--- title: From SAP BW to SAP Datasphere date: 2024-10-24T08:30:00+02:00 author: Flexso canonical_url: "https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/moving-to-sap-datasphere" section: cp.sections.blog --- ![Roadmap to cloud datawarehouse SAP datawarehouse](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271360%27%20height%3D%27544%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) **In a** [**previous blog**](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/modern-datawarehousing-with-sap-datasphere) **we looked at the typical challenges of traditional data warehousing and how SAP’s comprehensive data service, SAP Datasphere, resolves these challenges in a modern and flexible way. But the path towards SAP Datasphere may vary on your existing data landscape within your organization. Moving from SAP BW, BW/4HANA or another data warehouse, let's dive in the different scenarios.** ## What are the different scenario’s for moving to SAP Datasphere? ## A greenfield scenario You have no data warehouse solution in place. To accelerate your setup, there is **standard SAP** (free to install) and **3rd party content** available to start from. Another option would be to start building your models from scratch if no content is available for your business (for example, your source system is a non-SAP system). The **low-coding possibilities** of SAP Datasphere enables your users to setup models very fast. If you do have a SAP Source System, there are 2 different options: SAP ECC or SAP S/4HANA. ![SAP Analytics Partner content Datasphere](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27867%27%20height%3D%27%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ## Source of data is SAP ECC (+ BW Bridge) In case of SAP ECC, it can be useful to use the Business Warehouse (BW) extractors that are delta-enabled on SAP ECC. Unfortunately, SAP does not offer a direct way to ingest these deltas in SAP Datasphere directly. But then there is … SAP BW Bridge. Within SAP BW bridge, an environment for IT-oriented people, you are able to **implement data extraction and staging scenarios** up to the Composite Provider level. You cannot access BW Bridge directly with reporting tools such as SAC, PowerBI, BO reporting tools, etc. ![Flexso SAP Datasphere BW Bridge Architecture](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27850%27%20height%3D%27%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)You can use ODP data sources like BW and CDS data sources to load new and changed data into BW Bridge (the so-called delta loads). The BW Bridge objects (ADSO / Composite Providers) are virtually exposed in SAP Datasphere in the so-called “BW Bridge Space”. They can be shared with other spaces and can be used to **build SAP Datasphere models**. The data is persistent in BW bridge and is consulted in SAP Datasphere as remote tables. In BW Bridge, you can also use *data tiering*, where cold data can be persisted in the HANA Data Lake (HDL). File uploads can be achieved via other means directly into SAP Datasphere. >> [Read how BW Bridge eases data migration at Nipro](https://www.flexso.com/en/cases/pharma-data-cloud-migration-datasphere-sap-bwbridge). ## Source of Data is S/4HANA Preferably, you can use the **CDC-enabled CDS extractors** (or extraction-enabled CDS's in general) in S/4HANA to load data into SAP Datasphere. Nowadays, SAP Datasphere has a lot of **standard SAP content** that can be used as an accelerator. The SAP content is aligned with the extraction-enabled CDS’s. Of course, BW Bridge itself can also be installed to use the classic BW Extractors in S/4HANA. This is useful in case of migration scenario’s where you as a customer want to reuse your previous investments in your SAP BW on HANA or BW/4HANA system. ## Extend your existing (on prem) BW investments If this would be the scenario, **SAP Datasphere can perfectly complement existing SAP BW solutions** running within the organization. We can leverage the virtualization and replication capabilities from SAP Datasphere, Customers of SAP BW can easily extend current on-premise environments to include cloud scenarios. You can choose to move data from SAP BW/4HANA to SAP Datasphere, a managed-service offering. **Alternatively, the data can stay where it is**, and Datasphere can consume data sets directly from SAP BW/4HANA – without replicating them – and enrich these data with third-party data sources from cloud or on-premise systems. **A last option would be a hybrid approach**, where you leave some data on premise in SAP BW/4HANA and put some data in the cloud in SAP Datasphere. ## Want do discover the benefits of SAP Datasphere? A future-proof data management solution in the cloud. [Read our expert blog.](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/modern-datawarehousing-with-sap-datasphere) ## Migrating to SAP Datasphere and SAP Business Data Cloud SAP provides the technical possibilities to migrate your existing SAP Datawarehouse to SAP Datasphere using a migration cockpit to SAP BW Bridge. Here as well, there are two different options. - **Shell Conversion** For this conversion type, a newly provisioned SAP Datasphere, SAP BW bridge is needed. A Transfer Cockpit can be used to migrate selected data models without transferring data into an SAP BW bridge tenant. This is an accelerated way of converting your models and data flows. Some objects can be migrated, others need to be modified (e.g. ABAP code in your BW transformations) and some objects cannot be migrated. - **Remote Conversion** For this conversion type, SAP BW bridge is needed as well. A Transfer Cockpit can be used to migrate selected data models into an SAP BW bridge tenant and performs a remote data transfer into that tenant as well. ![SAP BW4 HANA and SAP BW conversion to datasphere](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27850%27%20height%3D%27%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ## Let’s start your cloud journey To summarize, whether you have existing BW solutions you want to **convert, extend, or you have no BW solution at all**, **moving to SAP Datasphere and SAP Business Data Cloud is possible**. Depending on your source system, we also provided the major keys above with which you can get access from Datasphere to the data on your source system. This access can be virtual or can be directly loaded into SAP Datasphere. Based on their experience, our experts can help your organization setting up a clear and strategic roadmap towards the data services on the Business Technology Platform and provide you with **a tailor-made solution design**. ## Powered by Flexso Analytics: bring your business to a higher level Analytics wizards that transform data into smart business insights and accelerated growth. Retain your competitive edge. Let’s transform your data into insights. [Get to know us ](https://www.flexso.com/en/brands/flexso-analytics) --- Written by ![Koen Van Dijck](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%2794%27%20height%3D%2794%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)**Koen Van Dijck** Share - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flexso.com%2Fen%2Finsights-blog%2Fmoving-to-sap-datasphere"e=Authors%20%2B%20brand) - [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flexso.com%2Fen%2Finsights-blog%2Fmoving-to-sap-datasphere&title=Authors%20%2B%20brand&summary=&source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flexso.com%2Fen%2Finsights-blog%2Fmoving-to-sap-datasphere) - [Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flexso.com%2Fen%2Finsights-blog%2Fmoving-to-sap-datasphere) ![SAC Releases 2024 - SAP Analytics Cloud - Header](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)SAP Business Data Cloud, Datasphere & SAP Analytics Cloud: Discover the latest releasesWhat’s new in SAP Datasphere this year? 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