Analytic Application Architecture

SAP BW is at the heart of SAP’s analytic applications. Because it provides separation of function and time-oriented, integrated data, it is the ideal business intelligence platform for analytic applications. Figure 10-1 shows the various components of analytic applications, including the following:

• Builders— These tools allow you to build the analytic application environment. They may consist of data warehousing administration tools, visual modeling tools, and planning environments.

• Models— These designs are either standard-delivered or custom-developed via the Builders. Models, such as data mining models or simulation models often utilize an object model or an enterprise’s information model.

• Engines— These represent the application-specific logic that must be applied during runtime (such as specialized calculations). OLAP, data mining, and planning calculations are all performed by their respective engines during runtime.