SAP HANA


What is SAP HANA?

Released in 2010, SAP HANA, also known as High-performance Analytic Appliance, is a column-oriented in-memory database that can be used for transactional and analytical workloads with any data type and on a single data copy.

What is SAP HANA?

Released in 2010, SAP HANA, also known as High-performance Analytic Appliance, is a column-oriented in-memory database that can be used for transactional and analytical workloads with any data type and on a single data copy.

SAP HANA serves as a comprehensive platform for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and various business applications and can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid cloud setup, offering flexibility to organizations. One of the key features of SAP HANA is its ability to integrate data from different sources within an organization. This includes traditional business documents like contracts and spreadsheets, UX/UI elements such as website forms and customer interactions, mobile data from customer devices and employee smartphones, and IoT data from sensors embedded in various business areas like warehouses, trucks, stores, and offices. By integrating this diverse range of data, SAP HANA empowers organizations to leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques for instant and in-depth analysis. This capability accelerates real-time decision-making by providing valuable insights into a company’s operations.

What is SAP HANA Used For?

Many organizations hold vast amounts of data stored in data warehouses, which remains untapped and fails to provide any value. Accumulation of unused data represents a significant potential resource, which, if properly utilized, could greatly accelerate business impact and deliver enhanced value to customers. SAP HANA offers a solution to this challenge by leveraging its high-speed, in-memory processing capabilities and real-time data analytics powered by machine learning. By harnessing a company’s data, SAP HANA enables streamlined processes, eliminates errors, and brings various benefits to clients, customers, and employees.

SAP HANA is designed to deliver speedy queries and high-speed transactions. Its architecture is centered around in-memory and column-oriented processing, providing not only database management capabilities but also developing applications, advanced analytical processing, and flexible data virtualization.

Why SAP HANA?  Key Features and Capabilities

SAP HANA utilizes its in-memory, multi-model data management engine to fully leverage the capabilities of its hardware and minimizes data movements, and optimizes application speed and agility while analyzing real-time data. SAP HANA’s efficient data processing capabilities allow for seamless scalability, accommodating the growth of a business without compromising security or stability.

Real-time Data Management
With its in-memory technology, SAP HANA has revolutionized data management by eliminating the need for cumbersome batch processing. Instead, all data is readily accessible in real time without any latency. This shift to real-time processing enables enterprises to significantly simplify their management systems and make necessary changes to enhance operational efficiencies.

Database Enhancement Functionality
Typically, conventional database systems revolve around a single data model, imposing limitations on the organization, storage, and manipulation of data. In contrast, SAP HANA introduces a multi-model database that enables the support of multiple data models within a single integrated backend. This capability simplifies the establishment of relationships among various data points, enhancing the overall flexibility and versatility of the database system.

Advanced Analytics Processing Capabilities
With its advanced analytics processing capabilities, SAP HANA enables the utilization of vast quantities of data, including information from IoT sensors and mobile devices. By leveraging its machine learning engine, SAP HANA can extract data from and write to the server in real time. This instant data analysis allows for the prompt identification of issues and the implementation of effective solutions across various aspects of an enterprise. From payroll and human resources to customer care and supplier management, SAP HANA empowers organizations to swiftly address challenges and optimize performance.

Customized Application Development
Sitting atop the SAP HANA database is a software stack system that serves as a technology-agnostic server for web-based applications, whether they are SAP or non-SAP applications, chosen by developers. This server has the capability to interact with various file types and exchange data with any software, allowing businesses to swiftly develop and implement personalized queries and processes that are specifically tailored to their needs.

Advanced Tools Capabilities
SAP HANA’s advanced analytical processing empowers developers to create user-friendly tools that enable business teams to generate customized reports effortlessly, eliminating the need for assistance from IT or external consultants.

Benefits of SAP HANA

SAP HANA is a robust and secure solution for organizations seeking advanced data management and analytics capabilities. The SAP HANA database goes beyond simple data storage and serves as a single source of truth. It offers a wide range of benefits, whether deployed on-premises or with SAP HANA Cloud. Here are the top 10 advantages of SAP HANA:

  • Includes a comprehensive suite of database services, advanced analytical processing, application development, and data integration capabilities.
  • Ensures speedy query responses, even in large-scale production applications, with response times of less than a second.
  • Supports hybrid transactional and analytical processing, accommodating various data types.
  • Optimizes data storage by minimizing duplication, employing advanced compression techniques, and eliminating data silos.
  • Leverages the power of SAP HANA’s Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) database for rapid querying of extensive datasets.
  • Easily scales to handle growing data volumes and concurrent users across distributed environments.
  • Offers deployment flexibility in public or private clouds, across multiple cloud providers, on-premises, or in hybrid scenarios.
  • Provides a unified gateway for accessing all data sources and documentation through advanced data virtualization capabilities.
  • Enhances applications and analytics with built-in machine learning (ML) capabilities.
  • Ensures comprehensive data and application security, with secure setups and additional protective measures in place.

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Join SAPinsider Today
Join SAPinsider to access opportunities for networking and engagement in the dynamic SAP ecosystem. As a member, you will have access to a wealth of valuable resources and content tailored to SAP technologies and best practices like the latest research reports, articles, webinars, and events that will keep you informed and ahead of the curve.SAPinsider membership grants you exclusive access to in-depth analyses, expert insights, and practical guidance that will empower you to navigate the ever-evolving SAP landscape with ease. SAPinsider membership will enable you to remain one step ahead and harness the latest trends, innovations, and strategies to drive your own powerful digital transformations, optimize your SAP investments, and unlock business success.

926 results

  1. Get Started with Modeling and Reporting in SAP HANA

    Published: 29/January/2013

    Reading time: 13 mins

    /HANALearn how to begin working with HANA modeling. Discover the differences between the view and its respective features to understand and start using HANA. Key Concept SAP HANA stores a large amount of data in memory. SAP LT Replication, Data Services 4.0, and Sybase Replication Server are used to load data into the HANA server...…

  2. SAP HANA Modeling in SAP HANA Support Package 9: Using the Rank Node in Graphical Calculation Views

    Published: 06/April/2015

    Reading time: 13 mins

    Learn about the nuances of the SAP HANA Support Package 9’s rank node in graphical calculation views. Learn how to limit the amount of data to be sorted to just the important records, not the noise generated by your Big Data environment. Key Concept With the release of SAP HANA Support Package 9, the graphical...…

  3. SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud and the Path to Operational Efficiency

    Published: 24/August/2018

    Reading time: 6 mins

    SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud, SAP’s private managed cloud solution, gives customers the opportunity to run SAP workloads on SAP S/4HANA and take advantage of cutting-edge technology. For Canadian General-Tower (CGT) — a world leader in coated fabrics and containment materials — making the switch to the SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud was a no-brainer. With plans for expansion,…

  4. Make Sense of the CO Cost Settlement Process: Live Q&A on Navigating Cost Settlement in SAP Systems

    Published: 01/May/2016

    Reading time: 37 mins

    Cost settlement plays a critical role in business operations in SAP environments. It determines  whether orders – such as production orders, sales orders, and internal orders – are settled in full as part of period-end processing. This process, which takes place in the controlling (CO) component of the SAP system, can appear to be highly…

  5. Transition to Real-Time Analytics on SAP S/4HANA 1610 and SAP BW/4HANA

    Published: 01/December/2017

    Reading time: 15 mins

    Many companies are planning to make the move to SAP S/4HANA and/or SAP BW/4HANA to take advantage of improved capabilities for real-time reporting.  How can you best prepare and execute your transition? Read the Q&A transcript from BI & HANA 2018 speakers and consultants Bill Faison and Colin Hart from Method360 to gain real-world insight…

  6. Spotlight: Tips on Running SAP BPC Data on SAP HANA

    Published: 26/October/2012

    Reading time: 4 mins

    Optimal Solutions Vice President Dmitry Faybysh fields a few questions about deploying SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) data sets on SAP HANA. At TechEd 2012 SAP made several pronouncements about the benefits of using SAP HANA in a nondisruptive way to expedite business processes. The conference also was the venue for the SAP HANA...…

  7. Cost Benefits of SAP HANA in the Cloud

    Published: 21/January/2016

    Reading time: 3 mins

    A lot of business owners who have already invested in an SAP installation may not think SAP HANA is a viable option for them due to the costs to procure the enterprise class equipment needed to support the powerful in-memory database, but are eager to leverage all of the capabilities that SAP HANA has to…

  8. Expect SAP NetWeaver BW to Run Soon on SAP HANA

    Published: 31/January/2012

    Reading time: 4 mins

    Beyond its touted ability to accelerate the speed of information analysis, SAP HANA is evolving into other uses, including as a replacement for the traditional relational databases that SAP NetWeaver BW typically runs on top of. Right now, you might think of SAP HANA as a means to speed up information analysis — but by...…

  9. Advanced SAP HANA Modeling (Part 1): How to Use the Query Results Caching Feature to Improve Performance

    Published: 03/July/2017

    Reading time: 12 mins

    Learn how to best use the query results caching option to improve the performance of your information views. See when to use—or not use—this option as part of your modeled SAP HANA database. Also, learn about other caching topics. Key Concept For many years, SAP HANA has offered the ability to cache information view results....…

  10. SAP HANA Then and Now: A Smarter Way to a System of Insight

    Published: 04/February/2016

    Reading time: 4 mins

    The recent Forrester Research survey “Evolve Your Business Intelligence To Systems of Insight” defines a system of insight as one where traditional business intelligence (BI), agile BI, and big data converge to “deliver actionable insights necessary to win, serve, and retain customers.” It should come as no surprise to the SAP customer that – as…