Comparing SAP Business Intelligence Platforms

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, the ability to effectively store and use data has become paramount for all businesses. SAP’s array of software solutions have immense data organization and analysis capabilities, allowing businesses to streamline their workflow and make more informed business decisions.  

When it comes to data utilization and analysis, SAP BusinessObjects (BO) and SAP Business Intelligence (BI) are two solutions that are essential for businesses to make the most of their data. Businesses looking to encourage growth backed by data-driven decisions should understand both SAP BO and SAP BI to effectively harness their own data.  

Below, we compare the two SAP business intelligence platforms, pointing out differences and similarities that make up each platform.  

WHAT IS SAP BUSINESSOBJECTS?

SAP BusinessObjects (BO) is a collection of business intelligence tools that assist with data organization and visualization within a company. Its main purpose is to streamline data processing while also hiding the more structural qualities of the data and its implementation. Real business objects, like staff or capital, can be represented as business objects in the SAP system. They hold the data specifics that are useful for numerous analytical software platforms.  

SAP BO is established with layers to present only the most usable aspects of the data for visualization and analytical purposes. The business logic and data of the recorded business objects is engrained more centrally in the platform, while the top layers designate how the object presents to the world and what software can gain access. Businesses can record data and, with the suite’s enhanced visualization and analytical capabilities, make more data-driven and beneficial company decisions.  

WHAT IS SAP BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE?

SAP Business Intelligence (BI) encompasses all the tools and systems used to analyze any data a business collects and serves as more of a conceptual framework for how to use data to make informed decisions. SAP refers to BI as “descriptive analytics,” illustrating its capabilities to generate insights from a business’s past and present data.  

The BI suite is flexible, allowing for seamless integration of all business operations and SAP platforms, such as SAP S/4HANA. It also holds a very general perspective, taking a broad look at the current and historical state of company operations and using that information to generate data illustrations. Businesses utilizing BI can make stronger decisions supported by present and past data, creating more opportunities for future growth and innovation.  

Comparing SAP Business Intelligence Platforms

Each SAP suite serves a different purpose, from more specific data analysis to a conceptual framework. While SAP BO offers an expansive suite of applications to address analytical needs, SAP BI encompasses a wider range of methodologies and technologies aimed at enabling data-driven decision-making across the entire organizational landscape.  

One of the primary advantages of SAP BO is the ease with which it pairs with other SAP solutions, allowing the entire SAP ecosystem to have extensive analytical capabilities. However, it can be difficult to integrate SAP BO with non-SAP systems. Businesses must account for their existing data platforms to determine how effective SAP BO will be if implemented.  

On the other hand, the versatility of SAP BI allows organizations to work directly with their existing data infrastructure and requirements. Businesses that implement SAP BI can achieve higher levels of flexibility in their data analytic capabilities and can also experience a more seamless integration into already-established systems. However, maintaining a robust data storage and analysis system can be a significant investment. Businesses must determine the extent to which the conclusions generated from SAP BI will assist in their operations and goals of innovation.  

Ultimately, SAP BO focuses on the data specifics, understanding their inherent qualities such as access, implementation, and integrity, while SAP BI takes a broader look at a company’s data to generate overarching conclusions about strengths and weaknesses in the present and the past. Both serve a unique purpose in a business’s operations, helping to establish specific data analysis and a more general conceptual framework.  

LOOKING AHEAD

Each suite offers the opportunity to make stronger, data-driven decisions that can increase a company’s efficiency and general growth. Understanding each platform’s unique traits will allow informed choices of what will be most effective if integrated into existing workflows.  

We can help you harness the power of SAP solutions. Contact the BCTG team today. 

This piece was originally published by a partner in our business ecosystem, Crescense. Learn more about Crescense here.