Provisioning a Tenant for SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC)

Technical workers in server hub

Hey everyone.  Today, I am excited to share my firsthand experience in provisioning the SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) tenant. 

(In case you are not yet familiar, SAP BDC is the unified foundation that brings together SAP Datasphere, SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), and Databricks into one integrated ecosystem.)

In this short blog, I will walk you through the steps I took to provision a BDC tenant.

STEP 1 – Ordering Core Capacity Units

We began by ordering SAP BDC Core Capacity Units based on our organizational needs.
It’s crucial to size these units thoughtfully — considering SAC, Datasphere, and Databricks workloads collectively to ensure optimal performance and scalability.

 

Image of screen for requesting a BDC tenant in SAP

STEP 2 – Order Confirmation from SAP

Once the order was placed, we received confirmation emails from SAP detailing the order processing status and next steps. These notifications are key for tracking provisioning progress.

STEP 3 – Access via SAP for Me

After processing, the package becomes available under your SAP for Me portal:
Portfolio & Products → My Product Packages → SAP BDC Package

This may take a few hours to reflect; once ready, you’ll notice the system status marked as “Ready.”

Image of BDC package page in SAP

STEP 4 – Login and Provisioning

From there, the BDC Cockpit can be accessed using credentials provided in SAP’s confirmation email. Within the SAP for Me → BDC Product Package section, you can seamlessly start provisioning SAC, Datasphere, and Databricks — all from a unified control point.

WHAT’S NEXT


We are now in the process of migrating our existing native Databricks use cases into SAP Databricks within the BDC environment. This will unlock native data interoperability and zero-copy data sharing between SAP and Databricks, enabling advanced AI/ML and analytics use cases with full business context intact.

Stay tuned!  Our upcoming blogs will dive deeper into the technical nitty-gritties of this journey, including architecture blueprints, configuration details, performance insights, and integration best practices.

Contact us today to learn more.  https://tek-analytics.com/contact-tek/

By – Karthik Addula, 11/10/25

Note: Tenant was provisioned under SAP Partner Licensing.

 

Transforming IDoc Management for Efficiency

Few of us take the time to question the IDoc process yet it remains one of the most resource-intensive parts of SAP integration. A single failed IDoc can trigger hours of manual investigation—and hundreds more could backlog overnight.   But I am really excited to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way!

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see a new product we are launching that hit the burden of managing IDoc errors head on.  Yay!  Finally, a way to address the tedium and burden.  The TEK IDoc Manager solution is focused on streamlining, automating, and simplifying IDoc error handling.  Here are the items that stood out to me about the product:

One Simple View for Smarter Workflows

The solution’s simplified editor provides a consolidated view of IDoc content on a single screen, eliminating the need for multiple SAP transactions and reducing navigation complexity. Configuration-based field management ensures each user only sees the data they need, enhancing focus and reducing errors. 

For CIOs, this translates into greater productivity and faster issue turnaround; for technical leads, it means less time spent mining through error logs to pinpoint and correct data inconsistencies. For CIOs, this translates into greater productivity and faster issue turnaround; for technical leads, it means less time spent mining through error logs to pinpoint and correct data inconsistencies.  

Accelerate Through Mass Updates and Automation

For organizations dealing with large volumes of transactional data, efficiency is critical. The mass-update capability empowers teams to correct and reprocess multiple IDocs in one streamlined action. The ability to set up rules and automated processing can further enhance efficiency.  CIOs see measurable time and cost savings, while SAP leads gain a tool that eliminates repetitive manual work and accelerates data throughput—helping ensure business continuity across integrated systems.

Enhance Partner Collaboration and Transparency

Communication breakdowns often slow down IDoc resolution. Built-in partner communication tools allow users to email business partners directly from within the system, complete with auto-populated IDoc details and side-by-side document comparisons. Technically, it’s a smooth way to align internal records with external documents. Strategically, it fosters trust, improves partner response times, and enhances data quality across the supply chain.

Configurable Control and Compliance

Every enterprise has different governance needs. The solution’s fully configurable field access ensures CIOs maintain strict control of data access, while technical teams enjoy the flexibility to adjust configurations quickly based on business rules. Fields can be set as editable or view-only according to user roles—preserving compliance and data integrity without slowing down operations.

Driving Value Across Business and IT

By merging real-time visibility, automation, and collaboration, this IDoc management solution becomes a key enabler of digital efficiency. CIOs gain a more resilient, traceable, and cost-efficient integration environment, while SAP technical teams gain tools that remove friction, reduce manual corrections, and shorten resolution cycles. 

The result: smoother data flow, faster decision-making, and a smarter way to manage every IDoc that touches your business.

 Interested in a demo or learning more about TEK’s IDoc Manager solution?  Contact Us

Real Business Use Cases Where Gen AI Makes Sense

Recently, I have been diving into how AI is reshaping the way small and mid-sized businesses run their operations. Along the way, I came across stories that feel all too familiar if you’ve ever worked in supply chain. Let me share one with you.

Meet John. On paper, everything looks organized: suppliers lined up, warehouses stocked, trucks scheduled. But anyone who has worked in supply chain knows the reality is far from neat.

One week, John is stuck with excess stock because a demand forecast was off. The next, he is buried in emails, chasing suppliers for updated delivery dates. And just when things finally seem under control, a truck breaks down on the highway, holding up an entire shipment.

Sound familiar?

Now picture John with GenAI by his side. Not as some flashy tool for show, but as a quiet co-pilot helping him handle the daily chaos of operations. Here is how his day looks different.

Morning: Demand Forecasting

John starts his day reviewing sales forecasts. Traditionally, it has been spreadsheets and static reports. But now, GenAI brings in more than just historical sales. It considers local weather, social media buzz, seasonal shifts, and even competitor campaigns.

Instead of a single guess, John sees multiple scenarios. “If rains come early, indoor products spike. If not, demand stays steady.” With that clarity, he can plan production with more confidence and less risk.

Midday: Supplier Communication

By noon, John’s inbox is full. One supplier is flagging delays at the port. Another has sent a 20-page contract revision.

Rather than combing through it all, GenAI summarizes the updates and drafts quick responses. It even highlights a critical clause change in the contract that could have gone unnoticed. For John, that means less time firefighting emails and more time strengthening supplier relationships.

Afternoon: Transportation and Maintenance

After lunch, John’s fleet manager shares concerns about one of the trucks showing irregular sensor readings.

GenAI analyzes the vehicle’s live data, compares it with past maintenance logs, and suggests:

“Truck #248 shows a high probability of axle wear in the next two weeks. Schedule replacement during its next stop.”

 Instead of risking a breakdown on the road, John avoids disruption with a proactive fix.

Evening: Rerouting Shipments

Just as the day is wrapping up, news comes in that a key highway is shut due to an accident. Normally, this would mean costly delays.

But GenAI instantly recalculates delivery routes, factoring in traffic, deadlines, and fuel costs. Drivers get updated schedules within minutes. What could have been a crisis becomes just another smooth handoff.

Training the Next Team

Meanwhile, new hires are starting in the warehouse. Instead of leafing through thick manuals, they use a GenAI-powered assistant. A quick question like “How do I process a return order?” gives them a step-by-step guide. Training becomes faster, mistakes drop, and productivity rises.

The Bigger Picture

This is what excites me about GenAI. Not the hype or flashy demos, but the real, everyday impact in John’s world: operations, supply chain, and transportation.

It does not replace people. It supports them by predicting problems before they happen, rerouting when the unexpected hits, and simplifying the overwhelming tasks that drain time.

Companies that start experimenting with GenAI in these areas will move faster than the rest. Because while others wait for the perfect AI moment, leaders like John are already solving real problems, every single day.

👉 If you are in operations or supply chain, we would love to hear: where do you see GenAI fitting into your world? Contact Us