Unlocking the Potential of Core Data Services (CDS): Beyond the Framework

Introduction

In the modern business landscape, data-driven decision-making has become a cornerstone for organizational success. Core Data Services (CDS) have emerged as a game-changer in the SAP ecosystem, transforming the way data is modeled, accessed, and processed. While many view CDS as a technical framework for application development, its potential goes far beyond that. It is a transformative tool that enables businesses to harness the full potential of their data, paving the way for real-time insights and seamless integration between transactional and analytical systems.

At NTT Data, we recognize the strategic role of CDS views in the broader context of enterprise analytics and we are uniquely positioned to help businesses unlock its full potential.

Overview of CDS Views

CDS is a framework introduced by SAP to simplify and enhance data modeling. It allows developers to define data models declaratively, leveraging SQL-based syntax. CDS views serve as the foundation for many SAP solutions, bridging the gap between transactional and analytical data.

Key Features of CDS Views:

• Embedded Analytics: Integrates directly with SAP Fiori and S/4HANA embedded analytics.
• Reusable Data Models: Promotes consistency and efficiency across applications.
• Enhanced Performance: SAP CDS Views employ Code-to-Data approach where the computation from the application server is pushed down to the database. Hence, the CDS Views provide excellent performance, as they can directly access SAP data without needing additional server-side code or services. This reduces latency and makes it easier to optimize database performance.
• Annotations: Annotations allow developers to add metadata to the data model. Annotations provide additional information about the data, such as data types, field labels, and descriptions.
• Associations: Associations are a special type of join sometimes referred to as lazy join or join-on-demand. Unlike SQL joins, Associations are only executed when the fields from the associated entity are referred. An Association can define relationships between 2 entities such as a database table or another CDS view.
• Integration with SAP Analytics Cloud: Enables real-time reporting and analytics on transactional data.

2 Variants of CDS Views

To exploit the high performance of the in-memory database of SAP HANA, SAP initially introduced CDS exclusive to the SAP HANA Environment (HANA CDS). However, in the modern SAP landscape, CDS is now enabled in SAP NetWeaver Application Server (AS) ABAP as well (ABAP CDS).

Hence, currently there are 2 variants of SAP CDS views available: ABAP CDS views and native HANA CDS views. While both share a common goal of enhancing data modeling, they serve different purposes and operate in distinct environments.

1. ABAP CDS Views

• Execution Layer: Operates on the ABAP stack.
• Environment: Used in SAP NetWeaver, S/4HANA, and SAP Business Suite.
• Application Server: Provided by SAP NetWeaver ABAP
• Use Cases:

– Embedded analytics in S/4HANA. (Previously called HANA Live (CLVs)

– Integration with Fiori applications.

– Data modeling for Embedded analytics, Analysis for Office (AFO) and SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) reporting

– Data Extraction from S/4HANA for external consumption

• Advantages:

– Seamlessly integrates with ABAP-based applications.

– Supports annotations for UI, analytics, and authorization.

– No need to activate any BI content.

2. Native HANA CDS Views

• Execution Layer: Operates directly on the SAP HANA database.
• Environment: Used in native SAP HANA applications.
• Application Server: Provided by SAP HANA XS/XSA application server.
• Use Cases:

– High-performance analytics.

– Data modeling for external BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).

– Complex transformations and aggregations.

• Advantages:

– Fully utilizes HANA’s in-memory computing capabilities.

– Offers advanced SQL features and tighter integration with HANA-native tools.

Different Components of CDS Views

CDS views are more than just database entities; they are enriched with components that enhance their functionality and adaptability.

1. Annotations

Annotations are metadata used to define the behavior and properties of CDS views. They play a critical role in:

• Defining user interfaces (e.g., SAP Fiori).
• Specifying analytical properties (e.g., aggregations, dimensions, measures).
• Setting authorization checks for secure data access.
• Extraction of data for external consumption using Datasphere

2. Associations

Associations establish relationships between entities in CDS views, similar to joins in SQL. However, associations are effectively join-on-demand, meaning that joins are only executed when fields from the associated entity are explicitly referred to in a query. This approach:

• Simplifies navigation between related data sets.
• Improves performance by avoiding unnecessary joins.
• Enables efficient querying and data retrieval.

3. Extensions

Extensions allow developers to enhance standard CDS views without modifying the original definitions. This promotes:

• Customization without compromising upgradeability.
• Flexibility to adapt standard models to specific business requirements.

CDS Views and S/4HANA Cloud: What’s Changing?

The transition to S/4HANA Cloud has brought significant changes to how CDS views are utilized:

• Embedded Analytics: CDS views are now central to S/4HANA’s embedded analytics, enabling real-time insights directly within the application.
• Standardized Models: SAP delivers pre-built CDS views for common business scenarios, reducing development time and effort.
• Cloud Integration: SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) integrates with CDS views and delivers real time data analytics to users. CDS views can be exposed as OData services, facilitating seamless integration with various cloud-based tools.
• Performance Optimization: Enhanced capabilities in S/4HANA Cloud ensure that CDS views leverage in-memory processing to deliver faster and more accurate results.

How NTT Data Can Help

At NTT Data, we go beyond implementation to ensure that businesses extract maximum value from CDS views. Our approach includes:

1. Strategic Advisory:

• Identifying key use cases for CDS views within your organization.
• Aligning analytics strategies with business objectives.

2. Implementation Expertise:

• Developing custom CDS views tailored to the unique needs of business.
• Following Agile methodology with Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Approach.
• Enhancing standard SAP-delivered CDS views to fit specific requirements.

3. Performance Optimization:

• Fine-tuning CDS views for optimal performance.
• Leveraging best practices to maximize HANA’s in-memory capabilities.

4. Training and Enablement:

• Empowering teams with the knowledge to create and manage CDS views.
• Providing Foundation document, Design principles and Best Practices documents
• Conducting workshops and hands-on training sessions.

5. Ongoing AMS Support:

• Ensuring that your CDS views remain up-to-date with evolving business needs with knowledgeable AMS team.
• Monitoring performance and addressing any issues proactively.

Conclusion

Core Data Services are not just a framework; they are a gateway to transforming how organizations access, analyze, and act on data. By leveraging the power of CDS views, businesses can unlock real-time insights, streamline operations, and drive innovation.

With NTT Data’s expertise, your organization can harness the full potential of CDS, positioning you for success in a data-driven world.

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