SAP Business Data Cloud. Where and how do you start?

SAP BDC for BW customers. What’s the fastest way to AI-ready data?

In this episode, we talk about

• Why strategy is the first step for BW customers looking to modernize.
• How to “decode” old BW logic and try to move towards standard.
• Data products and the path to “single source of truth.”
• Why standardized and accurate data is key to enabling AI.

Who is participating

Johan Berg, Business Development Manager at Implema’s SAP business area, focusing on SAP’s strategy, development, and how customers can practically take the next step in their data journey.

How BW data becomes AI-ready faster with SAP BDC

Start with strategy, not technology

It sounds obvious. But in practice, it is often the most difficult. Johan Berg’s message is that customers running SAP Business Warehouse and wanting to move towards SAP Business Data Cloud gain many advantages by first setting a strategic direction for the upcoming transformation. What is the current situation in SAP BW? What do you want to achieve? Which parts of Business Data Cloud components and you absolutely do not have to start using everything at the same time.

Turn BW logic into data products and build a common truth

Many SAP BW installations carry a lot of programmed logic and often have a history that may not be relevant today. There are data transformations, code, and special adaptations that may have emerged over a long period of time. To move forward, you need to “decode” that logic and translate it into future data products.

SAP offers its own predefined data products, but you can also build your own. By thinking along those lines, you can establish your own future data structure that enables analysis and becomes the modern “truth.” This implies a shift from legacy to more standard, which in itself can be a challenge. But it is also a valuable “cleansing operation” that makes the environment easier to manage, the data easier to understand, and reduces dependence on individuals.

When data is clean, AI and data sharing become the next step

Here, the pieces come together. When data becomes more standardized and understandable for different users, the next step becomes easier. You can then apply AI capabilities to your data with SAP’s tools in SAP BDC, or share data with Databricks or Snowflake for further analysis and AI initiatives there. There is much of the value in achieving a clean data model.

5–6 takeaway points

• • The fastest path to SAP BDC and AI-ready data starts with strategy and planning for a phased implementation. Not by changing everything directly.
  • BDC has many components. Choose a first step. The model is consumption-based, which means you pay for what you use.
  • BW environments often carry decades of code and transformations. They need to be “decoded” in order to be converted into modern solutions if the need remains.
  • A new concept in SAP BDC is Data Product, which facilitates standardization and leads to more modern data management and sharing.
  • When data is more standardized in SAP BDC’s modern architecture, AI and data sharing to Databricks or Snowflake become a natural next step.

Timestamps:

00:01 Intro. Implema Talks continues about SAP BDC

00:26 Who is Johan Berg at Implema?

01:24 Where do you start if you run SAP BW? Strategy first

02:44 Why BW becomes heavy. Code and transformation logic

03:09 Data products and single source of truth

03:58 Combine SAP and external data sources

04:43 Drivers. Timeline, complexity, standardization

05:58 Clean data. Foundation for AI and data sharing

06:22 Closing and contact