BW7.5 on HANA - Conversion scenarios for the system changeover

More than just an upgrade: BW4/HANA offers new opportunities for reporting as an innovative data warehouse

Anyone still using the BW7.5 on HANA data warehouse would be well advised to upgrade to the successor version in good time. Not only because SAP will discontinue maintenance of BW7.5 in the foreseeable future. But also because the successor BW4/HANA is not just a replacement. With this data warehouse, SAP has made a real leap forward in development and offers users immense advantages - even those who have not previously worked with BW7.5. How to make the switch to the new system.

Whether financial reporting, reporting with ESG key figures or analyses in the area of human resources (HR): Companies need the ability to report in every area and at all times for meaningful assessments and reliable planning. Data from a wide variety of sources should flow into the analyses - because the more extensive the data pool, the more valid the reports.

BW4HANA: not just a successor, but a real opportunity

Large companies in particular cannot do without a data warehouse. This is because the different data sources and immense volumes of data need to be standardized and made available in the right place for analysis and reporting. In addition, users no longer just want to analyze historical data, but also real-time data.

Many companies still rely on the SAP BW7.5 on HANA data warehouse for this type of reporting - even though the solution is on the decline. This is because it is no longer being developed further and maintenance will even be discontinued at the end of 2027. This alone should be reason enough to migrate to the latest data warehouse BW4/HANA quickly. Above all, however, this new data warehouse offers new possibilities for your reporting. This is why the switch to BW4/HANA also offers new opportunities for users of data warehouse solutions other than BW7.5.

More than just an upgrade: SAP makes a cut with BW4/HANA

The migration to BW4/HANA cannot be compared with the previous upgrades of the Business Warehouse versions - from NetWeaver 1.0 Business Intelligence to NetWeaver 7.5 Business Warehouse. Because with this latest data warehouse solution for on-premise, SAP is making a big cut. Whether high-level reports that are abstracted or drill-down reports that go into the smallest detail - users can deliver the reports just as stakeholders require them.

These are the advantages of BW4/HANA:

• Better performance: the entire toolset has been modernized and the old bits have been cut off; anything that slows down the system has been thrown out.
• High innovative strength: BW4/HANA presents itself as SAP's solution for the future.

Further developments such as BCS4/HANA (Business Consolidation) or BPC4/HANA (Business Planning and Consolidation) can only be installed on this system.

• Simplified data orchestration, improved reporting: with the BCS4/HANA add-on, users can calculate consolidated data dynamically on-the-fly, i.e. without temporary or permanent storage.
• Powerful toolset for data administration: Users can access certain points in time in the process chain and monitor data orchestration in this way
• Flexible data modeling: BW4/HANA provides extensive out-of-the-box functions; for example, two source data can be brought together or filters can be applied directly to the database. BW4/HANA also provides direct access to sources via software-defined access (SDA), allowing data modeling to be carried out directly on the database.
• User-friendly framework: Fiori offers a simplified and personalizable application. For example, users can store content of their choice on tiles and find their way around easily thanks to standardized menu navigation.
• Mobile compatible: users are free to choose which device they work on.
• Self-service analyses: Users create reports themselves and are no longer dependent on IT support. This speeds up the reporting process
• Comprehensive data connection: If required, stakeholders can gain direct insight into the respective data source. BW4/HANA also enables reporting based on text information.

Four conversion scenarios for a successful changeover

There are four conversion scenarios for the migration. The (time) required differs depending on the scenario, as the prerequisites and objectives are different in each case.

1. Greenfield conversion: Here, BW4/HANA is introduced as a completely new data warehousing system; this scenario is aimed at both new and existing SAP customers. All data must therefore be reloaded from the existing source system and a completely new system line set up.
2. Shell Conversion / Accelerated Greenfield: In this scenario, BW4/HANA is set up as a parallel system line. Delimited data models and selected data flows are transferred in a targeted manner, but the data is only taken from the source system and not transferred.
3. Remote conversion: Here too, BW4/HANA is set up in parallel and certain data flows are selected for migration. However, the data and entire sub-areas of the previous BW version are transferred using SAP Landscape Transformation (SLT).
4. In-place conversion: This conversion avoids the parallel operation of two systems and represents a complete system conversion. It migrates the entire existing BW system. The existing BW installation, including all objects, data and add-ons, is converted to BW4/HANA; all objects and add-ons that are not required are deleted in advance.

Time is of the essence - partners help with complex migration

Which conversion path companies choose depends largely on the existing systems and hardware and also on how far the changeover should ultimately progress. The issue of licenses should also not be neglected during the migration, which is not always clear with SAP.

The conversion from BW7.5 to BW4/HANA is far more than just a system change. Companies should not underestimate the testing effort for IT and business - and should therefore consult external experts and allow sufficient time for the conversion. For DAX companies, the entire conversion from BW7.5 to BW4/HANA can easily take three to five years. Anyone who has the end of maintenance of BW7.5 in mind (31.12.2027) will notice that time is now pressing.