The following are a brief list of the comparision:
1. Moves the workload off the R3 system.
Most sites are trying to run is little reporting off
of R3 to maintain server performance for the OLTP users. R3 is not
optimized for reporting - it's a highly normalized DB design.
2. BW - better query performance. It's been optimized for that, the DB design, features like OLAP and web caching, reporting agent, aggregates, etc...
3. Many more formatting and distribution options - Excel, Web. Reports can be scheduled to run off hours and cached for very quick access during business hours or e-mailed to users.
4. Reports (queries) can be easily setup for variables to parameterize the report and usres can save their different selection options as variants.
5. User can modify the report with drill downs, drill across, sorting, modifying selection criteria, change display of key, key and text, or just text.
6. Quicker changes to the queries, addition of fields
in BW environment, don't need ABAP developer.
Limitations of BW Reports
1. BW reports require a significant history (e.g: Weekly balance for 7 years) as opposed to R/3 reports which require current data with minimal history (e.g: Daily bank balance for a year)
2. BW is read only whereas in R/3, update/insert/delete options are possible.
3. BW reporting is fixed at aspecific point of time whereas R/3 reports changes with business events.
These limitations are general and not specific.
