Unifying BPC NW and BW-IP
With SAP BPC NW 10.1 a new data model is introduced that combines the strength of the different planning components
- SAP BPC NW for end-user friendliness and flexibility
- SAP BW-IP for feature richness and integrated data consistency
- SAP HANA for blazingly high performance
With this we merge the strategy for planning solutions on SAP BW which covered BPC NW on one side and BW-IP / PAK on the other side. The former was focusing on line-of-business driven scenarios with a strong focus on flexibility and end-user friendliness. The latter covered IT-driven scenarios with a tight integration into the BW architecture and EDW data. Now the combination covers not only these two pillars but every combination thereof. The new data model is called ‘embedded’ to reflect the embedded nature of the solution into BW.
The ‘embedded’ model complements the existing BPC NW data model which is called ‘standard’. The new model is completely integrated into the BPC NW 10.1 product, in particular using its new HTML5 web-client for administration and runtime as well as the EPM EXCEL add-in. This ensures a unified end-user experience, hiding many of the technical details. Doing so, it also requires the BPC NW license. This strengthens the idea of it being the license for advances planning in SAP BW, thus continuing the strategy pursued with the HANA integration of PAK in 2011. Below this user interface runs the complete BW-IP / PAK planning engine, ensuring full compatibility to all existing planning scenarios built with them. To keep deployment simple and straight for these does the ‘embedded’ model completely ship with NetWeaver 7.40 SP5 within the software component SAP_BW. The following picture illustrates the different aspects for the different solutions for planning with SAP BW:
To get a better idea of what this means technically, let us have a look at the component diagram. It shows the classic 3-tier architecture with the ABAP stack in the middle. This comprises the BW component, which is core to both, BPC NW ‘standard’ and BPC NW ‘embedded’.
For BPC NW ‘standard’ (red components), the ‘BPC add-on’ is required, which contains the specific planning and reporting logic of BPC and collaboration features. It sits on SAP BW, but only uses its reporting and some of its data management capabilities. The add-on also provides connectivity to the EPM EXCEL add-in. An additional add-on is available to make use of HANA for specific functions and acceleration purposes.
These add-ons are not required for the BPC NW ‘embedded’ model. It rather fully uses the reporting and planning capabilities of BW as well as its data warehousing and data management. The collaboration-capabilities were adjusted to this architecture and moved into SAP BW (orange component). The BPC HTML5 web-client has also moved to SAP BW and connects to both, the ‘standard’ and the ‘embedded’ models for modelling and runtime. In addition a new interface is contained in SAP BW to connect to the EPM add-in, in addition to the existing connections to Analysis Office and Design Studio. Finally SAP HANA is mandatory for the BPC ‘embedded’ model to facilitate best performance on highly flexible data models.
Now you might be curious about the feature set of the BPC NW ‘embedded’ model: this blog launches a series of feature demos of BPC NW ‘embedded’. It is an artificial non-business scenario that focuses on broad feature coverage more than on business relevance. Starting with the EDW data model in SAP BW, it shows LOB-modeling and –runtime and concludes with system reporting. The demo is a snapshot and aim to show core concepts of the product. It is no functional reference. I recommend to consult the documentation for more details. All is available with BPC NW 10.1, based on BW 7.40 SP5.
The list of demos is the following. Stay tuned:
BW-Modelling
BPC-Modelling
2. Environment – creating a sandbox with reference to the EDW models
3. Model – exposing a EDW model in the sandbox
4. Team – compiling teams flexibly as basis for collaboration
5. Work-status – defining status-sequences and applicable data ranges
6. Auditing – activating generic logging of audit data
7. Input Form – setting-up a web input form based on a BEx query
8. BPF Process – defining process steps and their workspaces
Runtime
9. For data owner – planning data along a process via BPC web- and Advanced analysis
An earlier version of this document refered to the ‘classic’ (now ‘standard’) and the ‘unified’ (now ’embedded’) models. A renaming was done with BPC NW 10.1 SP3 to strengthen the nature of the models.
Please find more recent and comprehensive information about BPC ’embedded model’ in a new blog series here.
Thanks for the excellent blog. Just some basic questions.In Unified BPC NW model can we use FOX code instead of script logic and also PAK IP - ABAP classes instead of the BPC BADI's.Also the aggregation levels will be coming back .Can you please tell us what existing IP/PAK functionality will be retained in the BPC unified NW 10.1 models.Thanks in advance and I think this will be a great blog to follow.
Senthil
Thanks for your question.
Yes, the BPC 'unified' model is fully compatible with BW-IP / PAK and all its features. This includes the FOX scripting, ABAP functions as well as aggregation levels. For these objects we have the authoring environment in SAP GUI (transaction RSA1 / RSPLAN). To facilitate authoring by business experts, we aim to cover some of these in the BPC admin UI over time.
Great to see that the vision of a combined BPC/IP product has become reality... Congrats to Uwe and the team!
hi Uwe,
congrats for this unification realization. This is a nice blog to explain the unification. And the blog series for the BPC 10.1.
Now only SAP can offer deeply integrated and business user managed planning platform
regards
Muthu
Hi Uwe,
Very good presentation, thank you. One question: in order to ease a future migration to BPC 10.1, could we adapt our modelisation in BPC 10?
Thanks in advance.
Cdlt,
Sébastien
Hi Sébastian,
this blog largely is about the new BPC 'unified' model. Of course, BPC 10.1 also supports the 'classic' model which is exactly what you use to use in BPC 10.0. As such, there is no need to prepare your models for the BPC 10.1 upgrade. Your data will smoothly upgrade to the 'classic' model in BPC 10.1.
Best regards,
Uwe
Hi Uwe, and thanks for the answer.
I was trying to assess if it makes any sense to move from a classic model in 10.0 to a unified model in 10.1 or if a complete remodelling would be necessary. to do so.
Sébastien
Hi Sébastian,
the models of 'classic' and 'unified' are quite different. 'Unified' e.g. is much more generic than 'classic' which comes with pre-defined semantics. That is why we keep the models separate and did not add the 'unified' functionality to 'classic'. Some of these differences are apparent when you load or retract BPC data within BW. If your scenario is straight forward in this respect, the migration will be more easy and reasonable. Remodelling is required as the environment types are strictly separated.
Best regards,
Uwe
Hi Uwe, thanks, that's very clear!
Thanks Uwe for the excellent blog. It is really interesting to follow your blog.Just a basic question. What is the reason behind merging BI-IP and BPC together other than tight integration and reporting capabilities with BW. Is it all the IP/PAK functions converted into HANA and leverage it . Just curious to know.
Also I believe now people who has worked in BPS-SEM or BI-IP can work in BPC NW 10.1. without knowing BPC in detail right. I think this is a good move and definitely helps all the consultants who still work in BPS-SEM or BI-IP/PAK to move into EPM 10.1 easily.
Thanks again for the excellent blog and keep up the good work 🙂
Hi Senthil,
the goal of BPC 'unified' is combining the strength of the BPC user experience with those of the BW-IP/PAK engine. As such it leverages all the HANA integration brought by PAK. You can run BPC 'unified' without depp knowledge of BPC, but if you want to leverage the flexibility of the UIs, you need to make yourself familiar with those, beyond what BW and the BI user interfaces used to provide.
Best regards,
Uwe
Thank you for this blog.
Indded, I'm glad to hear BI-IP and BPC are going toward a single tool. This will make the upgrade of existing BPS and IP applications lighter toward BPC on one side. On the other side it will further integrate BPC on Netweaver platform.
Thank you for the demos!
I hope there willde next chapter soon.
Hi Anastassia,
I just added two more demos today. Sorry for the delay.
Best regards,
Uwe
Thanks Uwe for the excellent blog. I sincerely hope unified BPC will be a more successful than PAK and BPC. This blog will be a reference for years to come. Thanks again for the contribution 🙂
Hi Uwe,
In BPC 10.1 NW, can we use ABAP managed data procedure (AMDP) to create SQL Scripts in ABAP class methods? If yes, is this possible in both classic and unified model? I am exploring options to move BPC 10 NW BADI's (SQE badi's, Write back badi's, Custom logic badi's) to HANA when we migrate to BPC 10.1 NW.
What is the future roadmap for BPC NW? Will both classic and unified model will continue to exist?
Hi Lokesh,
yes, both modesl will continue to exist within BPC NW. Both embedded in the same UIs.
scripting in the BPC NW 'unified' model. It can be used for all kinds of custom ligic, like planning functions, data slices or characteristic relations. In the 'classic' model you can make use of SQL-scipting for all kinds of calculations. However you must not change the plan data directly. Also AMDP is not supported.
Best regards,
Uwe
Hi Uwe,
Thanks for sharing this. Its a very presentation for explaining unification. Very useful information / blog to follow. Though about Licensing it is almost clear with the picture that you have given. Just few questions to confirm if my understanding is right. Here it is
:
BW - IP can be used in SAP BW 7.4 on HANA SP5, without any additional License Cost. License Cost of SAP BW 7.4 on HANA would suffice the use of IP ?
PAK is used for better performance of IP Models in BW on HANA (BW 7.4 on HANA SP5), and is not mandatory for using IP in BW on HANA SP5 ?
For using PAK in BW 7.4 on HANA SP5, BPC License is required ?
BPC License will enable the Use of PAK and BPC Unified ?
Is there separate BPC License Cost for Using just PAK, and for Using both PAK and BPC Product ?
Would really appreciate your response.
Regards
Pankaj
Hi Pankaj,
I'm glad that blog is helpful to you.
Correct, BW-IP has no license required, hence, you can use it HANA without additional licensing. However for BW 740 you need HANA SP7.
It is also correct that PAK accelerates BW-IP applications by pushing calculations into HANA. It is not mandatory to be used though, but significantly improves larger scenarios. PAK requires the BPC NW license of the BPC NW product. This license can be seen as for advanced planning on BW, which covers PAK and BPC 'unified' and 'classic'.
Basically your understanding was right.
Best regards,
Uwe
Thanks a lot Uwe for the response.
Regards
Pankaj
Hi Uwe
Excellent post!
Qiuck question on licensing.
For a BW on HANA customer , Is there a Cost for Using just PAK to accelerate BW-IP?
Thank you,
Zied
Hi Zied,
for PAK you need to have the BPC NW license, as indicated above. This is neither included in the NetWeaver license for BW nor in HANA. Please see note 1637199.
Best regards,
Uwe
Hi Uwe,
Thank you for this utmost helpful information. I have an additional question about the use of Hana. Can BPC10.1 unified version also run on classic BW RDBMS platform or is the migration to Hana a mandatory step before running BPC10.1 unified ?
thank you
with regards,
Oliveir
Hi Olivier,
HANA is a core component of BPC 10.1 'unified'. It is required e.g. for all the data flexibility capabilities which we are adding step by step. Hence BPC 10.1 'unified' works on a migrated BW-on-HANA only.
Best regards,
Uwe
Thanks a lot Uwe for the response.
Regards
Olivier
Hi Uwe
Thanks for the information shared above, I have a small question regarding Input Queries.
Can we use Input Ready Queries now in BPC 10.1 as we use in BW-IP as aggregation levels also used?
rgds
SriG
Hi SriG,
thats correct. With BPC 'unified' you now can use aggregation levels and BW queries as you are used to in BW-IP / PAK.
In addition we are currently working on a simple file upload scenario, where you just load a file but then work on a default input-enabled BW query without the need to model it manually. Hence, technicallywe always use a BW query, but aim to hide its complexity where not necessarily needed.
Best regards,
Uwe
Dear Uwe
I have one more quick clarification. As BPC Cubes are real time cubes, Still We can create Planning Functions (Off Line) and execute in BPC 10.0 right?
Will be there any issues ? I know it will be off line.
As I am very good in Fox Programming, I want to build Fox PF for all logic
instead script or BADI.
Pl. advise becoz currently my client has BPC 10.0 only.
I believe we can have online execution in BPC 10.1
Rgds
SriG
This is realy helpful....
Dear Uwe
I have one more quick clarification. As BPC Cubes are real time cubes, Still We can create Planning Functions (Off Line) and execute in BPC 10.0 right?
Will be there any issues ? I know it will be off line.
As I am very good in Fox Programming, I want to build Fox PF for all logic
instead script or BADI.
Pl. advise becoz currently my client has BPC 10.0 only.
I believe we can have online execution in BPC 10.1
Rgds
SriG
Dear Uwe
I have created one small fox planning function with simple logic and executed BPC Cube and it was successful. I could change BPC cube data with fox planning function.
Is there any issue in going this way? Do we get an issues or we can goahead with this
approach.Also we can created process chain,DM.
Pl. suggest.
Rgds
SriG
Hi SriG,
the 'unified' model of BPC is based on BW-IP / PAK. As such FOX functions can nicely be integrated, which you successfully did. Thanks for sharing this!
Product wise it is safe to use the BPC 'unified' model. For a final call for your scenario, please make yourself familier with the differences between 'classic' and 'unified' models feature wise.
Best regards,
Uwe
Dear Uwe,
I have one question about the cubes creation.
Can we still create a cube like we're actually doing on SAP BPC NW 10.0,
without going by SAP BW just go by the Admin SAP BPC modelize it directly there and still beneficiate of the power of HANA technology ?
Thanks
Rgds
Romain
Hi Romain,
the cube creation continues in the 'standard' model as it used to be in BPC 10.0. This is fully compatible. In the 'embedded' model the model creation either is done in the EDW (using modeling tool there) or via file upload, where the data structure of the file is used to create a 'local provider'.
Best regards,
Uwe
Thanks for ur answer Uwe.
Rgds
Romain
EPM Roadmap - https://websmp106.sap-ag.de/~sapidb/011000358700001327082011E.pdf
On Slide 35 -
One solution for all EPM processes
One single solution - it's will be BPC NW ?
Hi Mikhail,
This statement pertains to the vision for EPM - we are not communicating anything about a specific product at this time. Note, planning/reporting/consolidation is already available in one solution (BPC) and BPC NW is our strategic solution for customers looking for a BW on HANA-based approach to Planning+Consolidations/EPM.
Best,
Dave
Hope SAP will have a more clear understanding about EPM platform (product) future
EPM 10.1 Road Map - PAK/BPC - Unified Model
Slide 10
Differences
BPC vs. BPC10.1 Unified and Classic - YouTube
Thanks a lot for this post!
Hi Use,
Thanks for sharing the information on 10.1 .
Question - Will the integration with other EPM suite of products remain same or is there any changes for BPC Embedded version
Thanks
Deepak BM
Hi Deepak,
Integration with other EPM suite of product might be different with embedded model. It mainly depending on the capability of integration between these products and BW itself.
Best regards, William
Hi Uwe
We have implemented earlier STS successfully in BI IP Environment and working excellent with some customization. Can we use same STS In BPC 10.1 Embeded?
Rgds
Sri G
Hi Sri,
you can continue to use STS in context of BPC 10.1 'embedded' like you did before. The same feature-set and the same limitations apply. However you do not have any integration with the BPC user-interface or the 'business process flows'. In fact you'd run STS on the BW-IP data model more in parallel to BPC than integrated. Hence, I'd rather recommend using the business process flows. But if you have good reason to keep STS, you could. What is your motivation keeping STS?
Best regards,
Uwe
Dear Uwe
Thanks for your reply.
STS can replace Business process flow and Security as we already implemented STS, same config can be used and it reduces effort is my idea in terms of Authorization, Approval Flow , Is this Right? Pl. confirm.
Rgds
Sri G
Hi Sri,
in theory this should work, but I have not seen really so far.
Knowing that STS led to some issues on BW-IP in the past and knowing that BPF are explicitly adapted to work on BW-IP and knowing that BPF is nícely integrated into BPC and knowing that BPF will see further investment, I would recommend to use the BPF instead.
Best regards,
Uwe
Hi Uwe
Thanks for fast reply. I have implemented STS on BW-IP Very Successfully with minor customization and we do not have any issues and working excellently and our business users are happy with the same. As suggested and recommended, I also consider BPF
for next BPC 10.1 embedded projects if I get any opportunity to work on the same.
Rgds
Sri G
Hi Uwe,
I read about BPC Embedded Model : Master data Maintenance that come with BW 7.4 SP09. Is there any limitation of Number of dimensions can be used in this model?
Thanks & best regards,
Sudhakar.K
Hi Sudhakar.K,
I do not know if I understand you question correct.
Since the dimension is only a structuring element for a HANA flat cube,
the number of characteristics/dimension which can be used in general for
embedded model is the same as for a flat cube and this is quite large being 248
and the old limit of 16 dimensions is gone. See for example http://scn.sap.com/community/hana-in-memory/blog/2013/10/04/sap-hana-optimize-infocubes
Local dimension so far can be used only for local providers so and here we only have
restrictions from HANA tables. We have restriction when global info objects
cannot be extended locally. The global info object
authorization relevant InfoObjects
Hope this helps
Frank
Dear Uwe,
thanks for posting all that information. We are running on
SAP HANA 740 SP09 and try to write data into a multiprovider (complex aggregation level) via EPM INA connection linked to an SAP BPC Embedded model. Whereas one can write data on an InfoCube (simple aggregation level), the very same entry based on a MultiProvider is not possible. As of your post of Jan 2, 2014 12:31 PM,
"BPC 'unified' model is fully compatible with BW-IP / PAK and all its features" thus means that entering data on a MultiProvider should be possible as it is a functionality in BW-IP. Is planning on MultiProviders already enabled in BPC 10.1 Embedded or, in case it is not, could you please tell us when it will be available?
Thank you in advance,
Carolin
Dear Carolin
In BPC Unified/Embedded model. Entering Data on a Multiprovider is possible like in BI-IP. I have done the same. It is available. Pl. check Input Enabled Query once again whether it is unique.
Rgds
Sri G
Dear Sri,
thanks for answering that quickly. We created the very same query as the one based on the InfoProvider but in this case on the MultiProvider (which for a first test only includes the before-mentioned InfoProvider). Both queries are data entry enabled..
Kind regards
Carolin
Dear Carolin
Is your problem resolved? if not you need to restrict KeyFigure with info provider to
make input enabled as it is multiprovider. Pl. check. If still cannot, pl share more details about your query then can suggest for any changes
Rgds
Sri G
Uwe,
I hope this doesn't seem unrelated to your thread. BO Design Studio, as a replacement of the WAD, has planning features. Does the introduction of this BPC/IP unified product obsolete the Design Studio as the front end base for IP?
Hi David,
no you can use Design Studio of course also for the embedded BPC as alternative for web input forms as you can use AO instead of EPM client. In the excel use case we work on a convergence between AO and EPM addin (like same installer, same launcher etc.). For the web front end we work on a long term strategy. For example for Design Studio you need a Java stack (either portal or BOE). If you do not have a Java stack and your requirements are not too complex and you want a tight integration into BPC BPF you can use input forms for web based planning. Othterwise I would even suggest to use Design Studio.
Regards
Frank
Frank,
Thanks. That is a very complete answer.
Vielen Dank
Dave
HI Experts
Nice to see the embedded BPC. I am working on it since its version 5. Its completely Different from its traditional BPC. I am playing around with IP.
Regards
Narasaiah Patthi. RSA
Hi,
Can someone give me a help of the coexistence of "Embedded" and "Standard" models.
I'm starting a project wich have Consolidation and planning processes (SAP ERP and BW based on HANA databases). Should we go to "Embedded" or "Standard"?
If we choose "Embedded" it is possible to use Consolidation IFRS Starter Kit and consolidation funcionalities (as journals, intercompany, etc.).
Dores the "Embedded" model requires any additional BW licences?
Thanks in advanced.
Hi Helena,
It's possible to have both BPC embedded and BPC standard coexist on the same system, they can even share the same URL to logon.
Consolidation function for BPC embedded will be releasd by end of Feb. 2016. Starter kit for embedded consolidation is not available yet, it's still under construction.
Embedded BPC does NOT need any additional license if customer is already having NW, HANA and BPC license.
Best regards, William