/Logo%202023%20final%20dunkelgrau.png?width=221&height=97&name=Logo%202023%20final%20dunkelgrau.png)
"Progress doesn't come from preserving the old, but from changing the existing."
(Unknown)
The year 2025 is drawing to a close and the most contemplative time of the year is just around the corner. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you sincerely for your trust and loyalty over the past months. We wish you a merry and peaceful Christmas season, relaxing days with your family, and health, happiness, and much success in the new year.
Following our tradition, this is also the perfect time to pause and reflect on the eventful past twelve months. In this year's review, we present the highlights of 2025 once again. Let yourself be inspired and join us in looking forward to the exciting topics we have in store for you in the coming year.
Popular articles
In retrospect, the year 2025 was marked by significant change. The paradigm shift in the SAP environment was particularly significant. The launch of SAP Business Data Cloud (SAP BDC) and the move away from traditional data warehouse system architectures toward the modern data lakehouse concept, set new standards. The direct result of this change is a whole new set of integration possibilities among products from a wide range of vendors: Databricks, Google, Snowflake and Microsoft. Consequently, integration scenarios and cross-platform data exchange also dominate the content of our most-read articles.
The list of top-performing articles is led by our SAP Business Data Cloud blog series. SAP Business Data Cloud paves the way for seamless integration between SAP and non-SAP platforms. Through the strategic integration of Databricks, Snowflake, Google and Microsoft, SAP is filling previous gaps in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). In addition, it enables a highly scalable data lakehouse architecture.
Users benefit from efficient zero-copy data exchange, the option for pro‑code development and unified management for structured as well as unstructured data. While SAP is opening up to third-party tools, existing investments in SAP Datasphere and BW remain protected. Together with SAP Analytics Cloud, these components form the core of SAP Business Data Cloud. Accordingly, this strategic realignment by SAP is the focus of our blog series.
The new paradigm clearly favors data federation over replication. This topic is also addressed with Seamless Planning in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC). The previously necessary extraction of data for planning purposes into SAC was often perceived as cumbersome. Seamless Planning enables a planning architecture that is deeply integrated with SAP Datasphere. The key advantage lies in direct data storage within Datasphere, which eliminates the need for time-consuming data replication and makes planning data centrally available in real time. This approach also allows access to the entire SAP Datasphere technology stack. Companies can thus seamlessly integrate complex ETL processes, SQL views, and external data sources into their planning workflows without having to forego familiar SAC features such as predictive scenarios or commenting.
Virtualization also plays a central role in S/4HANA and is therefore attracting great interest. Against this backdrop, our article “SAP Datasphere and SAP S/4HANA’s Virtual Data Model (VDM)” was particularly well received by readers. The seamless integration of the S/4HANA Virtual Data Model (VDM) into SAP Datasphere offers the decisive advantage that ABAP CDS-based metadata and semantic definitions are directly adopting, thus preserving the entire business context and embedded logic without any loss of information.
Features such as replication flows and semantic onboarding automatically generate data models, including all field definitions, associations and key figures, eliminating manual modeling and significantly reducing development time. This efficient transfer of semantically rich data structures also creates an ideal foundation for AI applications that benefit from detailed metadata.
Watch the recording of our Webinar:
"Bridging Business and Analytics: The Plug-and-Play Future of Data Platforms"
Trade fairs and events
Trade shows and events once again provided an important framework for professional exchange this year. In February, we gave a presentation on seamless planning at the BARC event. The seamless integration of SAP Analytics Cloud planning into SAP Datasphere enables real-time analysis without time-consuming data replication. In addition to optimized resource utilization, this approach enables the use of powerful Datasphere features such as transformation flows and SQL views.
At the DSAG Technology Days in Wiesbaden, we joined forces with Teoman Bingül, Head of SAP Center of Competence at GASAG Group, to present the advantages of SAP Datasphere and share our project experiences with participants. The introduction of SAP Datasphere has significantly improved data accessibility, enabling users to find relevant information more quickly and use it more effectively. At the same time, data exchange between departments has been made significantly easier, promoting cross-departmental collaboration and informed decision-making throughout the company.
At the DSAG Annual Congress in Bremen, we also demonstrated how NextTables is revolutionizing data maintenance in SAP Datasphere and Databricks by enabling business users to manage data independently. With NextTables business departments can create and control applications for master data, authorization, and planning management (such as ESG data collection) themselves.
This “business-first” approach minimizes dependence on IT. At the same time, processes are significantly accelerated thanks to intuitive operation, direct validation and the elimination of manual Excel consolidations. Since the solution integrates seamlessly into the existing system landscape and data is processed directly at the source (“single source of truth”), NextTables also ensures seamless data governance and data security without long waiting times.
In addition to in-person events, digital formats also played an important role throughout the year. At the TDWI Online Conference in October, our presentation, "SAP and Databricks: What Architecture Do I Need Today and in the Future?", addressed key architectural questions between classic SAP landscapes and modern data lakehouse approaches. In November, we followed up with our webinar “Bridging Business and Analytics: The Plug-and-Play Future of Data Platforms. Navigating between Databricks, SAP Business Data Cloud, Fabric & Dremio”, which focused on the strategic and technical significance of the data lakehouse approach as an architectural paradigm.
We assessed the strengths of various data platforms to outline ways to achieve a harmonious combination of tools and provided an outlook on SAP’s strategy for data analytics and business intelligence. Special attention was also paid to seamless interoperability. Using the example of the partnership between SAP and Databricks, we demonstrated how Delta Sharing is setting new standards for frictionless cross-system data exchange. Watch the recording of our webinar “Bridging Business and Analytics: The Plug-and-Play Future of Data Platforms” now.
Donations instead of gifts
Not everything this year revolved around technical topics: as part of our “Donations Instead of Gifts” campaign, we are once again supporting charitable organizations, as we have in previous years. It is a matter close to our hearts to show responsibility and make a contribution where help is urgently needed. This time, we are supporting ASB Wünschewagen Rhein-Main, which fulfills the last wishes of terminally ill patients, and the Greek child protection organization "To Chamogelo tou Paidiou" - “The Smile of the Child” from Thessaloniki, which helps children in need.
Happy holidays and a successful start to the new year
Thank you very much for your trust and cooperation this year. Your continued interest and valuable feedback encourage us to share relevant and exciting content with you in the year ahead.
We wish you a peaceful Christmas season, relaxing holidays, and a successful start to the new year 2026.
Bridging Business and Analytics: The Plug-and-Play Future of Data Platforms
