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What is SAP Analytics Cloud? Everything you need to know at a glance

“Analysing data and responding quickly” – in a business context, this motto has long since ceased to be merely in vogue; it has now become essential. After all, no company can any longer afford to manage its affairs at a guess without a solid foundation of data. Nor is it an effective approach. One thing has changed in recent years, however: whereas in the past it was necessary to painstakingly analyse vast amounts of paper-based data and subsequently evaluate digital lists manually, this can now be done far more efficiently.

In this context, the term ‘SAP Analytics Cloud’, or SAC for short, is being mentioned more and more often. But what exactly is the SAP Analytics Cloud, and what benefits does it offer? We’ve summarised the key points:

 

 

SAP Analytics Cloud in a nutshell

SAP Analytics Cloud is a reporting, analysis and planning platform developed by SAP. It is therefore a software solution that helps companies collect and analyse data, and use it to make business decisions. One could also say that SAP Analytics Cloud is a classic tool for corporate management – but one that also extends to analysis and planning purposes. This is because one of the greatest advantages of this innovation is its strong planning focus, which enables companies to draw up plans relating, for example, to finance or human resources.

Benefits of SAP Analytics Cloud

This powerful planning component is not the only benefit, however – there are more: as the name suggests, it is a cloud-based model, i.e. Software-as-a-Service. This means that customers do not need to install anything locally, and the tool is accessible at all times. Nor do companies need to worry about updates – the vendor takes care of this and rolls out new features at regular intervals. Further benefits include:
1
Reporting and Planning:
Another major advantage of SAP Analytics Cloud is its versatility: it is both a reporting and a planning tool. This means it can be used to create analyses for senior management as well as for subordinate departments and specific purposes. Whether strategic or operational – both areas are covered, enabling the programme to support a wide range of decision-making processes.
2
User-friendliness:
SAC is characterised by a high degree of user-friendliness. Users can customise elements within the application and create dashboards even without in-depth IT knowledge. Switching between edit and view modes is also a matter of moments within the same interface.
3
Compatibility:
The SAC naturally works superbly in combination with SAP products such as the S/4HANA ERP system – but that’s not all. Other source systems can also be connected to it. However, the combination of SAP Datasphere and SAP Analytics Cloud continues to prove particularly effective for data-driven analytics – users can switch between the two solutions with a single click. One could also say: SAC gives SAP customers the opportunity to create even more in-depth analyses, reports, plans and simulations using an additional tool – as a complement to standard products such as the Fiori Analytical Apps.
4
Extensibility and Content:
Furthermore, as with almost all its products, SAP offers the option to develop and implement partner extensions and sell them on the SAP Market Place. And last but not least, Excel files or similar can still be imported and linked to data so that they too can be incorporated into reporting.
5
Live access:
SAP Analytics Cloud also offers live access to data from S/4HANA, BW/4HANA or SAP Datasphere. This feature is particularly valuable in operational contexts, for example to generate rapid analyses.
6
Artificial Intelligence:
There is also an increased focus on the use of AI and machine learning with predictive analytics. This means that simulations and predictions can already be carried out, for example to forecast revenue trends.

Where are we heading?

Speaking of artificial intelligence: when it comes to taking a cautious peek into the future to see where SAC is heading, this topic crops up once again – here’s an overview of the key points:

1
SAP Joule:
Although predictive analytics has always been a major focus at SAP, the company is now stepping up a gear in terms of speed and innovation: the whole initiative is called SAP Joule. It helps users answer analytical questions, enrich and enhance data models, and create visualisations. In future, Joule is also set to write scripts and provide users with even better support when creating dashboards. Even now, basic structures can be built automatically, so you no longer have to start from scratch. These are then refined in the next step. And that’s important too: because customisation will remain essential in the future.
2
Storytelling:
‘Storytelling’ – the interpretation of data – is also becoming increasingly important. Artificial intelligence plays a part here too: for example, those who have not yet explored the subject in great depth can have data interpreted for them at a basic level, thereby gaining a foundation.
3
Business AI:
The topic of AI will generally permeate the entire tool landscape at SAP – to this end, the term ‘Business AI’ has been conceived as an umbrella term for all AI components. The aim: greater automation and greater efficiency. This should make it quicker and easier to set up rules, from which the system subsequently learns and benefits. Processes will also be further improved – for example, in conjunction with SAP Signavio.
4
Simulation enhancements:
Another new feature will be a simulation enhancement. This is intended to enable Monte Carlo simulations.
5
Analytics as a
Service:
The SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) is taking centre stage when it comes to digitalisation and the use of technology within organisations. As a result, SAC can be utilised as an analytics service within the BTP to further optimise organisations’ scalability.

SAP Analytics Cloud offers – across all areas of the organisation – the opportunity to bring end users closer to the data. End users have full access and the ability to tell stories using the data – keyword: storytelling. The insights gained are, in turn, vital for corporate management. However, the key to making effective use of all this – including AI – is, once again, a clean data foundation.
Clemens Stadler
LoB Analytics & Planning

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