SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC)

SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) is an all-in-one solution that brings together business intelligence, planning and predictive analytics in a single platform, helping companies turn their data into actionable decisions. Thanks to its powerful artificial intelligence features, such as Just Ask, SAC enables augmented analysis that simplifies access to insights and improves forecast accuracy. By integrating advanced planning tools and facilitating collaboration between teams, SAC optimizes business performance management while boosting efficiency and responsiveness.

Discover the features of SAP Analytics Cloud

Integrated planning

Real-time collaboration for centralized forecasts, budgets and objectives, enabling error reduction and a unified vision.
” what-if “ scenarios to simulate various strategic choices and understand their financial and operational impacts.
Align planning processes with data analytics and visualizations for rapid adjustments based on results. (Data Actions)
Advanced features for managing forecasts and adjustments in line with market trends.

Augmented analysis with AI

Smart Insights: automatically identifies key performance drivers, helping to explain trends without manual analysis.
Smart Predict: offers predictive models (regression and classification) that enable users to obtain accurate forecasts without the need for data science expertise.
Just Ask: Natural language interface for asking questions and obtaining quick, contextualized insights. Users can interact with data like a personal assistant, revolutionizing access to information by simplifying analysis.

Integration with SAP Datasphere

Direct access to reliable and constantly updated enterprise data, guaranteeing a single, centralized source for all analyses.
Reduce duplication and simplify data flows, ensuring information integrity and consistency across the organization.
Simplified collaboration between teams, offering a complete, real-time overview of the business.

Data exploration and visualization

Intuitive, interactive dashboard, enabling custom visualizations and reports to be created with just a few clicks.
Dynamic graphs and interactive filters for easy data exploration.
The ability to customize reports to meet the needs of individual users or teams.
Friendly interface and mobile access, facilitating adoption for all user levels.

Live connections

Live connections enable SAC to access data in real time without replicating it in the cloud. The data remains in the source system (SAP), and SAC interacts directly with it to provide up-to-date analysis.

Benefits:

Immediate access to the latest data.
No duplication of data, reducing security and compliance concerns.
Optimized performance through use of source system capabilities.
8 SAP sources available in this mode.

Data import connections

With this mode, data is extracted from the source system and imported into SAC. Once imported, data is stored in the cloud and can be modeled, combined and enriched directly in SAC.

Advantages:

The ability to combine data from multiple sources for consolidated analysis.
Flexibility in data transformation and enrichment within SAC.
Independence on source system performance after import.
More than 35 source types available in this mode.

Collaboration, security and compliance

In-context comments and annotations: Users can add comments directly to dashboards, graphs or planning cells, facilitating discussions and tracking decisions in context, enhancing collective understanding and exchange history.
Real-time sharing : SAC enables the sharing of reports, stories and models in real time with other team members, ensuring that all users are working with the most up-to-date information and can collaborate synchronously on the same insights and analyses.
Robust security standards and compliance with international regulations (such as RGPD), protecting sensitive data.
Multi-factor authentication, data encryption and role-based access control.
Monitoring and access management to ensure optimum security and confidentiality.

SAP Analytics Catalog

Content centralization: all analytical elements are gathered in one place, simplifying navigation and discovery of relevant information.
Publishing and access management: users can publish content to the catalog and manage access permissions, ensuring controlled distribution of information. SAP Community
Metadata enrichment: each catalog item can be enriched with detailed metadata, making it easier to find and understand the content.
External content integration: the catalog can also include links to external analytical content, whether from SAP or third-party solutions, offering a complete view of the company’s analytical ecosystem. SAP Community

SAP Analytics Cloud

Highlights

All-in-one solution: SAC combines business intelligence, planning and predictive analytics in a single platform, reducing complexity and centralizing analysis.
User-friendly interface : Its intuitive interface makes the tool accessible to non-technical users, encouraging wider adoption throughout the organization.
Integrated AI features: With tools like Just Ask and Joule, SAC uses artificial intelligence to simplify access to insights and automate forecasting, enabling faster, more contextualized analysis.
Native integration with SAP Datasphere : Enables direct access to enterprise data in real time, ensuring reliable, up-to-date analyses without data duplication.
Robust security : SAC adheres to the strictest security standards, ensuring compliance with international regulations and protecting sensitive corporate data.

Weak points

Dependence on SAP environments : Although SAC can connect to non-SAP data sources, its integration is optimized for SAP solutions, which may limit its appeal to organizations not using other SAP products.
Learning curve for certain advanced functionalities: Planning and AI capabilities sometimes require training to be fully exploited, especially for users unfamiliar with data modeling or predictive forecasting.
Customization limits : Compared to some open source or custom BI solutions, SAC may offer less flexibility in customizing reports and dashboards.

Opportunities

Growth of AI-based analytics: Demand for augmented analytics and automated forecasting solutions is growing rapidly. SAC, with its AI capabilities, is well placed to meet this growing need for predictive analytics and automation.
Cloud expansion and collaborative working adoption : With the rise of hybrid and remote working models, SAC’s ability to facilitate real-time collaboration on centralized data becomes a major asset.
Synergy with other SAP products: SAC can offer even more value to SAP customers who also use solutions such as SAP S/4HANA and SAP SuccessFactors, creating an integrated ecosystem for performance management.

Threats

Intense competition in the BI and analytics sector : The analytics market is highly competitive, with major players also offering advanced AI and data visualization capabilities.
Fast-changing data security and privacy regulations : Data protection laws such as the RGPD in Europe impose strict requirements. BI solutions must constantly adapt to remain compliant, which can increase operating costs.
Cost for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) : The cost of SAC can be a barrier for SMEs, who may be attracted to more affordable or open source alternatives, limiting SAC adoption in this segment.

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In conclusion…

SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) stands out for its ease of use, versatility and seamless integration with SAP Datasphere, enabling companies to quickly access their data and collaborate intuitively.

Designed for users of all levels, SAC offers a user-friendly interface that makes analytics accessible without requiring in-depth technical skills. Its all-in-one platform combines advanced planning, business intelligence and predictive analysis capabilities. They enable teams to work synergistically and switch easily between data exploration andadvanced predictive scenario analysis.