Interview: Operational Analytics for ERP (OA4ERP)


The application company Rewe apparently does well with PBS Nearline Analytic Infrastructure (NAI) when it comes to performing various analyses directly from SAP FI, for example. Why then still OA4ERP?
Dagmar Fischer: With this PBS solution, which comes with a column-based IBM DB2 BLU database and an analysis tool package, the modeling effort is completely eliminated.
The special feature, however, is that the OA4ERP complete package provides concrete application templates that can be used immediately. For example, for cost analyses or for cost planning or for product analyses.
With the FI template, for example, a wide-ranging functionality for all essential FI or controlling questions or for sophisticated data analyses is supplied, which can be used immediately.
NAI also has predefined functions, but these relate to infrastructure processes for the operation of a nearline analytic infrastructure. OA4ERP is based on PBS NAI.
What advantages does the OA4ERP solution offer SAP users in general?
Fishermen: One of the main benefits is the faster evaluation of operational ERP data without extensive modeling and without strong programming skills.
The analysis can be performed either intuitively via a web-based interface or in the SAP GUI. After a short training period, departments can perform analyses on their own via mouse clicks with IBM Cognos, SPSS or TM1.
As with NAI, the use of OA4ERP does not burden the productive ERP systems and can be kept lean. Here it is important that with OA4ERP not only database data is used for analysis purposes, but also archive or external data.
Which SAP user groups is OA4ERP aimed at? To large companies or rather to medium-sized companies?
Fishermen: To the upper midmarket as well as to large companies that are also somewhat more broadly positioned in terms of SAP basis. There are no restrictions with regard to industries.
PBS highlights that OA4ERP facilitates the transition to S/4 Hana. What's that all about?
Fishermen: When moving from Business Suite to S/4 Hana, it is recommended to minimize the database. Archiving data serves as a proven means for this.
However, possibilities must be created to access this archive data. On the subject of archiving, including access to archive data, PBS has a recognized broad and proven range of solutions.
This data access is guaranteed via the PBS Archive Add-ons, via PBS Nearline Analytic Infrastructure or via OA4ERP including a fast database.
What steps or project steps are necessary to implement or use OA4ERP?
Fishermen: On the one hand, the PBS package contains all components required to import Abap components. On the other hand, software components are provided to ensure the connection to the SAP system.
If you like, this is a complete connection interface. Furthermore, a database is provided. In the case of PBS NAI, these are the SAP IQ or IBM DB2 Blu databases.
In the case of OA4ERP, IBM DB2 Blu is currently one of the possible options. In addition, OA4ERP requires appropriate hardware on which the database or corresponding analysis components (Cognos, SPSS) are installed. Whereby predefined scripts are available for the package installation.
The installation of the hardware and installation of the OA4ERP package, including connection to an SAP system, takes about one day. Afterwards, the OA4ERP data can be transferred from the productive SAP system and you can start with Operational Analytics for ERP. Of course, PBS offers support during the installation.