial investment, it costs the organization millions to purchase additional terabytes of memory and t
Loading Business Warehouse into HANA appliance made wonders!
Supporting the businesses and organization by helping them to take vital decisions, business warehouses play a vital role for the success of any organization. SAP BW is also intelligent combination of databases and tools to manage and process those d
Why Choose SAP BW for Overall Query Performance Monitoring!
When it comes to overall query performance monitoring, SAP BW could be one of the best methods to adopt. A part of the application is BW statistics as well as BW workload analysis in ST03N. Using the statistics tool can help perform the desired monit
SAP BW and BI – Food for Thought for Beginners
SAP BW or SAP Business Warehouse is also known in certain circles as the SAP Netweaver Business Warehouse. It is the core factor in the strategic enterprise data solutions for SAP. The app runs on RDBMS which is the industry standard as well as on t
Latest blogs on technology to explore
What Does a Cybersecurity Analyst Do? 2025
Discover the vital role of a Cybersecurity Analyst in 2025, protecting organizations from evolving cyber threats through monitoring, threat assessment, and incident response. Learn about career paths, key skills, certifications, and why now is the be
Artificial intelligence in healthcare: Medical and Diagnosis field
Artificial intelligence in healthcare: Medical and Diagnosis field
iOS 18.5 Is Here: 7 Reasons You Should Update Right Now
In this blog, we shall discuss Apple releases iOS 18.5 with new features and bug fixes
iOS 18.4.1 Update: Why Now is the Perfect Time to Master iPhone App Development
Discover how Apple’s iOS 18.4.1 update (April 2025) enhances security and stability—and why mastering iPhone app development now is key to building future-ready apps.
What is network security Monitoring? A complete guide
In the digital world, we have been using the cloud to store our confidential data to register our details; it can be forms, applications, or product purchasing platforms like e-commerce sites. Though digital platforms have various advantages, one pri
How to Handle Complex and Challenging Projects with Management Skills
Discover actionable strategies and essential management skills to effectively navigate the intricacies of challenging projects. From strategic planning to adaptive problem-solving, learn how to lead your team and achieve exceptional outcomes in compl
What are the 5 phases of project management?
A streamlined approach to ensure project success by breaking it into five essential stages: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing. Each phase builds on the other, guiding the team from concept to completion with clear
About Microsoft Job Openings and Certification Pathway to Explore Job Vacancies
Explore exciting Microsoft job openings across the USA in fields like software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, and more. Enhance your career with specialized certifications and land top roles at Microsoft with Sulekha's expert courses.