IBM Global Business Services

Chapter 1 - Introduction to SAP BI

SAP BI FastTrack Training Program

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

Lesson Overview
This lesson provides a picture look at SAP Net Weaver and how SAP Net Weaver
Business Intelligence is embedded in this higher level software stack. This lesson
deals with the fundamental architecture of the BI and the structure of the Data
Warehouse layer

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

Business Intelligence (BI)

Business Intelligence (BI) is a broad category of applications and
technologies for gathering, storing, analyzing, and providing access to data to
help enterprise users make better business decisions. BI applications include
the activities of decision support systems, query and reporting, online
analytical processing (OLAP), statistical analysis, forecasting, and Data
Mining
Business Intelligence software is the collection of applications needed to
generate business knowledge out of operational data. The Data Warehouse,
a component of this Business Intelligence tool set, is the more specific tool
responsible for the cleanup, loading, and storage of the data needed by the
business.

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence: State-of-the-Art

BI Software
Due to continuous innovation in data processing, more and more information is
stored in a more detailed format. As a result, there is a need to both reduce and
structure this data so it can be analyzed meaningfully. The analysis necessary to
create business intelligence from the collected raw data requires a varied tool set
As a core component of SAP NetWeaver, BI provides DataWarehousing functionality,
a Business Intelligence platform, and a suite of Business Intelligence tools that
enable businesses to attain the maximum value from the information they collect.
Relevant business information from productive SAP applications and all external
Data Sources can be integrated, transformed, and consolidated in BI.
BI provides flexible reporting and analysis tools to support you in evaluating and
interpreting data, as well as facilitating its distribution.

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

The figure below defines what SAP believes are the key components
of a BI system

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

BI Suite/Business Explorer (BEx)

The BI Suite containing the Business Explorer (BEx) provides flexible reporting
and analysis tools targeted at both power users and end users.
You can use these tools for strategic analysis and to support the decision-making process in
your organization.
These tools include query, reporting, and analysis functions.
BEx enables a broad range of users to access BI information using the SAP NetWeaver
Portal, intranet/Internet (Web Application Design), or mobile devices (WAP or
i-mode-enabled mobile telephones and personal digital assistants).
Many analysis features are available; slice and dice (pivot like functions) is only the
beginning.
In addition, many outputs options are supported, including formatted Microsoft Excel,
Web cockpits, formatted Web output (BEx Reports) and Adobe PDF documents.
6

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

BI Business Explorer

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

Overview of BEx Query Designer

The BI database is divided into self-contained business information
providers(InfoProviders).
We can analyze the database of BI by defining queries against these
InfoProviders in the BEx Query Designer.
We can determine the way in which the data from your chosen InfoProvider is
analyzed by selecting and combining characteristics and key figures or
reusable structures in a query.

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

Areas in the Business Explorer

BEx Analyzer (Microsoft Excel-based analysis tool with pivot-table-like

features).

BEx Web Analyzer (Web-based analysis tool with pivot-table-like features)

BEx Web Application Designer (customer-defined and SAP BI Content

provided)

BEx Report Designer (highly formatted Web output)

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

BEx Web Application Designer

The BEx Web Application Designer allows you to implement complex OLAP
navigation in Web applications and in Business Intelligence cockpits for both
simple and highly individual scenarios.
The Web Application Designer encompasses a wide spectrum of interactive
Web-based Business Intelligence scenarios that you can modify to suit your
requirements using standard Web technology.
We can use the BEx Web Application Designer, the desktop application for
creating Web applications, to generate HTML pages that contain BI-specific
content such as various tables, charts, or maps

10

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

Enterprise Reporting.
Enterprise reporting (formatted reporting) with positioning control and display formatting
can be accomplished in several ways in BI. Features of the BEx Analyzer allow for
customized, highly formatted Excel workbooks, while the BEx Report Designer does the
same for Web output or conversion of the document to PDF
Information Broadcasting.
Information broadcasting provides a tool set to execute analyses (BEx Web, BEx Analyzer,
workbooks, and queries) at a desired time and frequency, then distribute the results to
intended recipients
Mobile Reporting.
We can use BEx Mobile Intelligence to call up the Web applications you created with the
Web Application Designer. We can use PDA,WAP enabled mobile telephone, i-modeenabled mobile telephone Etc.

11

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

BI and SAP NetWeaver

12

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008

IBM Global Business Services

Summary
Lesson Overview

Definition of Business Intelligence

Key components of a BI system
Overview of BEx Query Designer
BEx Web Application Designer
BI and SAP NetWeaver

13

Introduction to SAP BI | October-2008

Copyright IBM Corporation 2008