‘SAP NetWeaver BW 7.3' the new buzz word these days for BW architects. We have come a long way since most of us started working with SAP BW 2.0B. This exemplifies that ‘change is the only constant'. There have been lots and lots of changes in terms of performance, scalability and designing. On the surprising side RSA1 has ruled the charts as most favorite t-code for BW practitioner for this decade and still growing strong and strong with new releases.
Few days back I noticed that we are having a major release from SAP for Business Warehouse i.e. SAP NetWeaver BW 7.3 during early 2011. I felt excited to try my hands on this tool so while exploring various SDN pages I landed to http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/edw. There was a Presentation named as ‘SAP NetWeaver BW - What's new with SAP NetWeaver BW 7.3'. This took me to a new level of expectations from SAP and when I saw the procedure to become part of Beta Program my first thought was to draft a mail and send it to concerned folks. Former was very straight forward and I completed that in few minutes but the later took some time because of my hesitation. But finally I pressed the send button and felt much better. This resulted in a quick response from SAP and a after some days I was filling an application for Beta software. There are many new features, which are coming with this new version such as:
- Scalable data models with built-in Semantic Partitioned Object (SPO)
- Optimized load performance for DataStore Objects and Master Data
- Enhanced built-in analytical capabilities for SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator
- BWA-based reporting on Data Store Objects
- Query as an InfoProvider enabled for mass data handling
- Data Transfer Process supports data extraction from MultiProviders
- Tighter integration with SAP BusinessObjects Data Services
- Combining real-time transactional data with historical data via HybridProvider
- Smarter data flow modeling with remarkably reduced manual effort
- Hierarchies integrated into SAP NetWeaver BW 7.x data flow
- Flexible modeling environment for analytical indices
- Enhanced Usability of BW Administration Cockpit through Xcelsius Integration of monitors
- Mass Change function for authorizations
- ABAP based Planning Modeler w/o requiring a Java stack
This list is not complete, please put some efforts to visit the SAP presentation.
I am looking forward to use the new HybridProvider for combining my real-time data with historical data. I am curious to find what additional benefits will be there compared to a conventional MultiProvider.
This version will start a new way of designing BW models, which is through Graphical Data Flow Modeling by providing a new UI for selecting data flows (with Data flow copy tool also in picture). I always wondered what if I have to create several similar objects without manually entering the same information again and again, then saving and activating. I am hoping to find a solution for that in this version.
SAP is providing more flexibility in terms of DTP, Open Hub, Hierarchy, Transformations and Process Chains, which needs to be tested and will surely reduce the efforts of doing various things manually. One common example would be to use the new feature of direct lookup to the DSO active table instead of creating work area, internal table and writing select statements for reading data.
Infopackage is now Initialization and Delta independent as DTP is.
Another advantage is the use of semantic grouping at various levels such as partitioning (also at DSO level). DSO is also tweaked to have faster activation by single lookups to package fetch of active table and runtime option "Unique data records only", which prevents look-ups during activation.
Delta functionality is also enhanced to cater more sources system such as DB Connect, UD Connect, flat file and web service.
There is an ABAP Planning modeler as well which will help planning application to run without the BEx Web.
SAP has invested a lot in performance optimization in terms of BW Accelerator and analytic indexing.
SAP BusinessObject integration is also taken to the next level with this version. MDX is also enhanced to provide more flexibility.
Open Hub will be able to push data in XML format and will support hierarchies now.
These are only few of the items, which caught my eye while going through the SAP presentation. I am sure that there will be more than we are expecting and we as BW community can help make it better.
SAP has given a date of 28th November for completing this assessment and then they will read final reports for making this release healthier. Those who wish to participate in this program need to hurry and get the system in place as soon as possible. And those who are already evaluating it should try to cover as much as possible scenarios so that later on we get a fix-pack free (or least fixes afterwards) software.
I am looking positively forward to the assessment results from different SAP Partners by the end of November this year. Do share your thoughts and analysis with community as how this new release works.
