SAP Business One on HANA vs SQL
The main difference between SAP Business One SQL and SAP Business One HANA is the database technology. The SQL version is based on an old (approx. 60 years) disk storage technology using a related database. No physical moving parts are used to retrieve the data from SAP Business One HANA, instead, the data is loaded in the memory of the server.
Following we answer a few frequently asked questions regarding the comparison between SAP Business One SQL and SAP Business One HANA:
Is speed and processing power the only differences between SAP SQL & SAP HANA?
The increased speed of SAP Business One HANA effectively supports the applications and functions that consume a lot of processing power. Functions that are available on HANA cannot be made available on the MS-SQL or any other old technology of disk-based databases.
Is HANA stable enough for a new technology?
SAP Hana is not a new technology. It was released in 2010 and the technology was ported to the SAP Business One application in 2012. There are now more than 16,300 HANA customers worldwide.
I am planning to have an on-premise server but I heard that I will need a very high specification server. Is the HANA server very expensive?
SAP Business One on HANA is an affordable solution and does not require any supercomputer to run. Although, HANA Server needs more RAM Memory and hence, costs slightly more than the SQL Server.
Why use HANA for reporting when I can use Crystal Reports or other reporting tools in the SQL version?
HANA is not just a reporting tool but is a platform that supports functions requiring high processing power like forecasting, MRP, scheduling, and many more. The HANA solution is pre-packaged with over 40 dashboards and 20 KPIs beforehand.
When using the standard functions of SAP Business One, is HANA necessary?
There is no reason, apart from the minimal price difference between the SQL and HANA versions, for you to invest in the SQL version. In fact, SAP has announced in 2015 that all research and development will be focused on HANA technology.