SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) represents a pivotal development in SAP’s data platform evolution – not just in architecture, but in how enterprise data is modelled, shared, and activated across the business.
Enterprise data volumes are growing at an extraordinary pace, yet much of that data remains untapped for real-time decision-making. At On Device Solutions, we support clients in navigating this evolving data landscape.
Here’s how SAP BDC is reshaping enterprise data strategy in 2026 and why it matters for those invested in SAP platforms.
A Centralised Foundation for Business Data
SAP Business Data Cloud introduces a harmonised data foundation built on a modern lakehouse architecture. It supports both structured and unstructured data, blending cost-efficient object storage with scalable compute – enabling analytics, planning, AI, and application development from a single platform.
BDC sits on SAP Business Technology Platform and integrates with cloud ERP, line-of-business solutions, and intelligent agents – positioning it at the centre of SAP’s broader data strategy. The platform also supports deployment across hybrid cloud environments and integrates with hyperscalers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
Data Products as the Core Model
The cornerstone of BDC is the data product concept. These are reusable, discoverable data assets that combine curated datasets with business semantics, metadata, and API-based access.
A data product in BDC is more than a dataset – it is a business-ready asset defined by four core qualities:
- It is semantically aligned and documented
- It can be discovered through cataloguing
- It is accessible via interfaces such as zero-copy delta sharing
- It is designed to support multiple consumption scenarios, including analytics, planning, AI, and application development
SAP-managed data products are available out of the box, covering areas such as finance, inventory, and workforce. Organisations can also define custom data products using internal or third-party sources. These can be deployed and governed through the Business Data Cloud Cockpit, enabling consistent lifecycle and access management.
Intelligent Applications Built on Trusted Data
BDC enables the deployment of intelligent applications that leverage data products as their foundation. These include analytical dashboards, planning tools, and low-code solutions – and will soon extend to pro-code and transactional applications.
Each intelligent application contains:
- Source data connections and predefined data products
- Semantic models and analytical views
- Dashboards and reports designed in SAP Analytics Cloud
Organisations can adapt these applications to fit local configurations by extending data models, adding custom fields, or integrating additional sources.
Interoperability Across the Data Ecosystem
SAP Business Data Cloud is built for openness. Through BDC Connect, it supports both embedded and federated integration with platforms such as Databricks, Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, and Google BigQuery.
Zero-copy delta sharing allows data to be accessed across platforms without replication. Catalogues on both sides – including Unity Catalog for Databricks – manage discoverability and control, enabling seamless bidirectional data exchange.
For brownfield use cases, where organisations already run third-party data warehouses, BDC offers options to connect without replacing existing systems. Greenfield deployments, on the other hand, benefit from embedded configurations provisioned directly within BDC.
Supporting SAP BW Modernisation
BDC also provides a strategic path forward for SAP BW customers. Organisations can bring existing BW systems (SAP BW 7.5 or BW/4HANA) into the BDC landscape through lift-and-shift models. Using the data product generator, BW models can be reused as data products and integrated into the Business Data Cloud architecture.
This allows customers to modernise their data layer while preserving existing investments and reducing migration risk.
Roadmap and Innovation Highlights
SAP has outlined a significant innovation pipeline for Business Data Cloud throughout 2026. Key developments include:
- Expansion of SAP-managed data products and intelligent applications across all business domains
- The launch of Data Product Studio – a central design-time tool for defining, extending, and governing data products
- Integration with the BW data product generator and extended support for lifecycle management
- Deeper AI enablement through agentic workflows and integration with SAP’s own AI platform components
- More regional data centres across all major hyperscalers to support enterprise readiness
- Broader support for third-party source systems and open data sharing standards
Why SAP Business Data Cloud Matters
SAP Business Data Cloud represents a strategic evolution of SAP’s data platform – offering a unified, governed, and open foundation for enterprise insight. For organisations running SAP Datasphere, SAP BW, or SAP Analytics Cloud, BDC offers a forward-compatible path that builds on existing capabilities without requiring full migration.
It is a platform that treats data not just as a resource, but as a product – curated, governed, and ready for use.
For organisations planning or executing a migration from SAP ECC to S/4HANA, SAP Business Data Cloud introduces an opportunity to modernise the data layer in parallel. While S/4HANA serves as the digital core for transactional processes, BDC complements it by providing a harmonised, governed foundation for analytics, planning, and AI.
We have previously explored key considerations for migrating from ECC to S/4HANA, and aligning that transition with a broader data strategy can help future-proof your SAP landscape.
To discuss your SAP data roadmap or explore SAP Business Data Cloud integration options, contact our SAP BDC experts.
