What are aggregates in SAP BW and how are they created and maintained?

Aggregates in SAP BW are data summaries that improve query performance by precalculating and storing aggregated data rather than aggregating data at runtime. They can be created on InfoCubes or InfoProviders to optimize query performance.

Aggregates are created and maintained in SAP BW through the Aggregate Maintenance process. This process involves defining aggregation levels, selecting key figures for aggregation, and activating aggregates. Aggregates can be maintained manually or automatically through the process chain in SAP BW.

It is important to regularly monitor and manage aggregates in SAP BW to ensure optimal query performance and data consistency. This includes updating aggregates as data changes and periodically reviewing and adjusting aggregation levels to meet evolving business requirements.