Clarification on Using BW DataSources in Datasphere Migration

[#1]

Hello SAP Team,

We are currently migrating our BW data flows to SAP Datasphere.

During this migration, we have encountered a challenge in identifying appropriate CDS views for certain objects. Some of the required fields are custom fields that were previously used in BW DSOs, and for these cases we are currently relying on BW DataSources (For Example: 0HR_PA_0, 0HR_PA_1, 0HRPOSITION_ATTR and 0EC_PCA_1). 

Can we use these Datasources or do we need to create CDS views ? Which one is preferable ?

However, we are unable to identify equivalent CDS views or the corresponding underlying tables for some of these fields.

Could you please confirm whether using BW DataSources in such scenarios is considered a recommended or acceptable best practice when equivalent CDS views are not available?

Additionally, if it is acceptable to use BW DataSources in these cases, could you also confirm whether the same approach can be applied consistently across other functional modules where similar limitations exist?

We would appreciate your guidance on this matter.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Regards,
Radhakrushna

[Martin_Kuma]

Hi Radhakrushna, 

yes, HCM and CDS views is a gap. HCM extractors are a bit more complex. FI/CO depends. The question is rather from life-cycle/architecture perspective. Will you replace your HCM or FI/CO system in the near future? 

For HCM -> yes, BW Datasource would be the solution for now, go for ODP. Easy and working well with Init/Delta if Replication Flow is used. ABAP connection. 

For FI/CO -> depends. ACDOCA and compatibility views in S/4 allow to migrate quite a lot 1:1. 0EC_PCA_1 is however not really valid example :). But will you replace your FI/CO ECC with S/4? And if yes, S/4 PCE, or on-prem? 

And do not forget custom development, user-exits in extractors. These may be challenging to implement into CDS views. 

I would go for existing extractors. Migrate the reporting to DSP / SAC and have the users up and running there in DSP/SAC. Usually migrations of ECCs are postponed anyway, so that leaves time to migrate the extraction part later. Dependent on the new system (HCM to SF f.e. will not help to have CDS views, but FI/CO to S/4 would). 

Cheers, Martin