Why BI users carry different license types
Business intelligence users query data through tools that range from the standard report to the ad hoc analytical workbench. The SAP license catalog assigns lighter license types to users who read only published reports and heavier license types to users who build queries against the underlying data model. The customer that assigns the heavy license type to every BI user pays for functionality the user does not exercise. The customer that assigns the light license type to every BI user creates a compliance gap when the heavy user runs ad hoc analysis. The license type matrix maps the user behavior to the correct type. Reference the license audit pillar, the named user types analysis, and the license optimization expertise.
The BW environment license types
The BW environment historically uses three license classes. The professional user that builds queries against any cube. The limited professional user that runs predefined queries with parameter selection. The information consumer that views published reports without query modification. Each class has a measured price per user. The customer assigns the class based on the user role in the BW environment. The professional user assignment for someone who only opens a delivered report represents the most frequent misclassification finding during the SAP audit. Reference the professional versus limited analysis, the user misclassification analysis, and the license reclassification analysis.
The SAC user license map
SAP Analytics Cloud carries a separate user license catalog. The business user that consumes published stories. The professional user that builds stories and runs ad hoc analysis. The planning user that participates in planning processes alongside reporting. The customer that runs SAC alongside BW needs to track the user across both environments and assign the higher of the two license types to avoid double counting. The SAC license catalog is subscription based and the metric is the active user per month. Reference the cloud licensing models analysis, the licensing models analysis, and the RISE analysis.
Customer programs that combine the BI query log review with a user reclassification register and a quarterly measurement reconciliation reduce BI user license cost by 30 percent and produce the defensible classification position that closes the misclassification finding during the SAP audit.
The reclassification opportunity
The BI user reclassification opportunity is significant. The customer that reviews the actual query pattern of each BI user typically identifies a substantial group of users who hold the professional class but only consume published reports. The reclassification moves those users to the information consumer class at lower fee. The reclassification plan combines the query log review, the user interview, the role to license mapping update, and the SAP measurement submission. The customer engagement that runs the BI reclassification typically reduces BI user spend by 30 percent. Reference the license harvesting analysis, the license optimization analysis, and the findings dispute analysis.
The defensible BI user program
The defensible BI user program has four components. The user inventory that lists every BI user, the assigned license type, and the BI environment. The query log review that documents the actual query pattern over a representative period. The reclassification register that records each license type change and the supporting evidence. The measurement reconciliation that maps the BI user roster against the LAW measurement output. The four components produce the BI user position that defends the SAP audit and supports the renewal negotiation. Reference the compliance framework pillar (cross cluster), the security audit pillar (cross cluster), and the renewal negotiation expertise.
Practical posture for SAP BI user licensing
- BI users carry license types based on query path and analytical depth
- BW environment uses professional, limited professional, and information consumer
- SAC carries a separate subscription based active user catalog
- Reclassification opportunity typically reduces BI spend by 30 percent
- Query log review documents actual user behavior over a representative period
- The four part program produces defensible BI classification at audit time
For the broader context, our license audit complete guide and compliance framework pillar (cross cluster reference) document the response posture and the regulatory map that govern SAP risk. The audit defense expertise page documents the senior advisor methodology, and the license optimization expertise page documents the cost reduction approach. Confidential consultation is available through the contact form.