To reorganize a table the contents must be saved and then entered into the newly created table. This process is decisive for the total length of time the reorganization takes.
The exact procedure depends on the method used for data transport. The following methods or tools are available:

1. ORACLE export / ORACLE import
2. SAP unload / ORACLE SQL*Loader
3. SAP unload / SAP load
4. CREATE TABLE AS SELECT

In methods 1.-3. the data transport proceeds as follows: The data is first exported or unloaded from the table to be reorganized into a backup file. After reorganization the data is imported or loaded back into the table.
In the CREATE TABLE AS SELECT method the new table is created parallel to the old table and the contents of the table to be reorganized are copied into it. The old table is then deleted.

The length of time the reorganization (i.e. the data transport) takes is shortened significantly with the CREATE TABLE AS SELECT method in comparison to the others.