In a business world where data creates competitive advantage, managing it effectively has become key to success. SAP Datasphere, a leader in data integration and analysis, does not rest on its laurels and continues to evolve to meet organisations’ growing requirements. The August update brought a number of significant improvements that could meaningfully change how organisations manage, analyse and use their data. Let us take a closer look at three key features: Compatibility Contracts, Workload Management and Space Remapping on Import.
1. Compatibility Contracts - stability on demand
Imagine the following situation: a company grows, teams expand, and with them the number of data views multiplies. How can you ensure that a change in one place does not trigger a domino effect across the whole organisation? This is where compatibility contracts come in.
What are they?
In short, compatibility contracts allow a view to be marked as “Released”. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But the detail matters. Once a view is “Released”, SAP Datasphere guarantees that its structure will remain unchanged until it is replaced by a new version.
Why does this matter?
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Rock-solid certainty: teams can build solutions on top of released views knowing the ground will not shift beneath them.
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Clear communication: the status of a view is a clear signal to the whole organisation - “you can rely on this”.
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Change under control: updating a view becomes a process, not a surprise. It is like an advance notice of a timetable change - everyone knows what will change and when.
How does this work in practice?
Imagine we have a key customer data view. We mark it as “Released”. Now, when the marketing department wants to add a new field with customer preferences, they cannot simply modify the existing view. Instead:
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They create a new version of the view with the additional data.
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They mark it as “Released”.
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The old view is marked as deprecated.
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Teams have time to migrate to the new version.
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After a transition period, the old view can be retired.
It is rather like moving house - you first prepare the new flat, then you move in, and only at the end do you hand over the keys to the old one.
What is worth remembering?
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Not everything needs to be “Released” - use this feature judiciously.
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Document, document, document - your future self will thank you.
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Plan ahead - a well thought-out structure is the foundation.
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Communication is key - keep teams informed about changes.
2. Workload Management - your personal conductor of the data orchestra
In a world where everyone wants to analyse data here and now, efficient management of system workload is becoming an art form. SAP Datasphere introduces new tools that make you the conductor of the data orchestra.
What’s new?
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Command centre: a new, dedicated page for workload management appears in the System and Configuration section. It is like a captain’s cockpit - everything within reach.
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Space prioritisation: you can now decide which spaces are VIPs and which can wait in the queue.
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Statement limits: for each space you can set limits, much like a parent setting pocket money - so no one spends everything at once.
Why does this change the rules of the game?
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Performance under control: critical processes always get the green light.
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Costs under scrutiny: statement limits are like a taxi meter - you know how far you have “travelled”.
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Flexibility on demand: need to change priorities quickly? No problem.
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Transparency: one glance at the dashboard and you know what is happening in the system.
How to make the most of it?
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Strategic prioritisation: treat it like a board game - hand out priority tokens wisely.
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Regular reviews: run a “technical review” of your settings every quarter.
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Team education: make sure your administrators know the new tools.
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Monitoring and alerts: set up “sensors” that will alert you when something goes wrong.
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Scenario testing: play in the sandbox before deploying changes to production.
3. Space Remapping on Import - juggling data becomes simpler
Imagine being able to move furniture between rooms without leaving the house. That is exactly how the new Space Remapping on Import feature works in SAP Datasphere.
What kind of magic is this?
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Flexible mapping: you can now decide where your content lands, regardless of the original space names.
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Precise targeting: you choose “Space Mapping” for each space in the package - like addressing parcels before shipping.
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The shared objects condition: the only catch - all shared objects must be in the same package. It is like the rule that all cake ingredients must be in the same basket.
What does this mean in practice?
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Freedom of organisation: import data where you need it, not where someone once decided it should go.
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Easy testing: want to test a new configuration? Import the same package into a different space.
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Internal moves: moving data between spaces within one environment becomes remarkably simple.
How to use this wisely?
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Plan ahead: before importing, sketch a map of your “data flat”.
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Document diligently: record what you import and where - your future self will thank you.
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Test on a small scale: before shifting a mountain of data, practise on a hillock.
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Watch dependencies: remember the shared objects condition - it is like a jigsaw puzzle, every piece must fit.
SNOK’s role in leveraging the new SAP Datasphere features
In light of these innovative changes in SAP Datasphere, SNOK’s role as an expert in data integration and analysis takes on even greater significance. Our deep knowledge of the SAP ecosystem allows us not only to implement these new capabilities, but also to maximise their potential in our clients’ specific business scenarios.
How can SNOK help?
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Strategic advisory: we help companies develop a strategy for using Compatibility Contracts, ensuring the stability of critical data views while retaining flexibility where it is needed.
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Performance optimisation: thanks to the new Workload Management tools, SNOK’s experts can precisely tune the performance of SAP Datasphere systems, ensuring optimal resource allocation for key business processes.
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Efficient data migration: leveraging the new Space Remapping on Import capabilities, SNOK can design and carry out complex data migrations, minimising downtime and maximising data consistency.
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Training and support: we offer comprehensive training for our clients’ IT teams, helping them make full use of the potential of the new SAP Datasphere features.
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Continuous optimisation: our services do not end at deployment. SNOK offers ongoing support and optimisation, ensuring that our clients’ SAP Datasphere systems always run at peak performance.
Summary
The August SAP Datasphere update is not just a set of new features - it is new business possibilities. Compatibility Contracts provide stability and predictability. Improved workload management enables precise control over performance. And flexible import opens up new horizons in data organisation.
Together, these innovations create a solid foundation for companies that want not only to survive, but to thrive in the digital era. And with support from experts such as SNOK, fully harnessing these capabilities becomes not only possible, but readily achievable.
Let us remember - in the world of data, it is not about how much you have, but how wisely you use it. With the new SAP Datasphere tools and SNOK’s support, your organisation is ready to reach new heights in business analytics.