Key Takeaways
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Clear understanding of what ABAP on HANA is and why it matters for functional consultants
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A step-by-step roadmap that beginners and working consultants can follow
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Real-world example to understand how ABAP skills improve project delivery
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Top 10 practical FAQs to clarify common doubts
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Direct contact details to start your learning journey with Ageis Technova
What is ABAP ?
ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) is the core programming language used to develop custom programs, reports and enhancements in SAP systems.
In traditional ECC systems, ABAP was mainly executed at the application layer using Open SQL and classical programming techniques.
With the move to S/4HANA, SAP introduced ABAP on HANA — an enhanced version of ABAP that takes full advantage of the HANA in-memory database.
It allows developers to push heavy logic to the database layer using CDS Views, AMDP, and HANA-optimized SQL, resulting in much faster performance and real-time analytics.
In simple words:
Classical ABAP = code runs in the app server
ABAP on HANA = code is optimized to run inside the HANA database (faster + real-time + Fiori ready)
Why Should Functional Consultants Learn ABAP?
In today’s S/4 HANA projects, the lines between functional and technical work are getting thinner. Clients expect functional consultants to understand how enhancements, CDS Views and custom programs work — even if they don’t write the code themselves.
Learning modern ABAP helps you:
- Communicate better with technical teams
When you understand ABAP concepts, it becomes much easier to speak the same “language” as developers. You can explain your requirements clearly, understand their challenges, and avoid misunderstandings during the project. - Design smarter functional specifications
A functional spec is much stronger when you already know how the logic will be built in ABAP. You can include proper field names, performance suggestions and technical details — which reduces rework and speeds up development. - Understand performance impacts (code pushdown, CDS, AMDP)
Modern ABAP uses in-memory processing. When you know how CDS Views and AMDPs work, you’ll naturally design solutions that run faster and avoid heavy, app-layer logic that slows down the system. - Build Fiori-ready requirements
Most S/4HANA projects use Fiori apps. These apps consume data from CDS Views and OData. If you understand ABAP on HANA, you can define requirements that are already aligned to Fiori architecture (e.g., annotations, exposed fields, consumption views). - Become a Techno-Functional Consultant (high demand in S/4 HANA market)
Today, companies prefer consultants who understand both functional and technical aspects. By learning ABAP, you move from pure functional to techno-functional, which makes you more valuable — and opens up more opportunities in S/4HANA projects.
Roadmap to Learn ABAP (for Functional & Beginners)
| Stage | What to Focus On | Details / Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAP Navigation Basics | System access, SE38, SE80, SE11, basic tables (MARA, BKPF, etc.) |
| 2 | ABAP Basics | Syntax, Data Types, Internal Tables, Work Areas, Loops |
| 3 | Modularization | Includes/Forms, Function Modules, Subroutines |
| 4 | Database Access | Open SQL (SELECT, JOIN, UPDATE), For All Entries, Views |
| 5 | ABAP on HANA Concepts | CDS Views, AMDP, Code Pushdown, In-memory joins |
| 6 | Enhancements | BADI, User Exit, Enhancement Point, Implicit/Explicit Enhancements |
| 7 | Fiori & OData | OData basics, CDS Annotations, Fiori Consumption Views |
| 8 | Real-World Practice | Build custom reports, CDS views and enhancement scenarios |
| 9 | Performance Optimization | SQL Trace, ST05, PlanViz, identifying slow ABAP code |
| 10 | Project Exposure | Work with technical team during implementation or mini-projects |
Real-World Example
In an S/4HANA MM project, a Functional Consultant designed a stock report using traditional ALV. But the technical team suggested using a CDS View + Fiori List Report instead (faster & real-time). Because the consultant understood ABAP on HANA concepts, he re-wrote the functional spec using CDS fields and annotations — reducing development time by 40% and improving performance.
Key Benefits of Learning ABAP as a Functional Consultant
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Become a Techno-Functional Consultant (more demand, higher salaries)
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Communicate better with technical teams during implementation
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Write better functional specifications with performance in mind
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Understand CDS, AMDP and Fiori — which are part of every S/4HANA project
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Build future-ready skills to stay relevant in the SAP market
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Faster troubleshooting and independent debugging during testing
Top 10 FAQs
1. Do I need a technical background to start learning ABAP?
No. Even beginners can start — it just requires understanding of basic SAP tables and processes.
2. Can Functional Consultants become ABAP developers?
Yes. Many techno-functional consultants started as purely functional and upskilled into ABAP.
3. Is ABAP on HANA different from classical ABAP?
It’s the same language with additional features (CDS, AMDP, in-memory logic).
4. How long does it take to learn ABAP basics?
Approximately 4–6 weeks of regular practice to cover syntax + Open SQL.
5. Is coding necessary for functional consultants?
You don’t need to write programs daily — but knowing ABAP helps in preparing high-quality functional specs and debugging issues.
6. What should I learn first — classical ABAP or ABAP on HANA?
Start with classical ABAP basics, then move to ABAP on HANA (CDS, AMDP).
7. What is the simplest way to practice ABAP?
Start with basic SELECT reports in SE38, then gradually try CDS views in Eclipse (ADT).
8. Do I need to learn SQLScript?
Only basic SQL concepts are enough. Most tasks can be handled via CDS + Open SQL.
9. Can I switch from functional to techno-functional roles after learning ABAP?
Yes — most S/4HANA projects prefer consultants who understand both functional and technical.
10. Are there any real-time projects in Ageis Technova’s ABAP training?
Yes — our training includes hands-on CDS / Enhancement / Fiori scenarios so learners get real project exposure.
If you’re working in S/4 HANA projects, learning ABAP is no longer optional — it’s a career accelerator. Even basic ABAP knowledge will help you write smarter specifications, understand performance impact and become a trusted techno-functional consultant.
📞 Contact Ageis Technova at +91-74287 06064 or email us at info@ageistechnova.com to start learning modern ABAP with hands-on S/4 HANA practice.
