Due to the huge amount of data generated every day, cloud analytics are becoming increasingly important. With the help of cloud analyses, the data from the cloud can be easily, efficiently and understandably analyzed and presented to the user. In the following text you will learn everything about cloud analysis and we will show you the applicability and advantages of cloud analysis software.
What is SAP Analytics Cloud?
SAP Analytics Cloud is a Software as a Service (SaaS) Business Intelligence (BI) platform developed by SAP. Analytics Cloud was specifically designed with the intention of providing all analytics functionality to all users in one product. SAC combines business intelligence, predictive analysis and planning.
Self-service makes it as easy as possible for users to analyze data and create reports. It can also be used on mobile devices. Furthermore, various data sources can be integrated. In addition to SAP data sources such as SAP HANA or SAP BW, many non-SAP data sources can also be connected. These include sources such as Google Drive, Data Services, Dow Jones, SQL, Salesforce, among others.
What are cloud analytics?
Cloud analytics describes the application of analysis algorithms to data in a private or public cloud in order to then obtain an evaluated analysis result. Cloud analytics involves the use of scalable cloud computing with powerful analytics software. This allows patterns to be recognized in data and new insights to be gained. The data is stored, analyzed and its use is checked to derive usable business knowledge.
More and more companies rely on data analytics to gain a competitive advantage and drive scientific discovery. Data analysis has therefore become an increasingly valuable tool as the amount and value of data continues to increase.
How is SAC different from other analysis software?
SAC can provide impetus to the cloud analysis landscape with new tools. The SAP Analytics Cloud already has advantages because it is designed as a platform. The various integration options make SAC a single point of truth where data from a wide variety of sources comes together.
The integration possibilities of different data sources are continuously expanded:
- With the live connections, dashboards can be created immediately and easily, since the data is usually already maintained in the underlying SAP system.
- Dashboarding in the story environment and the Analytics Designer allows data to be logically linked and visualized quickly and easily for users in specialist departments.
- In addition to standard visualizations such as tables or charts, SAC also offers other options such as value driver trees or the linked analysis function out-of-the-box.
- The user experience is enhanced by layout and features such as the Optimized Story Viewer. With the help of machine learning, users only have to type in informal questions and receive instant answers, data visualizations, forecasts and explanations.
- SAC's planning capability provides the ability to create and link financial and operational plans to simplify decision making.
Furthermore, various scenarios can be simulated and analyzed using input components and sliders in the dashboard, which makes planning easier. In addition, SAC enables better teamwork with chats for consultation or the possibility to insert comments in the application. Milestones can also be set in the calendar and results, to-dos and workflow can be documented.
With predictive analytics, new insights can be gained through analysis without data science experience. This works through the use of AI and machine learning. Machine learning uses three types of algorithms to automate sophisticated predictions:
- Klassifizierung
- Regression
- time series analysis
With natural language processing, natural language is captured and processed using computers. With the "Smart Prediction" function, results can be predicted at the push of a button and forecasts can be made.
If you are interested in SAP Analytics Cloud as your analysis software, we offer you a free and non-binding consultation so that you can find the best solution.
Thanks to our many years of experience and expertise, we are the right partner for your reporting and planning project SAP Analytics Cloud. We have experience in the following projects:
- If you would like to migrate your planning and reporting from Excel to SAC, we will help you with the implementation.
- We implement your plan data according to SAC in the form of a live connection from S/4HANA or BW, among others.
- If you need comprehensive reporting in the SAC, then we are the right people for you.
You are also welcome to have a non-binding consultation with one of our experts for advice on an individual solution.
We are looking forward to your contact!
What options are there for reporting with SAP?
The SAP Analytics Cloud combines business intelligence (BI), predictive analytics and planning in one tool. It visualizes data, handles budget planning and can carry out future analyses. The main function is the creation of reports from core data. Internal or external business activities, budget forecast data or even MS Excel spreadsheets can be used and formatted for this purpose. This software solution is intuitive and easy to use. It allows you to create reports of varying complexity completely independently.
Business Intelligence first collects information, either directly from the database or through manual import. This enables data preparation with additional functions, such as adding indicators and formulas or changing values. Then you can use data visualization to present the data in graphs, tables or other visualizations.
The Planning area of SAC, on the other hand, enables the combination of financial and operating statements in a single tool. Here, too, a complete and easily understandable overview of your current status is generated.
In order to highlight relevant key figures or predict future results, SAP has introduced innovations in the field of artificial intelligence. Some use cases for these innovations include automated content creation via smart discovery, identifying influential characteristics, and identifying off-trend data sets.
SAP for Group Reporting also offers other advantages. Corporations can perform consolidation and planning activities in a single application, in real time, and have a detailed view of the business at any point in the period. This speeds up the closing process, leaving more time to analyze the results and make business decisions based on them. In addition, Group Reporting offers fully functional drill-down reporting down to the respective line items. This is done using all the details of the underlying Universal Journal. A high degree of data accuracy and a clear roadmap for the integration of SAP Disclosure Management help here.
What are the advantages of SAP compared to other providers?
The SAP Analytics Cloud enables companies to use data in the best possible way. The information can be analyzed and visualized according to your requirements. The Boardroom feature creates interactive dashboards with metrics and charts to facilitate data sharing. The user interface is easy to use thanks to the “what you see is what you get” approach. The integrated use of machine learning systems makes it possible to automatically create forecasts for regressions, time series and classifications.
Smart Discovery allows influences on business goals to be filtered and displayed. The extensive planning mode includes aspects:
- versioning
- resource localization
- value driver trees
- automated transformation processes
Group reporting primarily focuses on formal, external and financial data. At SAC, on the other hand, internal decision-making is more important. SAC can be used in all possible areas of a company, from HR to sales to management.
Advantages of introducing SAP reporting tools at INSIRE
"We efficiently develop your internal reporting with meaningful information for controlling your company and present you with key figure models and value drivers linked in terms of content and transparently", Boris Purer Senior Manager.
We help from beginning to end, end-to-end, and have both professional and technical know-how to find the best solution for your company. First, we design a reporting strategy in connection with cloud applications, mobile reporting and on-premise dashboarding as well as for handling reorganizations and retrospective reporting. Then a key figure reporting system for the internal control of organizational units is created to lay the foundation. At this point we establish the reporting processes and help to select the appropriate reporting tools. We then carry out the systematic implementation.
Your advantages with us as a partner:
- As an experienced SAP partner, we support you in setting up your internal (integrated) reporting, tailored to the software solution!
- We manage the linking of decentralized reporting events and generate a "single point of truth".
- We take over the examination and alignment of your business intelligence strategy with an actual recording of existing reporting processes and identify areas for optimization.
Please do not hesitate to contact us!
