1. Which kind of extraction is mostly used to get data from R/3 systems ? Generic / LO ??

LO Cockpit is a tool designed to extract logistics data that includes sales orders, billing, quotations and
delivery. This cockpit allows to customize standard extractors provided by SAP.

Generic extractors can be built of any table, view or function modules. So it will be used when there is a
need for custom extractors. In general for Logistics LO is used and for custom generic extractors are
used

2. We assume that in most cases data are taken from R/3. In what kind of situations data is taken from
flat file ?

BI is a data warehouse, which means it is a huge storage area which can accept data from many sources.
And it enables OLAP functionality on them through cube and other objects for analytical reporting. So it
means that one of the sources for BI is R/3 system. Flat file loads are used in many scenarios, especially
when the data needed is in another system like hyperion or any other legacy softwares used by the
client. In these situation, the data that need to be loaded to BI is obtained through flat files.

3. How is the query output analyzed ? We know that using the query designer output is obtained in an
Excel workbook. What needs to be done from this point onwards ?

Using Bex Analyser, the queries are analysed. They are embedded into workbooks and then sent to
users and given access to those workbooks through roles. Analyser have various functionalities to drill
down the data and to analyse the data. To determine the efficiency of the query developed and to
debug always use RSRT tcode.

4. Are WAD (Web application designers ) used by BI consultants or EP consultants?

WAD is part of BI consultants work. It is not complicated to design a tempalte in it. The integration of
WAD with portal is done by EP consultants

5. Does data modelling (infocubes, schema etc) needs to be discussed with the client ? In short what is
the typical activities of a BI consultant at client's place ?

Mostly a BI consultant would be given technical specifications of the reports that need to be generated.
And there would be techno functional consultant( R/3 specialist) who will provide information about the
tables and views or other sources where the data resides. Being a BI consultant, its our duty to design
the cubes or use business contents based on the requirement.

6. Can u give some real time report samples which is asked by clients and the modules involved ?
A quick example would be generate reports on distribution of sales over a region. And also determining
their delivery time and quantity that is going to be delivered.