3rdPartyToolsForBW

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Copyrights 2002: Information Frameworks. Naeem Hashmi Integration 3rd Party Tools with SAP BW 1

Integrating 3rd

PartyTools with

SAP BusinessInformation Warehouse

NaeemHashmiChiefTechnologyOfficer

InformationFrameworks

Tel:603-432-4550

Cell:603-661-6820

Email:[email protected]

http://infoframeworks.com

SAP GO-Live Call

April 11, 2002


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Agenda

AnatomyofBITools

DataAccessInterfacesinSAPBW(Proand

Cons) 3rdPartyReportingToolsandSAPBW

Challengesinintegrating3rdPartytoolswithBW

WhatSAPor3rdpartyvendorscandotoaddressSAPBWIntegrationIssues

Q&A


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Basic Components of 3rd Party BI Tools

ToolsprovideseveralDataManagementlayers

Eachlayerimpactsoverallperformance

Data Storage

DataAccessInterface

A Typical Data Access, Query/ Reporting

and ETL Tool

DistributionEngine

Presentation

Metadata

StructuredData

Un-StructuredData

QueryReporting

OLAPMiningEngine

MostlyDatabase

Oriented

(SQL)

ETLEngine


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SAP BW Interfaces

Source: SAP

SAP certifies 3rd

Partytools for individual

Interface/Version OleDB

for OLAP

XML

OLAP BAPI

RRI Interface

RFC,BAPISBAPI, TBAPI

ALE/TRFC

DB Connect


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SAP R/3 & BW 3rd Party BI Tools -Interfaces

Data Storage

DataAccessInterface

A Typical Data Access, Queryand Reporting Tool

DistributionEngine

Presentation

Metadata

StructuredData

Un-StructuredData

QueryReporting

OLAPMiningEngine

Source: Business Information Warehouse for SAP

by Naeem Hashmi, Prima, 2000

Remote Function Calls (RFC)

Business API ( BAPI)

No OLEDB for OLAP BAPIs for SAP R/3

Database Level Access- ODBC, SQL*NET, etc.


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Accessing SAP BW - ODBO/BAPI Interface

NOTE: Understand that in BW you never access the physical database when

accessing through these APIs.

Source: Business Information Warehouse for SAP by Naeem Hashmi, Prima, 2000

InfoCube

OLAP

ENGINE

ODS ObjectMOLAP Cube

3rd Party Client Application

DATABASE SERVER

ODBO

Application Server

MDX

Dataset

Query Cubes


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Comparing Data Access Performance

Source:BusinessInformationWarehouseforSAP,NaeemHashmi,Prima2000

3rd Party OleDB for OLAP Certified Tool -- BEX -- InfoSet Query



3rd Party BI Vendors/Tools BW

Arcplan

BrioTechnologies

BusinessObjects Cognos

CrystalDecisions

InformationBuilders

PolyVista



3rd Party BI products and their Usage



Reporting Tool Profile: ArcPlan

Company: Langenfeld,Germany-basedcompanyknownforitsEISandcustomdevelopment

environment

Products: dynaSight,inSight

Certification: BW-ODB1.2inSight2.35

BW-ODB2.0dynaSight3.0

BW-OBI2.0dynaSight3.0

Strengths: Customapplicationdevelopmentforbuildingspecializedviewsofinformation

MultipleintegrationpointswithSAPR/3BAPIsandSAPBWODBO ApplicationintegrationwithSAPSEMforwrite-backandSAPR/3viaRFC(NC*)

Weaknesses: Noproductionreportingorout-of-the-boxtoolforbusinessusers

SmallcompanysizeandlowvisibilityinNorthAmerica

* NC = Not Certified

BW20.SCM



Reporting Tool Profile: Brio Technology

Company: SantaClara,California-basedcompanyknownforprovidingeasy-to-usetools

forreportingonRDBMS

Products:

BrioQuery,Brio.QuickView,Brio.Insight,Brio.Report,Brio.Portal,Brio.Impact

Certification: R/34.0,3.1Brio.ReportforSAPR/3Release1.0,BAPIsforBrio.Report

BW-ODB1.2Brio.EnterpriseforSAPBW

BW-ODB2.0Brio.EnterpriseforSAPBW

Strengths:

GoodSAPR/3operationalreportingandpixel-levelformatting UsabilityofBrio.Enterpriseformanipulationandformatting

Weaknesses:

Separateproducts,architecture,anduserinterfacesforSAPR/3andSAPBW

LimitedBWsupportforembeddinghierarchiestodrill,pivot,andperform

rankingandtop/bottomanalysis



Reporting Tool Profile: Business Objects

Company:

Paris,France-basedcompanyknownforitsmetadataproductBusinessObjectsUniverseandanintegrateduserinterfaceforreportingandanalysis

Products:

BusinessObjects5i,WebIntelligence,BusinessQuery,InfoView,InfoViewMobile,

SetAnalyzer,ApplicationFoundation

Certification: BW-ODB1.2BusinessObjects

BW-ODB2.0BusinessObjectsBWConnect5.1.1

Strengths:

IntegratedreportingandanalysisproductforBWviaODBO

Specializedqueryinterface,BusinessQuery,forsupportingBW Goodreportingandpublishingofinformationtomanyusers

Weaknesses:

Outdatedrapiddeploymenttemplates(RDT)toR/3RDBMSviametadata

SeparateBusinessQueryproductcostontopofbaseproduct

NosupportforSAPR/3reporting



Reporting Tool Profile: Cognos

Company: Ottawa-based(Ontario,Canada)companyknownforitsbest-of-breedtools

ImpromptuandPowerPlay

Products: Impromptu,PowerPlay,Visualizer,Upfront,4Thought,DecisionStream,

e-ApplicationsforSAP,HeadStartforSAPOLTP(NC*)&BW

Certification: BW-ODB1.2CognosPPDSODBOInterfaceforSAPBWRelease1.0

BW-ODB2.0CognosPPDSODBOInterfaceforSAPBWRelease1.0

Strengths: EstablishedbreadthoffunctionalityfromETL,models,reporting&analysis,

andapplications

StronganalysisandmobilecapabilitiesviaPowerPlay GoodvisualizationandcustomizationcapabilitiesviaVisualizer

Weaknesses: LimitedreportingfunctionalityviaPowerPlay

MustbuildexternalmartsorcatalogsviaHeadStartforImpromptu

DirectDatabaseAccessAgainstSAPR/3andBW * NC = Not Certified



Reporting Tool Profile: Crystal Decisions

Company:

Vancouver-based(BritishColumbia,Canada)companyknownforitsCrystalReportsandeasyreportcreationanddistribution

Products:

CrystalAnalysis,CrystalReports,CrystalEnterprise,HolosAnalyticSystem,BalancedScorecard,CustomerProfiling,Budgeting,ReportAlerts

CrystalEnterpriseSolutionKitformySAP.comRelease2.0InfoSetDriver,ABAP

QueryDriver(Release3.xandabove),OpenSQLDriver(Release3.xandabove),WP-WAIviaMiniApps

Certification:

WP-WAI2.1CrystalEnterpriseSolutionKitformySAP.comRelease2.0

BW-ODB2.0CrystalEnterpriseSolutionKitformySAP.comRelease2.0

BW-ODB1.2SeagateHolos7.0,Info7.0,Worksheet7.0,CrystalReports7.0

Strengths: GoodintegrationwithmySAPWorkplace,SAPR/3,andBWforoperationaland

enterprisereportingandad-hocanalysis

StrongoperationalandBWreporting,StrongPartnerwithPeopleSoftsEPM

Weaknesses:

Minimaldirectsalesandconsultingpresenceforimplementations

LimitedinteractiveanalysisforBWcominginCrystalAnalysis



Reporting Tool Profile: Information Builders

Company:

NewYorkCity-basedcompanyknownforitsdataintegrationandreportingtechnologyforautomatinglargeandcomplexdeployments

Products: WebFOCUS,BusinessIntelligenceDashboard,Maintain,ReportCaster,

Two-WayEmail,ReportingAgent,PowerReporter,ManagedReporter,i-visionforFinancialAnalysis,i-visionforHRAnalysis,i-visionforSalesandDistributionAnalysis

Certification: BW-ODB2.0WebFOCUSforSAPRelease4.3

Strengths:

OperationalandenterprisereportingforSAPR/3andSAPBW i-visionreportingsolutionsforSAPR/3andBW

Performanceandscalabilityforbroadproduction/enterprisereporting

Weaknesses: Limitedad-hocreportingandanalysis

Lackofusabilityforinteractivereportanalysis


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Vendor/Tool Profile: PolyVista

Company: Houston-basedcompanyanewkidontheblockwithamazingnext

generationofIntegratedOLAM,OLAPandVisualizationtooltoquicklyanalyzehugedatavolumes.

Products: PolyVista1.2

Certification: None

Strengths: Strategicdataanalysisdatamining

OLAM,OLAP,andVisualization Performanceandscalabilitytohandlevarylargedatavolumes

Weaknesses: LimitedtoMicrosoftOLAPenvironment

Notadataaccessandquerytool

NoSAPBWAPIcertification


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Reporting Tools Strengths & Weaknesses

ArcPlan

Cognos

Vendors Strengths

BrioTechnology

Business

Objects

CrystalDecisions

InformationBuilders

Weaknesses Custom application development Integration with BAPI and ODBO Integration with SEM for write-back

Operational reporting for SAP R/3 Usability of Brio.Enterprise for

manipulation and formatting

Integrated reporting and analysis

Specialized query interface Publishing information to users

Complete ETL, mart, tools Strong analysis and mobile abilities Good visualization and customization

Integration Workplace, BW, R/3 Operational and BW reporting

Operational and BW reporting i-vision solutions for R/3 and BW Scalability and performance

Limited reporting and ad-hoc analysis Low visibility and small company size

in North America

Separate product for SAP R/3 and BW Limited interactive analysis for BW

Outdated Rapid deployment template for SAP

Additional cost for BusinessQuery No SAP R/3 reporting

Limited reporting via PowerPlay External marts/catalogs needed for reporting External marts needed for applications

Minimal direct sales and consultingpresence

Limited interactive analysis for BW Limited ad-hoc reporting Lack of usability for interactive report

analysis

PolyVista Very Strategic and Analytic Scalability and performance Dynamic Visualization

Limited to Microsoft OLAP Platform Limited Ad-hoc or production

reporting


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SAP Certification and Validation forIntegration

Thecertificationandvalidationprocessiscriticaltoensuringtheability

ofthird-partyproductstoperformSAPR/3reporting

SAPprovidescertificationandvalidationatintegrationpoints:

InterfaceCertification:Developmentandtestingofthird-partysoftware

vendorsinterfaces.AvailableforBW-ODBandWP-WAI*.

InterfaceValidation:Wherecertificationisnotavailable,specialbusinessandtechnicalvalidationofthird-partysoftwarevendorsinterfaces.

AvailableforRFC/BAPI.

LeveragingSAPdocumentstofurtherinvestigatethird-party

integrationpointsandcertificationandvalidation:

OLAPBAPIforBW2.0BApril2000

OLAPODBOforBW2.0B2000

OLAPODBOforBW1.2B1998

BusinessObjectRepositoryProgrammingInterface3.0D&4.0B1998

WorkplaceCertification2.12000 * Workplace - Web Application Integration (WP-WAI)


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Vendor Certification by SAP System and Interface

SAP

BusinessInformationWarehouse

BW-ODB

BW-OBI*

ArcPlan

Cognos

InterfaceCertification Vendors Products/Interface Name

dynaSight 3.0

Brio Technology

Business Objects

Comshare

Crystal Decisions

ESRI

Information Builders

ArcPlan

MIS

SAS

Viador

Crystal Decisions

Brio Technology

SAP

Brio.Enterprise for SAP BW

BW Connect 5.1.1

PPDS ODBO for BW Release 1.0

Decision 2.5.1

Crystal Enterprise mySAP 2.0

ESRI Connect Release 1.0

WebFOCUS for SAP Release 4.3

OnVision & Alea 3.7 1.2

Enterprise Guide Release 1.2

E-Portal Suite 6.0

dynaSight

Brio.Report for SAP R/3 Release 1.0

Crystal Enterprise mySAP 2.0

RFC/BAPI

WP-WAIWorkplace

SAP R/3

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

1.2

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

1.2

2.0

4.0/3.1

2.1

SAP = Latest certification interface testedInformation as of 8/15/01

3.6-4.6

* Business Information Warehouse - OLAP BAPIs(BW-OBI)


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Crystal Decisions Business Content

Start_demo.exeCrystal Reports & BW 3.0x

Source: SAP


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PolyVista

ActiveVisualization

OLAPOLAM

Schema


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3rd Party Tools Integration Issues

ProductArchitectureandITCulture 3rdPartyBIToolsaredesignedkeepingSQLInterfacesinmindandnotAPIcentric.Thisisabigproblem.

ITEnvironment:CompanieshaveestablishedBIstandardsbasedontoolsandsolutionandcantthinkbeyondDBMStables.

ImmatureODBOStandard PrimarilybasedonMSOLAPServer.Nofuture

enhancementcommitteeonODBOspecs.

Performance 3rdPartyToolshavetheirownDataManagementLayerstomanageentireBIenvironmentwhile

BWhasitsown-nopassthroughcapability.


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3rd Party Tools Integration Issues

Vendors:CantjustifyROIforimprovingBWIntegrationissuesBWusercommunityisnotlargeenoughthatwarrantsinvestment

VendorsnotinterestedindoingmorethancertifyingtheirproductsagainstBWduetopresentSAPandBItoolsOEMrelationships

SAPDataAccessStrategy:APIonlyNodirectdatabaseaccess


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So what we do now?

ForcingSAPtoallowBWDBMSlevelaccessisnotgoingtowork

Integrating3rdPartyToolswithBWhastodowithyourInformationDeliveryArchitecturerathertoforce

fitatoolwithBW IfBWisinyourlongtermstrategy,defineabalancedInformationDeliverystrategy BalanceTraditionalDWandBWusage

ExploitHubandSpokeServices(BW3.0B)tobuild

traditionalDBMSdatamartsfor3rdPartytoolsdataaccess

WorkwithSAPtoenhanceHub&Spokeservicestoaddress3rdPartydataaccessissues,forexample,flatteningofhierarchies.

SAP BW 3 d P BI T l


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SAP BW - 3rd Party BI Tools:An Integrated approach

Integrate3rdPartytoolsandBWatthePortal

LevelthroughtheuseofiViews

ExploitSAPPortalsunificationandaggregationservicestoprovideaTool

agnosticinformationaccessenvironment


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C i ht 2002 I f ti F k N H h i I t ti 3 d P t T l ith SAP BW 26

Q&A

Which3rdPartyBIproductsareyouusing?

Whatarethemajorissuesthatyouarefacing

whenusingthesetoolsagainstBW?

Whoaretheend-users?

WhatdoyouexpectfromSAPon3rdPartyBItoolsIntegration?

More?

Documents

3rdPartyToolsForBW