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.

Join SAPinsider Today
Join SAPinsider to unlock 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 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.

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.

88 results

  1. 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…

  2. Demystifying SAP HANA and Its Potential Impact on Your Business

    This is part 1 of a 4-part series of videos hosted by SAPinsider and sponsored by VMware, SAP, and Intel. SAP’s Venkata Giduthuri answered critical questions about SAP HANA and looked at the potential and possibilities that SAP HANA can bring to your company. This presentation was presented live of the Simplify and Automate SAP…

  3. Information Management Options in SAP HANA: Smart Data Integration

    Published: 03/February/2016

    Reading time: 8 mins

    SAP HANA is a pivotal platform that can completely transform an enterprise, but without quality data SAP HANA only yields fast trash. Traditionally, tools such as SAP Data Services have been used to confront this problem. Now, SAP HANA holds capabilities to transform and cleanse data in real time from many sources. See how these...…

  4. Real-Time Operational Reporting with SAP HANA Live

    Published: 27/January/2016

    Reading time: 18 mins

    Get an overview of the hundreds of SAP HANA Live (formerly part of the Composite Analytic Framework, or CAF) views that you can use to enable real-time operational reporting and analytics. Using this approach, companies can use standard views directly as data sources for reporting. This approach also enables companies to form an alternative foundation...…

  5. Live from SAPinsider Studio: Epson America on BI, Building SAP HANA Business Case

    Abishek Uppal, BI Project Leader, Epson America, joins SAPinsider Studio at the 2015 Reporting & Analytics event in Las Vegas to discuss the company’s business intelligence (BI) use and roadmap. This is an edited transcript of the discussion: Ken Murphy, SAPinsider: Hi, this is Ken Murphy with SAPinsider, and I’m here at the SAPinsider Reporting…

  6. A Conversation With Robb Neuenschwander: Lead Technical Architect at Target

    As the Lead Technical Architect for Target, the second largest retailer in the U.S. with an international presence, Robb Neuenschwander is tasked with managing and optimizing a vast and complex infrastructure. In this video, he explains how Hitachi and SAP HANA have helped Target face some of their biggest IT challenges, and scale to meet…

  7. SAP HANA Security Part 1: The Difference Between Run-Time and Design-Time Roles

    Published: 07/October/2015

    Reading time: 10 mins

    The basics about SAP HANA security can be a somewhat confusing topic, even for experienced users. However, there are some terms and concepts that users must understand in order to properly set up security in SAP HANA. In the first of this two-part series about SAP HANA security, gain an overview of two ways for...…

  8. Colgate-Palmolive Combines Its Trade Promotion Planning with SAP HANA

    Published: 01/April/2013

    Reading time: 6 mins

    As a producer of some of the most recognizable personal and home care brands in the world, Colgate-Palmolive is consistently exceeding the expectations of its global customer base. This statement holds just as true for the technology the company uses; it has consistently been a pilot customer for SAP applications that eventually become mainstream solutions....…