Delta - efficient data extraction at the push of a button

Delta – efficient data extraction at the push of a button

For comprehensive analyses of SAP® data, data extraction alone can often take up several hours or even days. However, those who regularly generate the same reports can save a lot of time by using delta data extraction. Here we explain what this technology entails and how dab users can use it.

(Not only) A Must for Continuous Monitoring

Analyses should affect the performance of the ERP system to a minimum. However, the extraction of larger SAP tables in particular can lead to disruptive delays in operation. 

SAP tables whose extraction is particularly resource-intensive:

• Double Payments
• Master Data Changes
• Sales Price & Conditions Analysis
• GL Entry Testing

This can turn into a problem for recurring analyses such as those performed in Continuous Monitoring. Here, the delta download can reduce the amount of data to be extracted to a minimum. If you want to track payments without business partners or payments to critical countries on a regular basis without the delta option, you would have to extract the full SAP tables for each analysis, even though only a small percentage of the data records may have changed from one month to the next. With the delta download, you extract only the difference in the data – which significantly speeds up the extraction process.

Challenges of manual delta extraction

However, many analysis applications do not support delta extraction as a standard feature. While manual programming of such extraction logic is possible, it requires know-how and cannot be implemented “just like that”. This is because for the correct data to be recognized as a difference, the system must detect four types of changes: 

• New data records added (e.g., addition of new documents or entries in change tables)
• Moved data records (e.g., moving a transaction row from the open items table to the cleared items table)
• Changed data records (e.g. editing existing documents or master data)
• Deleted data records (e.g. deletion of sales documents)

Different logics need to be programmed, depending on these use cases. A universally valid extraction logic does not exist.

Another complicating factor is that some data records do not contain time stamps and their chronological classification must be determined by checking related SAP tables. Those who do not know exactly what to do here, run the risk of including errors in the logic. This is particularly concerning, as the inconsistencies are not noticeable in further processing and the end user would not immediately recognize the falsified analysis results.

dab and Delta: The right logic at the push of a button

In the past, we at dab have developed individual delta logics for our customers on request, so that users did not have to work out the extraction logic themselves. However, the time and cost required for this is relatively high.

Now, customers benefit from delta extraction at the push of a button. For dab Nexus, we offer delta download as an integrated add-on package. You can activate the function with just a few clicks, and without having to acquire in-depth SAP know-how yourself. The delta package feature is one of the simplest, most effective measures to reduce data extraction time and speed up analysis processes – all that without compromising the quality of the results.