Overview of the Architecture of SAP NetWeaver BI 

The figure below shows a simplified view of the architecture of a complete BI solution with SAP NetWeaver BI:

SAP NetWeaver BI can connect any data sources using various interfaces that are aligned with the origin and format of the data.

This makes it possible to load the data into the entry layer, the Persistent Staging Area. From there, one or more layers of the data warehousing architecture prepare the data so it can be used for a specific purpose and stores it in InfoProviders. During this process, master data enriches the data models by delivering information such as texts, attributes, and hierarchies.

While data can be replicated from the source to the SAP NetWeaver BI system, it is also possible to access the source data directly from the SAP NetWeaver BI system using VirtualProviders.

The analytic engine provides methods and services for analysis and planning as well as generic services such as caching and security.

You can use the planning modeler to define models that allow data to be entered and changed in the scope of business planning.

You can use the BEx Query Designer to generate views of the InfoProvider data that are optimized for analysis or planning purposes. These views are called queries and form the basis for analysis, planning, and reporting.

Metadata and documents help to document data and objects in SAP NetWeaver BI.

You can define the display of the query data using the tools of the Business Explorer Suite (BEx). The tools support the creation of Web-based and Microsoft Excel-based applications for analysis, planning, and reporting.

You can use the SAP NetWeaver Visual Composer to create Web-based analytical applications. This enables you to provide users with the data from the SAP NetWeaver BI system together with data from other systems in composite applications.

You can use information broadcasting to broadcast the BI applications you created using the BEx tools by e-mail or to the SAP NetWeaver portal. You can also integrate content from BI into the SAP NetWeaver portal using roles or iViews.

SAP NetWeaver BI has an open architecture. This allows the integration of external, non-SAP sources, the broadcasting of BI data to downstream systems, and the moving of data to near-line storages to decrease the volume of data in InfoProviders. Third-party tools for analysis and reporting can also be connected using the open analysis interfaces (ODBO, XMLA).

The SAP NetWeaver BI Accelerator improves the performance of queries when reading data from InfoCubes. It can be delivered as an appliance that is preconfigured to partner hardware.