SAP Analytics Cloud Tutorial

SAP Analytics Cloud is the cloud SaaS-based business intelligence and data analytics platform enabling us to perform data discovery, compile the data, and ad-hoc analysis and reporting to support predictive planning. The analytics features of SAP Analytic Cloud rely on programming, data algorithms, and operation research for getting insights and helping businesses discover meaningful data from several data sources.

It connects you with the people, ideas, and data from various sources, allowing us to make confident and rapid decisions. It allows us to visualize, discover, plan, and predict in one place. Companies from different sectors like Healthcare, Chemicals, Oil&Gas, and Insurance use SAP Analytics Cloud. Thus, SAP Analytics Cloud is the leading platform in the business intelligence domain. This SAP Analytics Cloud tutorial will help you learn all the aspects that are required to get started with the SAP Analytics Cloud.

SAP Analytics Cloud Tutorial- Table of Contents

What is SAP Analytics Cloud? What is the use of SAP Analytics Cloud? Functionalities SAP Analytics Cloud Features SAP Analytics Cloud Architecture SAP Analytics Cloud Pricing SAP Analytics Cloud Integrations SAP Analytics Cloud vs Tableau Why is SAP Analytics Cloud Important for Business? FAQs Conclusion

What is SAP Analytics Cloud?

SAP Analytics Cloud is a SaaS(Software as a Service) enterprise analytics solution that merges augmented analytics, business intelligence, predictive analytics, and planning capabilities to help you understand the data to make smart decisions. Moreover, we can analyze, plan, predict, report, and ask for all in a workflow.

1. Business Intelligence

SAP Analytics Cloud provides in-built self-service business intelligence features to enable you to analyze, visualize, and explore the data for understandable insights to make decisions. These features comprise dashboards, reports, data preparation, data preparation, data preparation, and data visualizations like tables, Geo maps, charts, and other visual formats that display the data to be easily and rapidly understood.

2. Planning

Planning in SAP Analytics Cloud enables you to predict, analyze, and plan in a single application. It allows extended real-time analysis and planning for linking and analyzing all the plans and people throughout the organization. It breaks off bins and combines teams together for collaborating on the plans and get better business outcomes.

3. Augmented Analytics

SAP Analytics Cloud-augmented analytics helps you to make confident decisions rapidly with automated insights supported by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Consume less time in analyzing the data manually by utilizing these capabilities to reveal the top influencers, contributors, outliers, and hidden patterns in our data - no data science knowledge is required. We will describe important features in detail.

If you want to enrich your career and become a professional in SAP Analytics Cloud, then enroll in "SAP Analytics Cloud Certification Training" This course will help you to achieve excellence in this domain.

What is the Use of SAP Analytics Cloud?

SAP Analytics Cloud links with your ideas, data, and people from many sources, allowing you to make confident and quick decisions. It allows you to discover, plan, visualize, and predict all the things at once. 

It assists in making all kinds of tactical, strategic, and tactical decisions. It also helps in improving the decision-making with all the analytical skills. Everyone can make clever decisions rapidly using artificial intelligence.

Important Functionalities of SAP Analytics Cloud

The following are the important functionalities of the SAP Analytics Cloud:

Integration with the SAP Analysis for Microsoft Office: This contains write and read functions for users who like to import data and work in readily familiar environments. 

• Data Locking and Improved data access rights: Utilized for the forecasting processes, where the responsibilities owned by the planners are applied by data locking and more locked states(open, restricted, and locked) are defined by the improved data access rights.
• Access to on-site and cloud data: It offers real-world access to the SAP applications like HANA and non-SAP applications for the cloud and on-site locations.
• Predictive Analytics: Enforce machine learning for performing guided analytics through Smart Transformation, Insights, and Discovery.
• Access to the SAP S/4 HANA: SAP S/4 HANA merges the transactions, planning, and analytics in a single application.
• Embedded Analytics: It allows the users to access the analytics features like What-if analysis and ad-hoc.
• Creating and Modifying the tools: It creates and modifies the tools for data-driven budgeting, forecasting, and analysis from a single cloud interface.

SAP Analytics Cloud Features

Following are the features of the SAP Analytics Cloud

1. Story/Dashboards Design

In the SAP Analytics Cloud, we can convert the data into the visualizations like tables, charts, geo maps, etc. Data visualization will help in the data analysis process by displaying the data visually, making it simpler for getting understandable insights to help you resolve your business problems. A story can be designed in the form of dashboards and reports to help you plan and analyze the data. The following image displays a sample story.

2. Data Visualization

The data visualization feature allows us to explore and emphasize the data with graphs and tables or with any other graphical elements. The following image shows a sample data visual:

3. Smart Insights

Getting immediate answers to our questions on the data with smart insights. Smart Insights executes statistical algorithms on the inherent data to analyze and reveal the best contributors affecting the chosen data variance or point. The results can be described naturally along with the visualizations to make you understand the Ys of the data and make some informed decisions.

4. Smart Predict

Smart Predict enables us to answer the business decisions that require predictive forecasts or predictions for planning future business evolutions. Smart Predict understands historical data and discovers the best patterns or relationships of behavior for creating predictions for future trends, values, and events. These predictions will be utilized for enhancing and automating decision-making. In Smart Predict, we have three kinds of predictive scenarios: 1) Classification, 2) Regression, and 3) Time Series

Type	Description	Example
Classification	Utilized for ranking the population and allocating a probability that the event will occur.	Who wants to buy this product with respect to the buying habits?
Regression	Utilized for finding the relationships between the variables explaining the events.	How much would a consumer invest in my e-commerce on average?
Time Series	Utilized for forecasting the future values of the measure.	What are the anticipated sales by product per region for the next Month?

5. Time Series Forecasting

Time Series Forecasting enables us to perform modern statistical analytics to create forecasts by analyzing trends, outliers, and cycles. Users can choose between different time series algorithms as per the requirement. This functionality helps you in making accurate data-driven decisions, particularly when blended with the business planning processes.

6. Smart Grouping

Smart Grouping enables us to visualize the data clusters on the bubble charts and scatter plots by grouping the data points as per the same properties. This feature enables you to explore the data points flexibly in specifying the attributes to be examined and shaping the business decision for particular groups.

7. Pre-Built Business Content Packages for Planning and BI

SAP Analytics Cloud contains some in-built analytics content for Planning and BI by industry and line-of-business created by the SAP Partners and SAP. These features are simple to download, configure and customize on the user tenants and are utilized through the SAP Analytics Cloud Content Network. Influence these user-friendly technical sample templates and industry and business-line content to expedite and stimulate your content creation.

8. Analytic Applications

Analytic Applications allow professionals to utilize advanced scripting to create complex, custom applications to satisfy advanced and unique business applications. Scripting enables the application designer to specify the relationship between different components on the page, and for guiding the users, and adapt the widget behavior as per the user’s expectations.

9. Data Analyzer

Data Analyzer will allow you to query the data and carry out ad-hoc analysis in the pivot table analysis view. We can analyze the data for the leadership as per the business hypothesis, discover the trends and insights, or get a structured view of the enterprise’s financial performance throughout many dimensions.

A main advantage of the data analyzer is that we can analyze the data without creating the story or model in the SAP Analytics Cloud. SAP Business Warehouse Live Queries, SAP Analytics Cloud models, and SAP HANA Live Views are supported.

10. Machine Learning Capabilities

SAP Analytics Cloud implements machine learning technology for automating predictive analysis and augmenting the BI experience with more insights and data.

SAP Analytics Cloud Architecture

1. Stories

A story is a place where all the data insights are displayed. We can utilize several charts, text, visualizations, and images for those insights. Every story will have more than one page in a canvas or a grid format. In the first case, the pages will be responsive.

2. Analytic Applications

SAP Analytics Cloud is possible for building built-in applications with specified data processing functionalities. We can configure the behavior of UI components with a group of particular API events, and built-in actions must happen in particular circumstances.

3. Planning

Since Planning is one of the primary objectives of the platform, there are several tools that help the teams to work together on this task. The process indicates typing corresponding values into the table cells in the planning models.

4. Models

Models offer the framework for visualizing the data in the stories. While we can choose not to utilize the models for our stories, they enable us to structure and model the data; clean it for more exact analysis; set up the latest formula-based measures, and create measures.

5. Datasets

It is another method of utilizing the data in the platform. It appears like the table with the data may be utilized either as the base to build the story or directly as the source for the smart prediction.

6. Smart Capabilities

AI enables SAP Analytics cloud to offer its consumers several augment features that, in their turn, help enterprises make insightful decisions. For example, they are Smart Discovery, Search to Insight, Smart Insights, Smart Discovery, Time Series Forecasting, and Smart Grouping.

7. Mobile App

Along with the cloud experience, we can get advantages from the application, which makes it feasible for accessing the data and work with the other features.

8. SAP Digital Boardroom

This tool enables us to convert stories into interactive dashboards and real-world presentations.

SAP Analytics Cloud Pricing

In terms of pricing, we have various options in SAP Analytics Cloud. The most popular is known as business intelligence and varies from $36 per user per month. It includes only self-service augmented analytics and business intelligence.

If you require more, you may select planning options. Along with the previous one, it offers the capability to replicate the scenarios, integrate the planning with the SAP S/4 HANA, and automate the forecasts with predictive planning. The price relies on the functions and team and is defined upon request.

SAP also offers a 30-day free trial of its data analytics tool. We can also extend the trial period up to 90 days upon request.

SAP Analytics Cloud Integrations

SAP Analytics Cloud offers innovative data analysis, forecasting, and planning opportunities; we may have to utilize all the ideal data to utilize them. Using the Cloud Connector, we can integrate SAP Analytics Cloud with several on-site data sources, like SAP HANA, SAP BW/4 HANA, SAP S/4 HANA, SAP Business Objects Solutions, and SAP Business Planning.

However, if we want to connect the platform to the non-SAP systems, including OData, SQL, Google BigQuery, etc., we may do it either with the utilization of the Post Message API or the OData Connection. If you are not IT professional, product connectors can be the solution.

SAP Analytics Cloud vs Tableau

Tableau is a famous tool allowing enterprises to gain understandable insights from any kind of data and is a reliable leader in data analytics. Both Tableau and SAP Analytics Cloud are web-based. The primary one is suited for using on mobile devices and also contains desktop versions like Windows and Mac, and the second one provides the mobile application.

Platforms are user-friendly with no technical background. Both SAP Analytics Cloud and Tableau offer a group of instinctive instruments for efficient data visualizations. Both platforms are the best players in the BI industry and ad-hoc reporting and scheduling capabilities.

Tableau Desktop places higher in data security and discovery. But, contrary to its competitor, it does not include column-level security policies. Its positives include the absence of rival instruments for planning, forecasting, and budgeting, whereas SAP Analytics Cloud is the best in the BI industry because it utilizes Artificial Intelligence for predictive data modeling and simulating several scenarios. In contrast to Tableau, SAP can be suitable for financial data reporting and consolidation, detailed audit trails, and budget planning. 

In the context of integration, Tableau is helpful since it enables us to connect explicit data sources with the APIs, whereas SAP offers analytics with data compatibility coming from ERP solutions, Salesforce, and Microsoft SQL Server.

Generally, SAP is a popular tool to enhance the business since it strengthens high-ranked augmented analytics and predictive planning capabilities with features like Smart Insights at the top. On the other hand, tableau is more instinctive, offers in-person training possibilities, and helps you tell stories about the data; the main benefit of Tableau is its 24/7 service.

Why is SAP Analytics Cloud Important for your business?

SAP Analytics Cloud is important for your business due to the following reasons:

1. One-Stop Solution

SAP Analytics Cloud includes everything ranging from prediction to planning, augmented analytics to business intelligence in a customized cloud-based environment. When we integrate it into our business system with the help of a secure ERP solution provider, we can easily handle the revenge, expenses, and other financials at one source.

2. Enhanced Planning

SAP Analytics Cloud brings predictive analytics and machine learning-based features to help you develop precise plans associated with the costs and expenses in rapid time. SAC Predictive features will automate basic expense planning by analyzing the historical data. Accuracy Indicators also offer insights for financial planning. It can monitor the plan in the real world through SAP Analytics Cloud. A trustworthy ERP Consultant will offer more insights into this advanced advantage.

3. Appropriate Alignment

Precise is always required, Whether it is financial or operational planning. Further, you have to combine multiple teams and stakeholders while making policy-related decisions. SAP Analytics Cloud includes various enterprise planning tools and allows you to coordinate your enterprise’s expenses and cost strategies throughout several teams like Sales, Marketing, IT, and HR. We can dispose of needless emails with unimportant plans and maintain productivity using real-world collaboration.

4. Real-world Decisions

SAP Analytics Cloud allows us to transform the insight actions into action in a flash. Since this Cloud  ERP is on the basis of automated technology, it allows us to make decisions that are free from any biases or agenda.

SAC contains a query language feature that creates visualizations for answering the questions immediately. We can also stay updated with the critical trends using machine learning.

5. Useful Insights

SAP Analytics Cloud is a platform that includes machine learning and augmented analytics functionality that can transform understandable insights into business value. Augment Analytics plays a crucial role in data exploration, finding the production trends and cycles, and finding all the ways for implementing the cost plans efficiently. Managers will make an understandable plan as per those insights and monitor the team’s performance in the real world. SAC also allows you to simulate the outcomes for different ranges of budget.

SAP Analytics Cloud FAQs

1. What are the SAP Analytics Cloud Capabilities?

The following are the SAP Analytics Cloud Capabilities:

• Augmented Analytics
• Business Intelligence
• Modeling
• Planning
• Smart Transformation

2. How did I get started with the SAP Analytics Cloud?

Step1: Go to SAP Analytics Cloud Story

Step2: Get acquainted with the story interface

Step3: Enforce Filters to the Story

Step4: Analyze the Data in Tables and Charts

Step5: Utilize the smart features for the automated search and insights

Step6: Start the Discussion, Comment, and Share the story

3. What data sources does SAP Analytics Cloud support?

SAP Analytics Cloud supports different data sources like Google Drive, Google BigQuery, Oracle 11, OData, File Server, MS SQL Server, and Salesforce.

4. Can I use the SAP Analytics Cloud with the other SAP applications?

Yes, we can utilize the SAP Analytics Cloud with the other SAP applications.

5. Which database can we connect to SAP Analytics Cloud?

We can connect the SAP Analytics Cloud with the databases like Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle database, and Mysql.

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6. Which programming language is used in SAP Analytics Cloud?

JavaScript is utilized in SAP Analytics Cloud.

7. What is SAP Analytics Cloud built on?

The SAP Analytics Cloud was developed on HANA based Business Intelligence(BI) platform.

8. What are the two types of models in SAP Analytics Cloud?

The two types of models in SAP Analytics Cloud are 1) New Model and 2) Classic Account Model.

9. What skills are required for SAP Analytics Cloud?

Every SAP Analytics Cloud Consultant should have a bachelor's degree in IT and real-time experience with SAC as the planning tool, implementing and developing data models.

10. What is the default table type in the SAP Analytics Cloud?

The default table type in SAP Analytics Cloud is the Row store table.

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Conclusion

SAP Analytics Cloud is an element of the HANA Cloud Platform. It is a suitable tool for enterprise users for ad-hoc and analytical reporting. It was previously called BusinessObjects for the cloud. It converts the raw data from the transactional system into understandable insights to make better decisions. I hope this SAP Analytics Cloud tutorial gives you sufficient information about the SAP Analytics Cloud platform. Enroll in SAP Analytics Cloud Training to upskill yourself.