SAP is transforming the way businesses utilize data to generate tangible value. With data now at the center of everything, companies make smarter decisions, understand customers better, and find new ways to innovate. SAP refers to this as the Product Economy—a world where data, processes, and insights are treated as products. These products can be shared, reused, and improved to keep adding value over time. Success today depends on building trusted, reusable data that supports every part of the business.
That’s where SAP Datasphere comes in. It provides companies with a unified view of all their data across the organization. With SAP Business Data Cloud, businesses using Datasphere can take the next step: to work together more openly, share data safely, and create even more value from it.
1. Understanding the Data Product Economy
The SAP Product Economy isn’t just a tech upgrade – it’s a new way of thinking about how companies use data to create value.
Instead of treating data as a byproduct, it’s now seen as a product – something that’s owned, managed, and measured for quality and impact.
Core Ideas Behind the SAP Product Economy
Data as a Product
Data isn’t just for reports anymore. It’s a product with a clear purpose, lifecycle, and owner. Each “data product” is built to be consistent, reusable, and easy to access across teams.
Federated Governance
Old-school centralized control doesn’t work in today’s cloud world. With federated governance, each domain – like finance, HR, or supply chain – manages its own data products, while still following shared company standards.
Business Context Integration
Data without context is just noise. SAP keeps the meaning behind the data – the relationships, hierarchies, and business rules – so it stays relevant and useful for decision-making.
Composable Architecture
The Product Economy is flexible by design. It’s built on modular systems that evolve with your business. You can plug in new data sources, analytics, or AI tools without tearing everything down.
Together, these ideas shift organizations from isolated to connected, data-driven business growth.
2. Preparing for the SAP Business Data Cloud
The SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) is the next big step. It builds on SAP Datasphere and takes data sharing to a new level – across teams, companies, and entire industries.
If SAP Datasphere unifies your internal data, BDC opens the door for collaboration beyond your walls. It connects data between partners, suppliers, and customers – all in a secure, governed way.
How to Get Ready for the Business Data Cloud
- Standardize Your Data Fabric
Make sure your Datasphere setup uses consistent rules and meanings. A solid data foundation makes connecting to BDC smooth and efficient. - Build Domain-Based Data Products
Create data products around key areas like finance, sales, or supply chain. Define ownership, metadata, and KPIs clearly for each one. - Adopt Federated Governance
Let each business unit manage its own data while keeping company-wide standards for quality and compliance. It’s the best way to scale without losing control. - Connect with External Partners
Use Datasphere’s open integrations to link data with partners or other platforms. This builds the base for multi-company collaboration in BDC. - Invest in Data Skills
As more teams take charge of data, education matters. Help people learn how to define, use, and improve data products in their daily work.
By starting now, the move to the Business Data Cloud becomes smooth and natural – not a major disruption.
3. Recommendations: How Organisations Can Move Toward the SAP Product Economy
Every company’s journey is different, but most follow a similar path to reach the SAP Product Economy. Here are some practical steps to get started.
a. Define a Data Product Strategy
Start by identifying the business areas that will benefit most – like finance, supply chain, or customer operations.
Assign clear owners for each data product. They should manage its lifecycle, quality, and access.
Set measurable KPIs that connect data product success to real business results – faster reporting, fewer duplicates, or better decisions.
b. Modernize the Data Landscape with SAP Datasphere
Move from old reporting systems, such as SAP BW to SAP Datasphere and its semantic models.
Adopt virtual data access to reduce replication and enable real-time insights.
c. Embrace Interoperability and Open Standards
Connect SAP Datasphere with your existing data and AI tools.
Use the Business Data Fabric to maintain consistent standards for data meaning and governance across platforms.
Expose APIs so your data products can be easily found, shared, and reused throughout the organization.
d. Enable a Business-Driven Data Culture
Help teams learn the basics of data product management and business data modeling.
Encourage collaboration with cross-functional “data squads” – mixing IT, business, and analytics experts.
Recognise and reward teams that create data products adopted across departments.
e. Plan for SAP Business Data Cloud Adoption
Get familiar with SAP’s Business Data Cloud roadmap and its growing partner ecosystem.
Check your readiness – look at data quality, governance maturity, and integration flexibility.
Create migration plans that build on your current SAP Datasphere setup, reducing future rework.
Conclusion: From Datasphere to Data Cloud – Building the Data Product Economy
SAP Datasphere represents more than a new data management tool – it’s the strategic bridge between the data-driven enterprise of today and the intelligent, connected ecosystems of tomorrow.
By embracing the SAP Product Economy, organizations can transform their data from a technical asset into a strategic product – one that fuels analytics, innovation, and collaboration.
