Datasphere and Power BI, best of both worlds! Part 1 

Integrating SAP Datasphere with Microsoft Power BI can be challenging, as each operates within its own ecosystem. However, combining Datasphere’s centralized data management with Power BI’s analytical tools can unlock powerful data analysis and visualization capabilities for your organization. This blog will guide you through the connection methods to bring Datasphere data into Power BI, helping you streamline data access and maximize the potential of both platforms for more insightful, data-driven decisions. 

Connection options 

To connect SAP Datasphere with Power BI, you have two main options: ODBC and OData. Both methods allow Power BI to access and analyze data from SAP Datasphere, but each has its strengths depending on your specific data needs, security requirements, and performance expectations. 

ODBC Connection

The ODBC connection method provides a direct connection between Power BI and SAP Datasphere by leveraging the SAP HANA ODBC driver. This option is ideal for users needing low-latency access to large, complex datasets, as it enables efficient data querying and supports more complex data structures. The ODBC driver is installed on your local system and communicates directly with Datasphere, bypassing the need for web-based APIs. Keep in mind that installing the ODBC driver may involve additional IT support. 

The ODBC connector in Power BI is able to extract data from both views and analytic models. An analytic model is automatically consumption enabled, however, if you want to consume a view, you have to select the ‘expose for consumption’ setting for each view separately. Alternatively, you can change your space settings to automatically expose all new views for consumption. When extracting data from an analytic model using import, the ODBC connector is not able to get data from associations in the model. Since this feature is not supported, it is advisable to extract the fact – and dimension view(s) and (re)create the data model in Power BI desktop. This requires you to extract your fact and dimension views separately. It is furthermore important to note that Power BI will only extract the technical field names, and hierarchies are not supported.  

OData Connection 

The OData connection option uses the Open Data Protocol, a web-based API standard, to link SAP Datasphere with Power BI. This method allows Power BI to access SAP Datasphere data via an OData service URL, which can be especially beneficial in cloud environments or for scenarios where regular data refreshes are needed. OData connections can often be simpler to set up, as they use a web-based API without needing additional drivers. 

There are two types of data you can retrieve with OData: Analytical Data and Relational Data. Analytical data consumes Analytical Models, whereas Relational Data retrieves Facts and Dimensions. The comparison of Analytical Data and Relational Data in relation to Power BI are the following: 

Key Advantages 

• Easy Setup: OData connections are configured via a URL link to the SAP Datasphere API, requiring no additional drivers. 

• Cloud-Friendly: OData’s web-based nature makes it ideal for cloud or hybrid environments, where network accessibility may vary. 

• Data Refresh Compatibility: Power BI natively supports scheduled refresh for OData sources, making it useful for reports requiring frequent updates. 

Considerations 

• Performance with Large Data Sets: OData may not perform as efficiently as ODBC when handling very large datasets, and it may require data modeling adjustments in Power BI to optimize performance. 

• OData is always importing data from Datapshere to Power BI. This means you have to govern your data in Power BI.  

In general, ODBC is preferable for high-performance, on-premises applications dealing with large datasets and complex queries, while OData is an easier-to-set-up, cloud-friendly option, ideal for lightweight data queries and reports requiring regular refreshes. 

Each method has its advantages, so selecting the right connection depends on your data needs and the environment in which Power BI and Datasphere will be used. 

Conclusion 

Connecting SAP Datasphere with Power BI via ODBC and OData expands your organization’s ability to analyze and visualize centralized data. The ODBC connection offers direct, reliable access and is ideal for complex, high-demand queries, while the OData method is more flexible and simpler to configure, especially in cloud environments with regular data refresh needs. 

Choosing between ODBC and OData depends on your specific data requirements, performance needs, and technical resources. By setting up these connections, you can unlock the combined power of Datasphere’s data management with Power BI’s visualization capabilities, creating a robust foundation for data-driven insights across your organization. 

Questions?

Contact Daphne Vos (daphne.vos@mccoy-partners.com) .