SAP Financial Services Data Platform – State-of-the-Art Data Management

SAP introduced the new Financial Services Data Platform (FSDP) to the market in November 2017. They recognised the continuous change in the financial world and responded with its new solution for banks and insurers. The financial industry is constantly changing and is increasingly challenged by regulators, the capital markets and customers. The efficient use of data is gaining vital importance for financial institutions. For example, the regulator requires comprehensibility of the data at all times with BCBS 239. On the other hand, the capital markets expect to receive current information on the financial institution. FSDP has a SAP HANA database as its basis and incorporates previous experience with SAP Bank Analyzer. The data model includes all relevant information for the application areas of finance, regulation, controlling, risk, sales and fraud management.

Architectural description

A) Inbound Staging

Inclusion of source data and data cleansing such as e.g. eliminating duplicates, data correction
Validating plausibility of data
Format adaptations of data

B) Source Layer

Cleaned storage of data in the standardised data model FSDM (Financial Services Data Management) of FSDP
S/4 Finance as integrated finance and risk management in one data model

C) Engines

Smart AFI
Integrated Abacus360 data model for regulation, e.g. for AnaCredit

D) Result Layer

Result data are written back into the FSDM

E) Outbound Staging

Prepare the data for external sources, such as e.g. notices to the ECB
Virtual preparation of data for finance, risk and regulatory reporting and controlling

There ist a close interlinking between the S/4 Finance solution, FSDP and the associated integration of this data is ensured by the joint use of the S/4HANA database. The solution was brought on board for achieving regulatory requirements such as e.g. AnaCredit and allowed this part to be developed as part of the Abacus360 solution. FSDP will be supplemented by additional regulatory content. The technical framework is embedded into the specialist processes. SAP has placed a specialist layer over the technical data model. Using this layer, companies can easily understand the information relevant for them in FSDP. To this end, a blueprint of the company architecture is created with the aid of SAP PowerDesigner which can be easily carried out using Drag’n’Drop via the graphic surface of the tool.

Technical highlights of SAP FSDP

Uniform data architecture and a common flat data model (replacing the complex Bank Analyzer data model)
Data security and improved performance by reducing the systems required
Increasing data quality by clearly defining fields and figures and thus avoiding dual usage of different figures for the same matters

Customer usage of SAP FSDP

Finance & Risk Analytics Rapid Deployment Solution – complete reporting with adapted content reports (e.g. for AnaCredit) from third party providers
Cost saving by rapidly implementing analytical requirements
Standardised evaluations by a uniform specialist data model for the department
Flexibility with respect to expandability and adaptability of the solution to their own needs

From status quo to target vision

Since the development of the SAP Bank Analyzer, we have been assisting our customers with introduction and further development in all areas. We can also provide support in the area of data management independently of tools. Our experience with various large banks nationally and internationally shows time and again that banks often face significant challenges with data models developed internally such as controlling complexity or selecting suitable software. The customer-specific requirements can be implemented with a standardised solution using SAP FSDP. We will support you with transforming your existing software situations into a rapid and efficient software architecture. Together with you, we will evaluate which approach (greenfield, mixed or brownfield) is best. The different implementation approaches have advantages and disadvantages that differ in cost and complexity.

Greenfield

Advantages

New architecture can easily be taken into account, the applications use the latest technologies
Legacy issues are not taken over
Reproduction of relevant applications can be carried out taking into account adapted requirements and experience values

Disadvantages

Knowledge regarding new technologies is required (architecture, requirements manager)
Complexity since the existing requirements have to be “recreated”
Legacy data has to be migrated over, if necessary

Mixed

Advantages

There is no idle running, users can use either the old or the new system
A simplified test is possible (comparison of new and old system)

Disadvantages

The cost is twice as much since two systems have to be maintained
Changes to the old applications also have to be subsequently made in the new application

Brownfield

Advantages

All previous applications and data are available

Disadvantages

The migration to the new system is not possible in a fully automated manner
The optimisations to the existing applications are limited

We will advise you on finding the best way of introducing SAP FSDP for your needs, irrespective of your existing application environment (whether coming from SAP Bank Analyzer or from a particular Single Point of Truth (SPOT)).