--- title: 10 Advanced SAP BW Project Estimation Techniques [Online Tool] description: Explore advanced SAP BW Project estimation techniques and assumptions to develop high quality project plans that can be delivered on-time and budget. image: https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/file-448186118-gif/images/figures_run_on_gears_150_clr_13374.gif --- ![SAP BW Project Estimation Tool](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/file-448186118-gif/images/figures_run_on_gears_150_clr_13374.gif) # 10 Advanced SAP BW Project Estimation Techniques [Online Tool] Table of Contents ## Business Intelligence [Project Estimation Techniques](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-sap-bw-project-estimation-best-practices-to-roll-out-today) "It depends".  If you’re around SAP long enough, you’ll come to know this phrase well.  Sometimes, it can be really frustrating to hear those famous last words, “it depends”, other times, it can lead to some useful conversations.   But, a customer wants an estimate using[ project estimation techniques](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/sap-project-management) they can take to the bank.  There are a lot of studies that suggest that when as 10 [SAP BW Project Estimation Best Practices](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/sap-business-intelligence-consulting/what-is-sap-business-warehouse) To Roll-Out Today [Calculator]ked to estimate something, the doer typically overestimates to give himself some wiggle room.  ![Project Estimation](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/file-448186118-gif/images/figures_run_on_gears_150_clr_13374.gif)**Keep Your Projects Running Like a Well Oiled Machine**   When it comes to [SAP BW](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/70-of-business-intelligence-projects-are-failing-worldwide), or SAP Lumira, or BusinessObjects xCelsius, Dashboard builder or Microsoft Analysis, it truly does ‘depend’.    ![Successful business group with laptop at the office](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Successful%20business%20group%20with%20laptop%20at%20the%20office.jpeg?width=1000&name=Successful%20business%20group%20with%20laptop%20at%20the%20office.jpeg)  Understanding [Embedded Systems](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/understanding-embedded-systems-vs-sap-hana) vs SAP HANA ## Why is that?    How can we get to a more accurate [project estimate](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/sap-business-intelligence-consulting/what-is-sap-business-warehouse)?  I believe there are some key techniques which in many instances, have more to do with either assumptions or past project activities.    In the case of **Global Rollouts**, some of the key [**SAP BW Project Estimation**](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/enterprise-services/sap-industry-solutions/business-intelligence-consulting/what-is-sap-business-warehouse) assumptions include the following:   1. Has the [report](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/reporting-skills) been developed before for another global Location?  If it has, are the same business processes in use at the new location?  If the existing **business processes cannot be standardized** before the ‘global standard report’ is released into production, you most likely cannot ‘just turn it on and let it run’. 2. An additional, and almost underappreciated aspect of Global Rollouts is the **additional time required to gather or [validate requirements](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/9-reasons-sap-bw-projects-fail-maybe)** due to the language differences.  3. Regarding an **estimation factor** to use to account for the multiple language overhead, it can **range from 1.5 to 2.5 times as long**, more if the language skills have to be overcome with translations versus using bilingual consultants.  4. If using bilingual (or multi-lingual), you must add additional time not only for the translation process of any specific process, but as well, the **time lost** doing any other existing tasks where the Multilanguage aspect is not relevant.  More than a few times, you will be asked to come to an impromptu meeting to translate. 5. Dramatic increases in required consulting time also come from having to work in **multiple time zones**.  It may well be the case that, depending on where the HQ is and the deployment location is, there may only be a small 2 hours window where both teams coincide with each other. 6. If you take into consideration the previous points, i.e., the multilingual aspects and the time zone differences, you may well get a **multiplier effect** as far as increased [development time requirements](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/sap-bw-tutorial-best-practice-on-requirements-gathering). 7. **Additional complexity** is to be expected (and thus, additional development time) when the project scope includes a combination of tools, such as **SAP Lumira and [SAP BW](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/understanding-sap-bw-in-5-minutes) or BusinessObjects**.  This is not because the tools are necessarily more difficult to use, but rather because they fundamentally represent new capabilities never before introduced in most business environments. 8. **Estimating **[dashboard](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/build-high-impact-xcelsius-dashboards) development time is one of those areas where ‘it depends’ truly is the case.  For here, in addition to needing **highly [skilled datawarehouse](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hire-sap-business-intelligence-consultant)**[ consulting skills](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hire-sap-business-intelligence-consultant), you also need to be **somewhat artistic** and exceptionally skilled at uncovering [requirements](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/business-reporting-requirements) from the business user, while **keeping expectations in check**. 9. In many cases, the **implementation done in the past** may include ABAP code which could be replaced by now standard SAP BW functionality.  In order to estimate how long it would take to deliver the new reports, the consultant will have to make an evaluation of ABAP code.  This evaluation will take time and it will also take additional time to determine if standard SAP BW functionality can replace the code. 10. In those cases **where code is to be retired**, there is also some additional activity required in terms of migrating the old to the new and testing and deploying.   ## Project Estimation Tools and Professional Judgement Required   Reading through the list above, you’ll notice that only a few of them are numerical.  That is because it takes a while to really be able to use our SAP BW Estimator and professional judgement to arrive at an estimate you can live with.    That is why we keep our current FREE SAP BW Project Estimator simple, as we know every situation is unique and you will need to work with us to really get a trustworthy estimate.  By the way, you can run the calculator by clicking on the button below, and if you need help with your estimate, we can help.   [![SAP BW Project Estimator Calculator](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118735/b30f624f-97b9-441d-b850-5dbb6f7b72e5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118735/b30f624f-97b9-441d-b850-5dbb6f7b72e5)     We would love to hear from you in our comments section below.   **People who read this also read:** - **[10 Critical Chain Project Manager Tips](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-critical-chain-project-manager-tips)** - **[10 Reasons You Need a SAP Project Review](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/10-reasons-you-need-a-sap-project-review)** - **[Just Your Project Value with our Business Case Builder Tool](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/justify-your-project-value-with-our-business-case-builder-tool)** - **[10 Key SAP BW Project Risk Management Tips](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/bid/129016/10-Key-SAP-BW-Project-Risk-Management-Tips)**     Thanks   Topics from this blog: [Global Roll-out](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/global-roll-out) [Best Practices](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/best-practices) [Estimate BW Project](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/topic/estimate-bw-project) ### Download SAP BW Mindmap Learn what SAP Business Warehouse is and what it does in under five minutes [![Get this Mindmap](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118735/8db2ad37-8211-47a3-86ae-09b6b2bb297b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118735/8db2ad37-8211-47a3-86ae-09b6b2bb297b) [mailto:someone@yoursite.com](mailto:someone@yoursite.com) ### Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP About the Author: Lonnie Ayers is a Hubspot Certified Inbound Marketing consultant, with additional certifications in Hubspot Content Optimization, Hubspot Contextual Marketing, and is a Hubspot Certified Partner. Specialized in demand generation and sales execution, especially in the SAP, Oracle and Microsoft Partner space, he has unique insight into the tough challenges Service Providers face with generating leads and closing sales using the latest digital tools. With 15 years of SAP Program Management experience, and dozens of complex sales engagements under his belt, he helps partners develop and communicate their unique sales proposition. Frequently sought as a public speaker in various events, he is available for both inhouse engagements and ** remote coaching. ** ![Balanced Scorecard Consultant](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Balanced%20Scorecard%20Certified%20Graduate.jpg) He also recently released a book **"How to Dominate Any Market - Turbocharging Your Digital Marketing and Sales Results",** which is available on [ Amazon.](https://www.amazon.com/Dominate-Turbocharging-Digital-Marketing-Results/dp/1728357950/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1589182458&refinements=p_27%3ALonnie+D.+Ayers&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Lonnie+D.+Ayers)**** [View All Articles by Lonnie D. Ayers, PMP](https://www.sapbwconsulting.com/blog/author/lonnie-d-ayers-pmp) ## The SAP Blog Subscribe to our blog and receive SAP BW Updates, demand generation, inbound marketing, sales enablement, technology and revenue generation insights and ideas delivered right to your email. 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