Real-time analyses with SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC)

SAP Analytics Cloud - the reporting and planning platform for business departments

The business intelligence solution, SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), is a self-service business analytics tool which generates data models using internal and external sources.
Analytics Cloud allows you to analyze your current situation, examine possible causes for problems or create future scenarios. To do this, SAC integrates business intelligence, predictive analytics and planning features all on one platform.

Using its cloud-based features, the platform-as-a-service (PaaS) makes it possible for advisers, analysts and decision-makers to create ad-hoc reports, plans and forecasts.

SAP Analytics Cloud stands for state-of-the-art technology in the cloud. Since it is a SaaS solution (software-as-a-service), client installation is not required, in contrast to on-premises solutions. SAC is ready for immediate use.
The solution’s intuitive operation makes it the optimum choice for business departments. You can access the cloud applications from anywhere using different end devices such as laptops, smartphones or tablets. Using SAP HANA in-memory database technology, figures will be displayed to you on dashboards in just a few seconds, even when there are very high volumes of data.

 

Structure of SAP Analytics Cloud

One product for many divisions

Analysts can, for example, retrieve and visualize data, advisers can create reports and finance experts can record planning data and generate forecasts.

The single interface allows all users to quickly find their way around different areas.

A workflow feature also supports the planning process. The integrated collaborative technology makes it possible to have an exchange among colleagues on different topics.

SAP Analytics Cloud simplifies the decision-making process for all departments through its core functions: reporting and analyzing as well as planning and forecasting.

What are the core functions of Analytics Cloud?


Business Intelligence

The business intelligence functions facilitate intuitive ad-hoc analyses with access to all on-premises and cloud data sources in the entire company. It doesn’t matter whether the source systems, such as SAP S/4HANNA or SAP BW/4HANA originate from SAP or are non-SAP systems from third-party providers.

The intuitive interface also allows end users to identify correlations in very large amounts of data (big data). Moreover, collaborative tools and “what if scenarios” as well as value driver tree functions are integrated in SAC for planning.

Planning

To make better decisions, the integrated planning features allow subplans for the department or comprehensive strategic financial plans to be created and linked on one platform. In addition to the traditional planning features, forecasting and machine learning tools are also used. To protect sensitive data, you can specify and grant permissions (data access controls) for who can share analyses with colleagues.

SAC planning features

The cloud platform boasts a variety of pre-configured standard features which offer the ultimate convenience when planning.
Here are a few examples:

  • Extensive range of entry options
    The options range from the entry of absolute and percentage values, copying and adding up right through to breaking down data.
  • Data actions
    Perform functions sequentially by button, such as copying between different plan models.
  • Collaboration features
    Features include discussion groups for sharing tasks and content, as well as an “out-of-the-box” feature for commenting on graphs and tables in stories – including on table cell level.
  • Version management
    This enables you to compare and separate data, to share scenarios and run “what if” simulations.
  • Predictive forecasting
    Create forecasts based on actual values with different granularities, algorithms and time periods.
  • Input tasks
    Create workflow and task assignments using SAC's built-in calendar.
  • Value driver tree
    The value driver tree offers a visual planning approach – ideal for budgeting for example.
  • Excel integration
    SAP Analysis for MS Office enables integration in Microsoft Excel.

SAC Planning can be integrated in SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (SAP BPC) and in SAP S/4HANA.

ORBIS as a reference customer on this topic at SAP!

 

Discover our ORBIS journey together with SAP. Our SAC experts will give you a first-hand account of how integrated workforce planning can be used to align employees and corporate strategy for better business results.

ORBIS as a reference customer at SAP on the subject of SAC!

Augmented Analytics

Augmented Analytics consists of the predictive and prescriptive analytics fields. While predictive analytics attempts to predict events (“What could happen?”), prescriptive analytics gives recommended actions to achieve or prevent forecast events. This helps you to achieve the optimal result and minimize your risks.

Augmented Analytics can help you, for example, to calculate the probability of your machinery suffering a failure; improve your cybersecurity; predict customer responses or purchasing behavior or check an individual’s credit.

SAP Augmented helps users to make smarter decisions more quickly using AI-assisted tools. These smart features include Search to Insight, Smart Insights, Smart Discovery, Time Series Forecasting, Smart Predict and Smart Grouping.

Search to Insight

Voice-enabled “Search to Insight” allows you to navigate in natural language to the important factors that impact a selected value.

Smart Insights

Using Smart Insights, you can determine the important factors that impact a selected value behind an analysis and, as a result, identify new correlations from previously unknown facts.

Smart Transformation

Machine learning will automatically improve data models and adjust data for expanded visualizations.

Smart Grouping

Smart Grouping is an expansion of the Smart Assist feature and allows customer groups to be identified or behavioral segmentation to be performed.

Smart Discovery

Explore and simulate hidden patterns and structures. Smart Discovery identifies all factors that directly impact your KPIs. The results will be displayed in auto-generated dashboards.

Time Series Forecasting

Offers users more freedom when forecasting future events. The forecasting algorithms provide better control of the modeling techniques that are used.

Smart Predict

Smart Predict allows you to forecast the probability of future events based on historic data. This is where artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and statistical algorithms play an important role.

R-Visualizations

Expand your SAP Analytics Cloud story with individual visualization using your own R scripts. No configuration is required if you use the R server runtime environment provided by SAP.

SAC relieves the burden on IT and reduces operating costs

Just like all SaaS solutions, you don’t need your own hardware to use SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC). You don’t even need to install or configure the analytics solution. The automatic updates mean that you always work with the latest version and also relieve your IT department.

What about the security of the cloud?

SAP cloud solutions undoubtedly offer many advantages, however, many have their doubts about data protection. Data protection and data security are quite understandably sensitive issues since user and customer data is stored and processed in mainly external data centers. Who is responsible when data is entrusted to a third party? Who is going to protect my sensitive customer data from misuse? What do you have to be aware of and how can you protect yourself?

The SAP Security Framework is based on current industry standards and the latest Compliance Requirements. SAP data centers are certified in accordance with the stringent ISO 27001 Standard, among other standards. Compliance with the highest security standards is regularly checked by internal and external audits at SAP.
In addition, as an SAP customer, you are free to choose the location of the data center where your data is stored. A data center in Germany is also available for selection.

That’s an overview of the advantages of SAP Analytics Cloud

SAP Analytics Cloud’s strengths include its ease of use, enabling powerful self-service solutions. Business Users from Sales can also benefit from SAC just like analysts from Financial Control or Management.

The big advantage here is the ability to create dashboards with individual figures that are linked to live data from the source systems.

Workforce Planning with the SAC

Workforce Planning with SAC

Does fast and efficient Workforce Planning by consolidating financial and HR data in the SAP Analytics Cloud sound good? We'll show you how it works! You will also learn about the challenges and opportunities involved. See for yourself and find the answer to the question "Why SAP Analytics Cloud?".

The ORBIS consultancy portfolio for your company

We offer you comprehensive support when it comes to modernizing your reporting operations. This includes traditional on-premise data warehousing projects and the latest cloud solutions, such as SAP Analytics Cloud.

With more than 15 years of expertise and project experience in the SAP BW field, we can help you to successfully adapt your IT infrastructure to your specific requirements, whether this is smaller business warehouse installations or data storage of multiple terabytes from numerous sources.

BOMAG switches to SAP Analytics Cloud

BOMAG has also decided that we, as ORBIS, should integrate the SAP Analytics Cloud solution into their business processes!
Find out what progress you are making with SAP Analytics Cloud and what KPI reporting has to do with it in our Success Story video!

SAP Business Analytics Workshops

Are you familiar with our SAP Business Analytics workshops?

In our fee-based workshops, we work with you to determine your specific needs and develop individual options and opportunities for your company.  What’s more, you’ll receive handy hints on the various Business Analytics components too.

Customer success stories with ORBIS
Success Stories
Logo GEBHARDT Intralogistics Group
GEBHARDT introduces SAP Datasphere and provides a clear view of incoming and existing orders
Logo Erich Netzsch GmbH & Co. Holding KG
Transparency in product costing through the use of SAP Analytics
Logo ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Manual actual data collection and PPM target value planning with SAP BW IP and SAP Design Studio in Quality
Logo Rittal GmbH & Co. KG
BW-integrated planning instead of Excel: Rittal is transparently planning customer and project sales with IT support
Logo Hager SE
State-of-the-art and optimized KPI reporting with SAP BW/4HANA and self-service BI from SAP Analytics Cloud
Logo Friedhelm Loh Group
SAP BPC at the Friedhelm Loh Group
Logo BOMAG GmbH
Dashboard based on the SAP Analytics Cloud: BOMAG optimizes and simplifies KPI reporting
Logo Hager SE
State-of-the-art KPI-Reporting with self-service BI tools and more besides: The Hager Group is introducing SAP BW/4HANA and SAP Analytics Cloud
Logo LAPP Insulators, PFISTERER Holding AG
LAPP Insulators introduces SAP BPC

References

Logo of AG der Dillinger Hüttenwerke

use frontends and query design

Logo of Hager SE

use BW/4HANA

Logo of HYDAC INTERNATIONAL GmbH

use SAP BW and Lumira Designer

Logo of Minol Messtechnik W. Lehmann GmbH & Co. KG

SAP BW on HANA Migration

Logo of Stabilus S.A.

use SAP BW-IP

SAP Business Analytics Portfolio
Embedded Analytics
More information on S/4HANA Embedded Analytics
Embedded Analytics

With the new ERP system S/4HANA, SAP offers the next step towards a modern, integrated platform for the constantly growing requirements of a state-of-the-art IT system.

Data Warehousing
More information on SAP Data Warehousing
Data Warehousing

The company at a glance using data warehousing

Analytics Frontends
More information on Business Analytics frontends
Analytics Frontends

Transform company data from different sources into relevant information

Augmented Analytics
More information on SAP Augmented Analytics
Augmented Analytics

Forecasts the most promising business opportunities and minimizes your commercial risk

Planning and Consolidation
Planning and consolidation with Business Analytics
Planning and Consolidation

Powerful tools for modern reporting

Business Analytics SAP

The increasing flood of information, the demand for ever shorter reaction times and the increasing responsibility in the operative business increase the demands on a modern reporting system.

GIVE US A CALL
Tel.: +86 21 6440 1276 * 801
CONTACT US DIRECTLY