SAP Business Intelligence

 

SAP Business Intelligence (SAP BI) Component as a part of SAP NetWeaver platform enables to get a timely access to key business data. Data access is often a basic qualification for achieving commercial success. Being challenged by the ongoing globalisation and growing utilisation of the Internet in business activities, organisations gather a lot of information in order to understand their LPs and their entrepreneurial activities, and offer them effective support. Such attitude is motivated by constant effort of the organisation to enhance their own competitiveness, raise their productivity and foster business relations with their LPs.

SAP BI Component provides for the collected data to be used and enforced effectively. This tool helps organisations identify, integrate and analyse large-scale business data issuing from different sources. In this way, SAP BI empowers the organisations to adopt informed decisions and take appropriate and timely action ensuring success on the market.

SAP BI Component consists of three basic packs –information warehouse, BI platform and a kit of BI tools which maintain statistical returns system, analysis and interpretation of the enterprise data (see the picture below). By means of the offered kit of tools the key business data from the operated SAP applications and all the other internal and external data sources can be integrated, transformed and consolidated in SAP BI.

SAP BI Component provides configurable tools for statistical returns system and analysis spheres that support data assessment and interpretation, and facilitate their distribution. By means of SAP BI Component it is feasible to create a broad range of outputs – from static, formatted managerial statements to interactive graphic analytical applications and statements. Users can get access to information at different levels of particularity; they can share and analyse the data.

SAP BI bears superior functional qualities extended by specific features which meet the needs of particular sectors and best practices. Enhanced functional qualities result from three-decade experience of SAP Company in this field.  

SAP BI is a solution based on open standards. It promotes open standards such as XML, OLE DataBase for OLAP (ODBO), XML for Analysis (XML/A), Java Data Base Connectivity (JDBC), XML for Metadata Interchange (XMI) and Common Warehouse Metadata Interchange (CWMI).

SAP BI Component presents a comprehensive solution that satisfy all sorts of needs of all end users, IT specialists and top management as well. SAP BI Component fully cooperates with all other components of SAP NetWeaver system and SAP company solutions. Basic features of SAP BI Component are described at large in the following paragraphs.

 

Enterprise Process Modelling and Information Warehouse Administration

The functions of enterprise process modelling and information warehouse administration enable the organisations to build up and operate information warehouses and ensure conformity of their technical infrastructure with the needs of their commercial activities. Organisations can operate, monitor and maintain all processes connected with data transformation and processing in SAP Business Information Warehouse work areas which is the main software constituent of SAP BI Component. SAP BW supports processing of high-volume data bulk.

Data storage into information warehouse in SAP BI Component constitute a number of operations – integration, transformation, consolidation, data cleaning and storage. A part of data storage process is also the creation of data models and definition of the rules for data extraction from the source systems.

Data model describes a flow of particular enterprise information from their source to the analysable object. While modelling, organizations can create and edit data objects, and define data transmission rules, their update and analysis. Organizations can also model information architecture, build up centralized or decentralized architecture adjusted to satisfy the needs of their enterprise activities. SAP BI Component enables setting in decentralized environment with many information warehouses and data marts.

 

Data Extraction, Transformation and Counting

 

Organizations can extract, integrate and transform data by means of the tools provided within the framework of SAP BI. The data may originate from different sources including data from ERP and CRM systems, Internet marts, click-stream data, from XML data sources and relational databases. The quality of information is guaranteed by the function of data cleaning and application of defined rules for data extraction.

SAP BI provides a complete set of functions for data extraction at the level of applications, files, or relational database. Furthermore, it offers open interface for extraction tools of the third party which enable expansion of SAP BI standard functions (see the picture above).  

Data Mining

By virtue of data mining support in SAP BI Component the organizations can identify interesting samples and links in their information, which are usually difficult to trace up in complex sets of data. Data mining facilitates to disclose the relations and attachments that used to be hidden or neglected because their analysis used to be considered as impossible. Due to the tools which support data mining, organizations can create their own analytical models matching their particular requirements, and they can disclose correlation in stored SAP BI data. Such fact can play a key role in decision-making processes.

SAP BI supports the following mining data methods:

·        Clustering;

·        Association analysis;

·        Scoring;

·        Linear and non-linear regression;

·        Weighted table scoring;

·        ABC classification;

·        Decision trees.

Training of models, which have been created for data mining methods, proceeds in aged data. A model “learns” how to disclose previously unknown structures and links on the basis of aged data. The result of the learning process is possible either to export to another system (in case of association analysis), or to use as a prediction for other sets of data where particular information is missing (in case of clustering or decision trees).

A preview of data mining result using decision-tree method is shown in the picture below.

Metadata Administration

Metadata are processed during all processes supported by SAP BI, no matter whether they are data extraction or carrying out data inquiries. Metadata describe important features of SAP BI objects and their relation to other objects. Pre-configurated, distributable metadata directory in SAP BI secures that the stored data are consistent, accurate and linked. Metadata defined in enterprise applications can be reused even in SAP BI, that way the users can easily understand the meaning of the information that they are analyzing.

Due to metadata directory in SAP BI Component it is possible to display information about the stored objects centrally. Information about stored objects can be used even independently of SAP BI thanks to support of the export of these data to local directories. SAP BI also promotes functions of XML-format metadata transmission among different systems where SAP BI Component has been installed (e. g. among development, testing and productive systems).

Query scheme

SAP BI offers efficient tools for rapid development and easy setting of graphic, interactive analytical statements and applications. It promotes generating of single-purpose (ad hoc) queries and distributing replies to queries to client environment in MS Windows, web-client environment, or to a mobile device.

Data stored in SAP BW are structured into autonomous areas, or elements called InfoProvider. SAP BW data can be analyzed by defining these element queries. Queries are defined in BEx Query Designer (BEx – Business Explorer) module environment. By selecting and combining so called “info objects” (characteristics and key information), or choosing re-applicable query structures, the user can define the way how to proceed in the selected InfoProvider element and assess the information stored there.    

It is possible to use queries defined in Query Designer for OLAP statements and tabulation statements as well. Users can program the queries. Working with variables which determine the value of characteristics, hierarchy, hierarchical node, text, or formula is supported too.

The most important elements used for defining queries are filter and navigation. Selection of filter value determines the range of output data generated as query output. All data in InfoProvider element are aggregated on the basis of the selected filter value in the query window. The characteristics are defined, and line and column content is determined in order to navigate by means of output data. Navigation is used to determine data areas of InfoProvider element where users is to, or wishes to range.

 

Planning and Simulation

 

SAP BI provides effective tools to design schemes by using the top-down and down-top method for some typical tasks such as drawing up a budget, staff planning, revenue planning, etc. SAP BI includes a planning platform which enables to define and maintain planning schemes and tools serving to operate the planning process.

Users can design their own planning applications, or they can use pre-configurated planning applications supplied by SAP Company. Planning applications can be employed in many different areas ranging from plain planning data entry to complex scenarios which include extraction of data records from source (mostly working) systems, automatic scheme preparation, manual editing of automatically prepared schemes, planning process management and uploading of plan data into (mostly working) applications.

The architecture of SAP BPS (Business Planning and Simulation) module, which is a part of SAP BI, is structured, thus enabling to implement simple scenarios as well as create complex planning processes meeting a broad spectrum of the organization needs without any major effort.

Information Broadcasting and Alerts

 

Information broadcasting scenario supported by SAP BI Component allows different objects (statements, queries, web applications) to be accessible to a vast number of users according to particular requirements of the organization. Information broadcasting scenario is implemented by means of SAP BEx Broadcaster module.  

SAP BI Component enables to pre-calculate SAP BI web applications, queries, and statements and then publish them via SAP BEx Broadcaster at SAP EP portal, or distribute them via e-mail (see the picture above). Next to pre-defined documents containing aged data it is also possible to generate links to BI queries, documents and web applications that work in real time and operate with current data. In this way, recipients can receive pre-calculated SAP BI objects into their mailbox; it can also be carried out automatically when there is some data change for instance. The recipient may further use the information thus obtained for making decisions or taking up appropriate processes.

Alerts help easily and promptly recognize emergency situation. An intelligent agent, which is a basic element of alert solutions, operates against background and responds to arriving at pre-configurated treshold values. In case of emergency situation the intelligent agent automatically sends critical information to the members of senior management – no matter where the executives occur, or which device they happen to be working with.

Intelligent agent is used for evaluation of such objects whose values at defined parameters deviate from the standard, or are at a critical level. If the treshold value for the defined exception is exceeded or not reached on the contrary, the intelligent agent runs an appropriate follow-on action. It can send a message (by e-mail, sms, or fax to one or more contact subjects), enter the input to the Alert Monitor, or export the information about the emergency situation in order to manage the result outside SAP BI Component.

 

Enterprise Information Analysis

 

SAP BI Component enables to generate a broad range of outputs – from static, formatted managerial statements to graphic, interactive analytical applications and statements. Users can get access to information at different levels of particularity; they can share and analyse the data.

Working with multidimensional data sources (so called OLAP reporting) enables to carry out analysis using several variables at once (the variables may include time, location, product, and so forth). The data displayed in the form of a table serve as an initial point for carrying out a detailed analysis. End-user possibilities of how to extend operation and support flexible working with data is ensured by a vast number of functions, such as data sorting, filtering, substitution of characteristics, or local computation of values.

Tools for end users enable to create their won environment for creation and work with OLAP statements, they promote graphic representation of information and visualization of relations between commercial and dimensional information (for carrying out geographical analyses for example).

SAP BEx Query Designer (see the picture above) is a standard tool for defining and editing queries in MS Windows environment. SAP company also delivers Ad-hoc Query Designer tool for web environment. It enables to define and edit queries in web browser environment adapted to your needs.

When defining their own queries users can rely on a considerable volume of SAP BI prompts (e. g. statement patterns, key indicators and pre-defined statements) that are delivered as standard and are promoted by SAP Company. SAP BI prompts have been tailored to different user roles in particular branches.

Cooperation and Information Sharing

Cooperation and information sharing enables the executives to work efficiently together in a team, add notes to statements and key indicators, and automatize authorizing procedures. Thus, the users can participate in decision-making process in a wider framework of the entrepreneurial context. The executives can cooperate together thanks to the tools of SAP EP portal that supports integrated approach to structured and unstructured data and information (more closely, please see Cooperation description).

 

BI Solution with Closed Operation Cycle

 

SAP BI is a solution with closed operation cycle. It enables the organizations to put an optimum operation cycle with information into action. This cycle typically includes Analysis, Cooperation, Decision-making, Adjustment stages. SAP BI and analytical applications in this cycle serve not only to monitor former performance, but they can also be used for influencing present and future commercial activities, and hereby significantly contribute to the overall efficiency of enterprise processes.

 

Performance Monitoring

 

Performance monitoring within SAP BI provides a comprehensive overview of all enterprise activities and information necessary as decision-making background. Performance monitoring assists in targeting the employees at profit growth, enables to set up strategic goals and follow the results of implementation of tactic plans and aims.

SAP BI tools for analysis and modelling support enable the executives visualize enterprise goals, monitor the process of task performance, follow up the development of key success criteria (utilizing external and internal comparative analyses), and model different scenarios.