what is SAP ABAP vs SAP ABAP on HANA – Key Differences

In the sector of SAP development, ABAP has continually been a core era used for building commercial enterprise applications at the SAP platform. However, with the advent of SAP HANA, the complete environment has been reimagined. Today, SAP specialists and developers regularly come upon an essential evaluation: SAP ABAP vs SAP ABAP on HANA.

1. Introduction to SAP ABAP

SAP ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) is SAP’s proprietary language used for growing:

• Reports

• Interfaces

• Enhancements

• Forms

• Workflows

• Custom programs

For nearly three a long time, ABAP has been on the heart of SAP ERP structures like:

• SAP ECC

• SAP R/three

• SAP Business Suite

Traditional ABAP programs are designed to run on a disk-based totally relational database, such as Oracle, SQL Server, or IBM DB2. Most of the processing takes place on the application layer, at the same time as the database layer is primarily used for storing and retrieving information.

2. Introduction to SAP HANA and ABAP on HANA

SAP HANA (High-Performance Analytic Appliance) is a revolutionary in-memory database brought by way of SAP to enhance overall performance, pace, and real-time analytics.

ABAP on HANA refers to using ABAP in the context of the HANA database, wherein:

• Data is saved in reminiscence, no longer on disk

• Processing occurs closer to the data

• Complex calculations are pushed to the database

• Applications end up quicker, less difficult, and smarter

With S/4HANA, SAP has shifted its improvement completely to the HANA platform. Hence the call for for developers skilled in ABAP on HANA is extremely excessive.

3. How SAP ABAP Evolved into ABAP on HANA

To apprehend the differences, we need to peer the evolution:

Phase 1: Classical ABAP (R/3 & ECC)

• Code became optimized for disk-based totally databases.

• Developers focused heavily on looping, buffering, and optimizing SELECT statements.

• The utility server dealt with most of the logic.

Phase 2: SAP NetWeaver + HANA

• SAP delivered HANA as an optional database.

• Developers started out the usage of new ABAP syntax well matched with HANA.

Phase 3: ABAP 7.Four, 7.5 — The New ABAP

• Introduction of superior Open SQL

• New data types

• CDS views

• Code pushdown

• AMDP (ABAP Managed Database Procedures)

Phase 4 : S/4HANA (Modern ABAP on HANA)

• Native HANA development became mandatory.

• CDS views changed many classical ABAP reports.

• Fiori apps changed SAP GUI transactions.

• Performance-optimized programs became the brand new widespread.

4. SAP ABAP vs ABAP on HANA – Key Technical Differences

Below are the most important differences summarised in detail:

1. Database Architecture

ABAP on HANA encourages developers to follow the principle:
“Do as much as possible in the database.”

5. Skills Required for SAP ABAP Developers vs ABAP on HANA Developers

Classical ABAP Skills

• Reports (Classical, ALV)

• BDC / BAPI / RFC

• Enhancements / User Exits / BADIs

• SmartForms / SAPScripts / Adobe Forms

• Module Pool Programming

ABAP on HANA Required Skills

• CDS Views

• AMDP

• HANA Modeling

• Open SQL upgrades

• Code pushdown

• Table features

• ABAP 7.Four / 7.5 syntax

• OData offerings

• RAP (new model for S/4HANA)

Learning ABAP on HANA is now obligatory for contemporary SAP initiatives.

6. Real-Time Examples: ABAP vs ABAP on HANA

Performance Tuning

Scenario 1: Fetching Sales Data

Traditional ABAP:

Multiple SELECT statements + loops → Slow

ABAP on HANA:

Single CDS View with joins → Very fast

Scenario 2: Building a Report

ABAP:

ALV record with nested loops.

ABAP on HANA:

CDS view + Fiori utility + annotations.

Scenario 3: Performance Optimization

ABAP:

Use secondary indexes + buffering.

ABAP on HANA:

Push logic to database + use column-keep advantages.

7. Career Opportunities: SAP ABAP vs ABAP on HANA

SAP ABAP Career Path

• ABAP Developer

• Technical Consultant

• Support Consultant

• Enhancement Specialist

• SAP Technical Analyst

SAP ABAP on HANA Career Path

• ABAP on HANA Developer

• S/4HANA Technical Consultant

• Fiori + ABAP Developer

• S/4HANA Conversion Specialist

• HANA Performance Expert

Companies select ABAP on HANA because it aligns with S/4HANA transformation projects.

8. Why SAP is Moving Toward ABAP on HANA

Here are the pinnacle reasons:

• Real-time data processing

• Advanced analytics

• Better overall performance

• Reduced hardware & maintenance price

• Cloud readiness

• Future-evidence architecture

• Simpler code

• Fiori-based UI

• End of guide for ECC in upcoming years

SAP is absolutely shifting to S/4HANA, making ABAP on HANA the default skillset.

9. Which Should You Learn? ABAP or ABAP on HANA?

• If you're a amateur:
• Start immediately with ABAP on HANA because it consists of all classical ABAP concepts plus modern-day skills.
• If you're an current ABAP developer:
• Upgrade to ABAP on HANA + Fiori + OData.
• If you want to develop faster in career:
• Learn HANA-based totally improvement to turn out to be applicable for S/four projects.

10. Complete Comparison Table: SAP ABAP vs ABAP on HANA

11. Real-Time Use Cases Where ABAP on HANA Outperforms Classical ABAP

• Financial reconciliation reports

• Material movement analytics

• Sales profitability forecasting

• Manufacturing planning

• Real-time dashboards

• Customer segmentation analytics

• Predictive inventory optimization

HANA simplifies a lot of these thru in-reminiscence processing.

12. Future Scope of ABAP on HANA

The future is extraordinarily vibrant:

• All agencies migrating to SAP S/4HANA

• HANA turning into the global wellknown

• Increased demand for Fiori + HANA developers

• Opportunities in cloud platforms like SAP BTP

• More innovation in RAP and CAP models

ABAP on HANA will remain middle for at least the next 20–25 years.

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14. FAQs – SAP ABAP vs SAP ABAP on HANA

1. What is the difference between SAP ABAP and SAP ABAP on HANA?

SAP ABAP is the traditional programming language used in SAP ECC, while ABAP on HANA uses advanced features like CDS Views, AMDP, and code pushdown designed for the in-memory HANA database.

2. Do I need to learn classical ABAP before learning ABAP on HANA?

It is helpful but not mandatory. Many training programs teach ABAP basics along with HANA-based enhancements for beginners.

3. Why is ABAP on HANA important today?

Because SAP is shifting to S/4HANA, all modern SAP developments require ABAP on HANA skills for high-performance applications.

4. What skills are required for ABAP on HANA?

You need knowledge of CDS Views, AMDP, Open SQL enhancements, HANA modeling basics, code pushdown concepts, OData, and advanced ABAP syntax.

5. Is ABAP on HANA more difficult than classical ABAP?

It’s more advanced but not difficult. Developers who understand ABAP fundamentals can easily upgrade to HANA-based development.

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17. Final Summary

SAP ABAP and SAP ABAP on HANA are related but fundamentally specific in structure, overall performance, and development method.

SAP ABAP is conventional, sluggish, and designed for older databases.

SAP ABAP on HANA is current, powerful, and overall performance-pushed with superior features like:

• CDS

• AMDP

• Code pushdown

• Fiori integration

• Enhanced SQL

• HANA modeling