Agile Data Modeling with SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views for Faster Project Delivery
Posted on August 30, 2025 by Laeeq Siddique
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced corporate world, SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views are essential tools for businesses needing agile and efficient data modeling. Traditional data warehousing methods, which sometimes have long development cycles and complicated ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, might make it take longer for insights to get to decision-makers.
This is where SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views come in and change the gam Learn more about SAP BW on Wikipedia SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views change the way we represent data by letting us access external data sources more quickly, flexibly, and easily without having to develop Info Objects or wait for long data activation processes.
We at Cremencing.com are experts in SAP Custom Development. We help organizations use this cutting-edge technology to speed up SAP BW projects and get closer to their business goals.
This blog will talk about what SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views are, what they can do for you, how they are different from old methods, some real-world examples of how they are used, and how Cremencing can help you use this technology.
What Are SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views in Agile Data Modeling?
SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views are virtual data models in the SAP Business Warehouse (BW) environment that let you access data from outside sources like database tables, views, or BW DataSources directly. Unlike regular ODS (Operational Data Store) objects, Open ODS Views do not store data persistently, which means they provide a virtual layer for on-the-fly data access.
Consequently, this method does away with the long ETL procedure and data activation phases, which speeds up prototyping and cuts down on the time it takes to create and test.
Key characteristics of Open ODS Views include:
No need for InfoObjects: They take fields from the source system directly, and metadata automatically determines the data kinds and lengths.
Virtual or meta-objects: They do not store data, so changes and tests can be done quickly without impacting storage.
Access to data in real time: Data is collected and changed while a query is running.
Integration capabilities: You can use it with SAP BW master and transactional data in queries.
Flexibility: Can be used in side-car deployment situations on BW on HANA, therefore it can work with current SAP BW landscapes.
Why You Need Agile Data Modelling
Long development cycles are common in traditional SAP BW projects. Specifically, data extraction, loading, transforming, and activation all take a significant amount of time. As a result, business users often face delays before testing changes. Business customers sometimes have to wait until the next day to test changes, which makes things take longer and makes feedback loops slower.
This slowness can be summed up as:
- Creating and keeping up with complex InfoObjects
- Long ETL and data activation processes
- Problems with data availability have caused multiple testing cycles to be postponed.
- People think that BW is slow because of technical overhead.
Fortunately, Agile data modelling helps with these problems by encouraging:
- Rapid prototyping without having to define InfoObjects ahead of time.
- On-the-fly data consumption that reduces wait times.
- Iterative development which allows for frequent validation and business feedback.
- Reduced technical complexity, thereby improving collaboration between technical and business teams.
Less complicated technology makes it easier for technical and business teams to work together. SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views are a good example of this agile attitude because they get rid of a lot of old problems.
Benefits of SAP BW Open ODS
Faster Development and Testing Cycles
Open Ms–ODS Views allow developers visibility into models Wi–without waiting for data activation. As a result this speeds up the whole development process:
- Make a prototype and test it in hours instead of days.
- Let business users test logic on the same day that changes are made.
- More rounds of testing lead to higher quality and fewer problems after going live.
Reduced Data Storage and Maintenance
- There is no need to store duplicate data because Open ODS Views do not keep data.
- Costs for hardware and storage are lower.
- Managing large amounts of data is less work for the administration.
Flexibility and Integration
Open ODS Views can use data from many different places, such as: Native database tables and views.
- SAP BW DataSources.
- SAP HANA Smart Data Access connects to external databases.
- This flexibility makes it possible to incorporate external and internal SAP data sources in hybrid settings without any problems.
Enhanced Business Agility
- Quickly adapt to changing business needs.
- It’s easier to deal with changes in scope without having to do a lot of extra work.
- Support for sidecar BW on HANA deployments, allowing enterprises to innovate without interrupting existing systems.
Real-World Use Case: Enterprise Procurement Management
Open ODS Views make source system tables available to BW directly in a procurement environment, allowing for quick prototyping. Developers may easily make views that show procurement transactions and master data. This lets business users perform tests and access information without having to wait for ETL and activation.
As a result:
- Problems are being found faster.
- Company decisions are made more quickly.
- Better teamwork between IT and business.
How Open ODS Views Differ from Traditional ODS
| Feature | Traditional ODS | Open ODS Views |
| Data Storage | Persistent data storage | Virtual; no data stored |
| InfoObject Requirement | Mandatory | Not required |
| ETL Process | Required | Eliminated |
| Data Activation | Time-consuming | Not needed |
| Testing Cycle Speed | Slow due to data loads | Fast, real-time data access |
| Data Integration | Limited to BW objects | Combines external and BW data |
| Flexibility | Lower | High, supports hybrid scenarios |
Technical Overview:
How to Create an SAP BW Open ODS
Using BW Modeling Tools in Eclipse or HANA Studio:
- Select New Open ODS View.
- Choose your source type (database table, view, or DataSource).
- Automatically import fields with metadata.
- Map fields if needed (without creating InfoObjects).
- Activate the view for immediate use in queries and transformations.
This simplicity supports faster turnaround from development to validation.
Common Questions Around Open ODS Views
To assist you further, we answer some frequently asked questions later in this blog to deepen your understanding.
Resources & External Links
- SAP Help Portal – Open ODS Views
- SAP Community Blog on Open ODS Views
- Performance Insights on Open ODS Views
- SAP BW on HANA Open ODS View Tutorial
Cremencing’s SAP Custom Development Services
We offer skilled SAP Custom Development services at Cremencing.com to make SAP BW solutions fit your business demands perfectly.
We assist businesses:
- Use agile modelling strategies to speed up the delivery of your SAP BW project.
- Use Open ODS Views to get to data in real time.
- Improve the performance of SAP BW on HANA landscapes.
- Easily control hybrid SAP environments.
Discover more about our SAP Custom Development Services.
Summary
SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views change the way data is modelled by letting you use data from many sources in a virtual, agile, and quicker way. They eliminate several traditional bottlenecks like as ETL delays, InfoObject maintenance, and extended activation times, enabling businesses to respond promptly to changing requirements and expedite project delivery.
Being able to swiftly create prototypes and easily connect to external data makes businesses more flexible and helps IT and business teams work together better. Open ODS Views can work with hybrid deployment models, which lets businesses come up with new ideas while still using their current SAP landscapes.
For businesses wishing to exploit SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views efficiently, engaging with an experienced SAP custom development supplier is important. At Cremencing.com, we have a lot of experience with SAP and are dedicated to coming up with new ideas through custom development solutions.
Call to Action
Are you ready to speed up your SAP BW initiatives with flexible, tailored solutions? We at Cremencing Solution are experts in SAP Custom Development that uses SAP BW 7.4 Open ODS Views to provide outcomes that are faster, more flexible, and more powerful. Get in touch with us today to talk about how we can change your SAP landscape and help your business grow.
Contact Cremencing for SAP Custom Development
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is an Open ODS View in SAP BW?
An Open ODS View is a virtual data model that provides direct access to external data sources without the need for InfoObjects or traditional ETL processes, enabling agile data modeling.
Q2: What is Agile Data Modeling?
Agile Data Modeling is a flexible, iterative approach to data design that allows rapid prototyping and frequent adjustments to meet changing business needs.
Q3: What is the meaning of ODS in SAP?
ODS stands for Operational Data Store, a storage area used to collect and manage detailed transactional data for reporting.
Q4: Which SAP BW objects can be used in Open ODS View associations?
Open ODS Views can be associated with Composite Providers, Advanced DSOs, and other Open ODS Views to build integrated models.
Q5: What are ODP and ODQ in SAP BW?
ODP (Operational Data Provisioning) is a framework for data extraction and replication; ODQ (Operational Data Queue) manages the data delivery queue within ODP.