Why improved SAP HANA SPS 08 features will benefit SAP
Must-know: SAP AG's 2Q14 earnings review (Part 3 of 12)
SAP HANA improves and has new features
SAP HANA (SAP) stands for “High-Performance Analytic Appliance.” It’s an in-memory database that launched in 2010. Riding on its success and popularity, there have been seven major releases of SAP HANA. In 2Q14, the company reported that it has ~3,600 HANA customers. Approximately 1,200 customers are using SAP Business Suite on HANA.
Its success as a leading technology platform can be gauged from the fact that more than 1,500 startup companies are building applications on SAP HANA.
Positive news about SAP will benefit exchange-traded funds (or ETFs) like the iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. Information Technology ETF (AXIT) and the ISE Cloud Computing Index Fund (SKYY). These ETFs have significant exposure to the company.
The previous chart shows the SAP HANA maintenance stack. It was introduced by SAP HANA Datacenter Service Point to provide guidance to the customers regarding when revision required. It’s important to note the following points about the maintenance stack:
It can be thought of as a decision gateway that makes it possible to keep an older SPS running three months longer (line from one to two)
Only major bugs are fixed during this time. This is targeted for customers that are running SAP Business Suite, SAP NetWeaver BW, or Data Marts—powered by SAP HANA in production.
The SAP HANA Datacenter Service Point serves as a landing spot. Customers have to update it for the revised version.
SAP HANA accelerates infrastructure applications
SAP HANA SPS 08 offers the option of including Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHT) and Intel Ivy Bridge processor-based systems (INTC). It provides support for backup and recovery solutions from multiple vendors. It accelerates the adoption of infrastructure applications and the integration of third party applications into customers’ IT environments.
Its expanded and certified cloud service provider network now consists of 20 certified partners to support solutions. Third party solutions like security providers, test data preparation providers, and geospatial solutions like ESRI are now integrated with SAP HANA.
Enables innovation
SAP HANA enables innovation. Algorithms can be created and run directly in SAP HANA. It adds massive performance gains and removes the complexity of data redundancy and data movement.
SAP HANA simplifies application development and system management
“SAP River’s” availability under the early adoption program simplifies the development. It also simplifies the deployment applications that are based on SAP HANA.
Through its expanded integration framework and third party vendors, SAPA HANA SPS 08 is a platform that’s suited for many applications.
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