Database Reference
In-Depth Information
enables virtual teams and project group members to work together across time zones and geo-
graphical distances to access common data and services. Collaboration services can be configured
in the collaboration launch pad or the user detail iView.
The collaboration component is tightly integrated with SAP EP, KM, and BI components. It
provides many features for real-time collaboration via the SAP EP including
◾
Interactive online access to applications
◾
Interactive online exchange of information
◾
Integration of third-party services
10.4.2 Information Integration
Information integration enables continuous, consistent, and transparent access to both structured
and unstructured information of the enterprise.
Information integration consists of the following three components:
1. Business Intelligence
2. Knowledge Management
3. Master Data Management
10.4.2.1 Business Intelligence (BI)
As we have seen in Chapter 1, Section 1.2.1.4 “Customer Capital: Customer Knowledge as the
New Capital,” real-time information that is collated and analyzed in the proper context is the most
important asset of the organizations in this century; it is also a tremendous competitive advantage to
a company. A company can enhance its effectiveness and the efficiency of its management processes
by gaining the ability to quickly extract mission-critical actionable information from a flood of data
made available by its operational systems. For achieving this, on one hand, companies need solu-
tions that can provide immediate access to information that is relevant for making decisions as well
as the ability to analyze it flexibly. On the other hand, these solutions also need to be integrated with
the existing operational systems for easy and fast access and action on this essential information.
SAP Business Intelligence (BI) provides a data warehousing functionality, a business intelligence
platform, as well as a suite of business intelligence tools for enterprises to achieve these objectives.
With the toolset provided, relevant historical or up-to-date business information from SAP, non-
SAP, and even external systems can be integrated, transformed, and consolidated in SAP BI.
The traditional solution for meeting such divergent goals is known as
data warehousing
.
A data warehouse is a separate application environment with a dedicated database that draws
on diverse data sources and is designed to support sophisticated query and analysis. Data ware-
housing with SAP BI is the basis for a comprehensive solution for converting data into valuable
information and, finally, knowledge regarding the enterprise that can be used for goal-oriented
actions. It is a comprehensive solution that includes a relational online analytical processing
(OLAP) engine, automated data extractor and population tools, a preconfigured metadata
repository, a user-friendly, front-end tool with powerful reporting and analysis facilities, and
an administrator's workbench to manage this whole environment. Additionally, SAP, being a
highly secure and auditable environment, is also a source of correct, clean, and reliable data, all
of which are major concerns for normal data warehousing projects.
