Snowflake and SAP Analytics Cloud are two of the most popular and powerful solutions for data management and analysis in the cloud. But how can you connect them live and leverage their full potential?
In this article, I will explain what Snowflake and SAP Analytics Cloud are, why they are such a powerful tandem, and how to get live connectivity between them with APOS Live Data Gateway.
What is Snowflake?
Snowflake is a cloud-based data platform designed for storing, processing, and analyzing large volumes of data efficiently. It supports various data types like JSON, XML, and Avro databases, and works with both batch and streaming data.
What makes Snowflake unique is its architecture, which separates storage, computation, and services. This separation allows each component to scale independently based on workload demands. Additionally, Snowflake utilizes micro-partitions, which are compressed, encrypted data chunks driven by metadata, enhancing data access and query optimization.
What is SAP Analytics Cloud?
SAP Analytics Cloud is a SAP’s flagship SAP Analytics solution with business intelligence, planning, and predictive analytics capabilities. It enables end-users to not only create and explore data visualizations, dashboards, and stories, but also to do ‘what-if’ analyses, forecasts, and simulations.
Another beautiful thing is that SAP Analytics Cloud can take in non-SAP data sources like SAP HANA, SAP BW, SAP S/4HANA, SAP SuccessFactors, Salesforce, Google BigQuery, and Snowflake – which we’ll talk more about in the next section.
Snowflake + SAC – A good match?
Snowflake and SAP Analytics Cloud complement each other seamlessly, making them an ideal combination for organizations seeking comprehensive data management and analytics solutions. Here’s why they are a perfect match:
- Versatility and Scalability: Snowflake provides an elastic and scalable platform capable of handling vast amounts and various types of data. This complements SAP Analytics Cloud’s integrated solution for data analysis and visualization, ensuring that organizations have the flexibility and capacity to manage their data effectively regardless of scale or complexity.
- Data Sharing and Predictive Analytics: Snowflake excels in enabling secure data sharing beyond organizational boundaries, while SAP Analytics Cloud offers robust capabilities in predictive analytics. By integrating the two, organizations can leverage Snowflake’s data sharing strengths alongside SAP Analytics Cloud’s predictive analytics features, empowering them to derive deeper insights and make more informed decisions.
- Unified Data View: By combining Snowflake and SAP Analytics Cloud, organizations can achieve a unified and comprehensive view of their data, regardless of its source or format. This integration enables organizations to consolidate disparate data sources and formats, providing a holistic perspective that facilitates better decision-making and strategic planning.
In essence, the combination of Snowflake and SAP Analytics Cloud empowers organizations to harness the full potential of their data, enabling them to drive innovation, optimize operations, and stay ahead in today’s competitive landscape.
Step-by-Step Guide to Connect Snowflake and SAP Analytics Cloud
Watch video below.
Step 1: Installing and configuring APOS Live Data Gateway
The first step in establishing the connection between Snowflake and SAP Analytics Cloud is to install and configure APOS Live Data Gateway. To begin, download the latest version of APOS Live Data Gateway from the official website. Once downloaded, follow the installation instructions provided by APOS to install the software on your system. Make sure to choose the appropriate installation options based on your system requirements.
NB: This software is not free, you will have to purchase it from the owner APOS Systems Inc.
Step 2: Launch APOS Live Data Gateway
After successful installation, launch APOS Live Data Gateway and proceed with the configuration process. The software will prompt you to enter your Snowflake and SAP Analytics Cloud credentials. Provide the necessary information to establish a secure connection between these platforms.
An Alternative Method: Integrating Base Systems (SAP ERP + Snowflake)
If you’re not connecting SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) with Snowflake, an alternative is to integrate your SAP ERP system directly with Snowflake using Snowflake’s SNP Glue Connector.
SNP’s solution combines SAP Certified SNP Glue and its Native Application to automate data streaming and merging for real-time availability and consumption. The SNP Glue ABAP add-on for SAP facilitates integration, ensuring reliable delta capture and fast in-memory data replication.
Configure data preparation efficiently with the SNP Glue Connector, which automatically generates Snowflake objects for each SAP object replicated by SNP Glue. This streamlines the process, allowing for immediate data consumption and cost-effective data processing.
Steps
- License SNP Glue through SNP.
- Install and configure the SNP Glue ABAP add-on for SAP.
- Deploy the SNP Glue Connector Native Application for immediate data consumption.
By using the SNP Glue Connector, organizations can seamlessly integrate SAP data into Snowflake, enabling streamlined data processing and consumption, particularly beneficial for SAC users typically working with SAP systems.
Want to learn more about this this connector? Feel free to take a look at this article from Snowflake.
Conclusion
We’ve been chatting about how cool and powerful Snowflake and SAP Analytics Cloud are when they work together.
It’s exciting stuff, but let’s be real – it can get a bit complex, especially if you’re just getting your feet wet or aiming to master these tools.
That’s exactly why I put together this easy-to-digest course: “Understanding the SAP BI Landscape in 60 Minutes”.
This course is tailored to help you grasp the essentials of SAP BI, a crucial aspect of working with SAP Analytics Cloud.
So, why Check Out This Course?
- Super Beginner-Friendly: Don’t worry if you’re starting from scratch or need a little refresher – this course has got your back.
- Quick and Packed with Info: We respect your time! In just an hour, you’ll walk away with a bunch of “Aha!” moments.
- Real Talk, No Jargons: I’ve kept it jargon-free and filled it with the practical stuff you will use.
- Boost Your Career Game: These new skills could just be the ticket to amp up your work game and impress your team.
The idea is to make the whole SAP BI thing less of a head-scratcher and more like you are solving a fun puzzle.
Whether you’re juggling numbers in Snowflake, creating dashboards in SAC, or just curious about data analytics, this course is like having a chat with a friend who can help you figure it all out.
So please go ahead and check it out.
