DataViz Migration - migrating from SAP BO to GCP Looker

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

SAP BusinessObjects estates typically hold several years’ worth of modeling: universes, Web Intelligence reports, business objects, calculations, filters, prompts, and semantic layers.

{openAudit} analyzes these components to reconstruct the dependencies between data sources, universes, reports, and observed usage.

Key point: universes and business objects are generally the primary source of information for reconstructing the target model.

SAP BusinessObjects analysis prerequisites

The analysis relies on access to the SAP BusinessObjects services, technical repositories, and the audit database.

The extractors run within the Client’s environment. The collected metadata can be anonymized before processing.

Good to know: only technical metadata is used.

Estate analysis

The analysis covers Web Intelligence reports, UNV and UNX universes, Data Providers, business objects, variables, filters, prompts, and graphical components.

Technical dependencies and observed usage are consolidated into a repository.

Rationalization

Audit logs are cross-referenced with the platform’s metadata.

Unused or broken reports, duplicated reports, unconsumed objects, obsolete universes, etc. are identified before migration.

Result: a massive reduction in the volume to migrate.

Conversion to Looker

Data Providers, business objects, and queries are converted into Looker components.

Dimensions, measures, joins, and calculations are reconstructed in the LookML models.

Dashboards, filters, prompts, tables, charts, and navigation mechanisms are reconstructed from the SAP BusinessObjects reports.

The functional organization of the universes carries over into the target platform’s folders, Explores, and business catalogs.

Key point: functional objects and reporting components are reconstructed from the SAP BusinessObjects universes and reports.

Validation

Migrations can be carried out with dual SAP BusinessObjects / Looker execution.

The indicators produced by both platforms are compared during acceptance testing phases.

SAP BusinessObjects prompts

SAP BusinessObjects prompts are converted into Looker’s native filters.

Value lists and input parameters are preserved.

Business objects and LookML models

Queries, business objects, dimensions, measures, and joins are converted into LookML components.

Functional structure

The organization of the universes is rebuilt as Explores, dimensions, and measures.

Pivots and matrix analyses

Cross-tabs and multidimensional analyses are converted into Looker’s pivot mechanisms.

Charts

Trend lines and comparative analyses are rebuilt from the indicators identified in the reports.

Bar charts

Bar charts are adapted to Looker’s visualization components.

Pie charts

Pie charts are converted into Looker’s native visualizations.

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