Business Data Cloud: The future of decision making based on data
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In this age of artificial intelligence and terabytes of data, connecting data to business insights and business decisions is critical to businesses to thrive.
Business users need data insights delivered in business context and in real-time. To do so is required holistic integration between data platforms where data resides and business applications and have data products based on harmonized business data model.
During Business Unleashed, on February 13, SAP presented is state of the art solution for AI and Analytics named Business Data Cloud (BDC), which is part of a more embracing SAP Business Suite solutions portfolio.
What is Business Data Cloud
SAP Business Data Cloud is a Software-as-a-Service solution (SaaS) equipped with data and analytics services needed in a modern world. Together with SAP Business Technology Platform providing foundational services, SAP Business Data Cloud combines strategic solutions such as SAP Datasphere, and SAP Analytics Cloud and their capabilities in one single solution.
SAP Business Data Cloud sets up a harmonized data foundation that is the basis for enterprise analytics, planning and artificial intelligence, offering the tools and technologies to meet all data and analytics requirements of a modern and agile organization. Uses the latest technologies to support scenarios such as:
Business Data Cloud includes components to power data foundation and organization insights, that we highlight:
Fast-track decision-making with SAP Business Data Cloud insight apps, a collection of tailored, built in apps on a unified semantic model.
Gain a 360-degree view of your most critical business processes across your SAP application investments by using built-in data products.
Discover hidden insights and patterns with deeply integrated capabilities across the SAP Datasphere and SAP Analytics Cloud solutions, SAP BW/4HANA, and Databricks tools in SAP Business Data Cloud.
Connect SAP and third-party data in a SaaS solution managed by SAP and Databricks.
Create a trusted data foundation for readily available AI tools that are reliable, responsible, and relevant.
Looking into more detail Business Data Cloud technically encompasses:
Business Data Cloud can connect to SAP and non-SAP source systems allowing companies to have a full and clear view of information from all line of businesses and systems that supports company processes.
Solution to manage Business Data Cloud activities like browse and find pre-delivered Insights Apps and Data Products, install Insights Apps, and share Data Products with SAP Databricks to extend them with AI and machine learning capabilities.
For customers that have SAP BW already in their landscape, Business Data Cloud allows to integrate this solution (requirement to be on Private Cloud Edition). With this technical solution is possible to use SAP BW objects as Data Products allowing reuse of models developed in BW.
SAP Datasphere provides the structure to Business Data Cloud that define the data model on top of Data Products. When pre delivered Insight Apps are activated, not only reports are available to users, but also underneath datasphere data model is activated. It’s also allowed to create new custom data models, extend them with AI, and make information available to report and analysis on SAP Analytics Cloud. SAP Datasphere also serves as a central tool for managing analytical roles and data access control, helping you to determine which business users can view specific data.
For use cases were organizations need to extend analytical data with AI and/or ML functions, SAP Databricks is used. To do so is possible to expose Data Products to SAP Databricks and extend them as needed and afterwards push them back to Business Data Cloud; in alternative is possible to share SAP Databricks directly from SAP Databricks into Business Data Cloud. In both scenarios data models are extended with AI and Machine Learning capabilities.
SAP Analytics Cloud is the solution used as front end for users, for reporting and analysis use cases but also for planning use cases. Within this solution pre delivered Insights Apps activate dashboards and reports that are consumed by end users. Like SAP Datasphere it is also possible to extend or create brand new dashboards for custom scenarios but also is possible to customize pre-delivered Insights Apps.
Insights Apps are a set of artifacts, objects and tasks that work together to deliver best of class insights to users. When an Insight App is installed in Business Data Cloud, Data Products, Data Models and Dashboards are installed and activated. Additionally, all operational activities, such as continuous data provisioning tasks are automatically taken care of, and user does not need to create data loading schedules since it is automatically setup.
Conclusion
Organizations spend a substantial number of resources, both time and money, trying to guarantee that information is available to end users, and most of the times information is not harmonized and cross functional available.
To overcome these issues, the core of Business Data Cloud is Data Products, where information from SAP and Non-SAP systems are harmonized and enriched with business context allowing that all organization have one vision of all data.
If you are a CFO balancing growth and profitability, CHRO managing talent in an ever-evolving workforce, or CIO modernizing IT while innovating for your enterprise and your organization does want to be on the forefront of this new age of business insights, contact us as we can help you understanding what Business Data Cloud can offer your company and your users.
Score has been working with cross sector organizations helping them to define modern and efficient data strategies and models. Combining technological and business knowledge, we support our customers implementing the best solutions to unlock data value and preparing businesses for the future. If it is an SAP integration project, a digital transformation roadmap or sustainability strategic dashboards creation, our goal is always the same: turn knowledge into value for our customers.
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Vitor Ramalho
Analytics Team Leader