SAP Business Data Cloud: The New Era of Data Integration and AI

How the strategic partnership with Databricks paves the way for a unified data strategy and AI-powered decisions. 

Cover of the abat white paper: SAP Business Data Cloud: The New Era of Data Integration and AI

The SAP Business Data Cloud is the key to a unified data strategy. This white paper shows how companies can break down data silos between SAP and non-SAP systems, centralize data, and thus create a robust foundation for AI-supported decisions. 

A practical example illustrates how SAP Business Data Cloud creates transparency across the entire data landscape – and derives new business insights in real time. Learn why the native integration of Databricks is the decisive difference between isolated analyses and a future-proof, AI-powered data platform. 

Whether as an entry point into a new data strategy or as part of a comprehensive digital transformation, SAP Business Data Cloud delivers measurable results in the shortest possible time. Get the white paper now and learn how abat can accompany you on your journey to a data-driven future. 

FAQ

1. How does SAP Business Data Cloud differ from previous SAP data platforms?

The key difference lies in the native integration of Databricks as a core component of the platform. While previous solutions already offered powerful data integration and analysis capabilities, SAP Business Data Cloud extends these capabilities with a modern data engineering and AI platform that combines SAP Datasphere, SAP Analytics Cloud, and connectivity to SAP BW with SAP Databricks. This creates a comprehensive ecosystem that covers everything from raw data collection to AI-powered decision-making. 

2. How does the integration between SAP data and Databricks work?

The integration is mainly done via Delta Sharing, an open-source protocol that enables the secure exchange of live data between different platforms without having to physically copy or move the data. SAP data can be used directly in SAP Databricks, while fully preserving its semantic meaning and business context. This enables bidirectional data exchange while significantly reducing the costs of data replication. 

3. What requirements must companies meet in order to use SAP Business Data Cloud?

Companies need an appropriate license from SAP for the SAP Business Data Cloud. Technically, the solution is available as a fully managed cloud platform on Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud Platform, so there is no need to set up your own infrastructure. Integration with existing SAP systems requires appropriate connectors and access permissions, which are provided by the platform as standard. 

4. How does SAP Business Data Cloud support the development and deployment of AI applications?

The integration of SAP Databricks gives companies access to a powerful platform for machine learning and AI development that can process structured and unstructured data. With Joule, SAP's generative AI co-pilot, users can ask natural language queries, automate complex analysis tasks, and gain insights without programming knowledge. The platform also connects data to a knowledge graph that gives AI applications a deep contextual understanding of business processes. 

5. Can SAP Business Data Cloud be introduced gradually, or is a complete migration necessary?

The SAP Business Data Cloud is explicitly designed for gradual implementation and does not require disruptive big-bang migration. Companies can start with a specific use case that promises clear business value and gradually expand the platform to other areas. Existing SAP BW environments can be seamlessly connected without physical migration, protecting investments while leveraging modern cloud capabilities. 

Contact our expert