Exploring the Future of Data Engineering with SAP Business Data Cloud
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses are constantly seeking innovative solutions to enhance their data management and analytics capabilities. On February 13, 2025, SAP launched the Business Data Cloud (BDC), a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product designed to provide a unified platform for data and AI. According to SAP BDC is a comprehensive platform revolutionizing the way organizations handle data and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. In this blog post, I will delve into the key highlights of SAP Business Data Cloud and its collaboration with Databricks.
Introduction to SAP Business Data Cloud
SAP BDC combines several powerful components, including Datasphere, SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), SAP BW, Databricks, and Joule (AI), to offer a comprehensive solution for data and AI needs. This integration offers AI capabilities, data management, and application support, making it ideal for businesses looking to fully utilize their data.
Key Features of SAP Business Data Cloud
The SAP Business Data Cloud is built to address a wide range of data and AI requirements. Some of its key features include:
- Comprehensive Data and AI Platform: BDC integrates various SAP and third-party data sources, providing a seamless flow from raw data to insightful analytics and AI applications.
- Insight Apps: These ready-made SaaS products offer out-of-the-box solutions for data and AI needs, enabling businesses to quickly deploy and benefit from advanced analytics.
- Custom Build Scenarios: BDC supports custom solutions, allowing organizations to combine SAP and third-party data to create tailored analytics and AI applications. It is also possible to copy Insight Apps components and to enhance copied functionalities with custom development.
The Role of SAP Databricks
A key feature of BDC is its integration with SAP Databricks. This collaboration brings Databricks’ powerful AI and machine learning (ML) functionalities to the SAP ecosystem, enabling businesses to leverage advanced analytics and AI capabilities within a single platform.
Benefits and Considerations for SAP BDC
The SAP Business Data Cloud offers several advantages that make it a compelling choice for businesses:
- Single SaaS Platform for Analytics, AI, and ML: BDC provides a unified platform that integrates various SAP and third-party data sources, enabling seamless data management and advanced analytics.
- SAP Databricks AI/ML Functionalities: The integration with Databricks brings powerful AI and machine learning capabilities to the SAP ecosystem, enhancing the platform’s analytical capabilities.
- Insights Apps: BDC includes ready-made SaaS products that offer out-of-the-box solutions for data and AI use cases, allowing businesses to quickly deploy and benefit from advanced analytics.
- Tight Integration to Business Processes: BDC is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing business processes, ensuring that data analysis and AI applications are closely aligned with SAP business processes.
While the SAP Business Data Cloud offers numerous benefits, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- A New Product – What is the maturity?: As a new product, businesses should evaluate the maturity of BDC for their respective use cases and consider any potential challenges during the implementation phase.
- SAP Joule dependency – how to integrate into your overall architecture? Joule is yet another co-pilot AI interface to your stack. You have to make sure that for each use case there is well thought through user experience either through Joule or some other co-pilot integrating with Joule that is in line with your overall architecture e.g. MS co-pilot.
- All in SAP or Use Both SAP BDC and Other Non-SAP Tools?: Organizations should still consider whether it makes sense to fully commit to the SAP ecosystem or to use a combination of SAP BDC and other non-SAP tools to meet their data and AI needs.
What to expect?
The SAP Business Data Cloud represents a significant leap forward in the realm of data engineering and AI. By combining the strengths of SAP’s data management tools with Databricks’ AI/ML capabilities, BDC offers a platform for businesses to enhance their data analytics and AI applications. As organizations continue to navigate the complexities of the digital age, solutions like BDC will play a crucial role in driving innovation and success.
–Juuso Maijala, CEO & Founder
At Etlia Data Engineering we have a unique combination of expertise in both SAP and Databricks to support your business AI transformation. Want to know more? Book a meeting with us and let’s talk about how we can help your business to leverage SAP Business Data Cloud with Databricks!
