Reporting and planning in SAP Business Data Cloud

Maintaining, processing and providing data in a business-useful form involves numerous challenges for analytics and reporting systems, which at a general level can be divided into two groups. The first is closely related to data analysis and processing. The second relates to technical and economic issues.

A fundamental challenge is the growing volume of data. Every year there is more and more information that a company must analyze in order to meet market demands and remain competitive. This is not only data from transactional systems, but also from the macroeconomic environment (trend tracking, consumer behavior analysis). Unstructured, text-based data (e.g., from social media platforms) is also growing.

Another issue is data quality, or rather the lack of it. When combining data from different sources, we usually see large differences in the level of maintenance, inconsistency, lack of validation or insufficient validation of data correctness. Using data from different source systems also raises integration issues.

The manufacturer’s support for the SAP BW data warehouse in operation at many companies ends in 2027, which means that they should start an internal discussion today about what’s next for analytics and reporting solutions. This problem doesn’t apply to all systems, of course, but such a discussion is also important in the context of new technologies. It’s already standard that more and more environments and solutions are moving to the cloud. Also, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to analyze data and gain competitive advantage. AI is speeding up analytics, finding relationships between data that may not have been obvious.

Technology is also challenged by the dizzying pace of change in the market. From season to season, consumer expectations and practices change, and new platforms for communicating with customers emerge. These challenges must be met.

This, in turn, leads us to the question of whether, as an organization, we have the right competencies necessary to find our way in this dynamic reality. This includes both business and technological expertise. Finally, we must also mention cost. An extensive analytical and reporting system means concrete costs for implementation, development, maintenance.

For companies working in an SAP systems environment, the recommended analytical and reporting tools are solutions from the SAP BDC cloud platform combining the data layer, analytics and big data:

• SAP Datasphere – A cloud-based data warehouse for collecting, combining and processing data from SAP and non-SAP systems, both on-premise and in the cloud, as well as flat files (Excel, CSV). It allows graphical modeling, creation of SQL insights and, when needed, more advanced ones (e.g. Python);
• SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC)– tool for reporting, analytics and planning: dashboards (data visualization), self-service, integration with Excel, predictions (time series, regression/classification), “just ask" (AI functionality, natural language queries), statistical analysis, scenarios and forecasts, simulations (including Monte Carlo), planning process workflow (calendar and tasks);
• BW Modernization – path for SAP BW users: controlled modernization/migration of data warehouse, extension of vendor support for transition to cloud architecture;
• SAP Databricks – big data layer, processing of large volumes and data from various systems, including unstructured data, AI/ML scenarios.

In order to learn about tools from the SAP BDC platform and lower the barrier to entry into new solutions at All for One, we have developed four scenarios with the primary goal of showing users – decision makers, planners, business analysts – the solutions’ capabilities and the potential for their use. But not only that. “The product" of the scenarios will also be ready-made reports, running on the company’s data. Running them will enable measurable benefits in data analysis in a short period of time.

The scenarios apply to SAP Datasphere and SAC. Upon request, it is also possible to run a selected scenario for SAP Databricks.

The goal of this scenario is to run a working dashboard in SAP Analytics Cloud on the company’s actual data. It only takes one business day to develop it. The report is ready to go, and because we prepare it together with people from the client, we pass on general knowledge about creating reports by the way. You will be able to use such know-how in the future to prepare similar statements on your own, which will make the work easier and the reporting team more independent.

We assume that getting results quickly will allow us to verify the usefulness of the tool for further reporting plans and develop an action plan for future initiatives.

Sample reports to be prepared in one day:

• Finance: comparison of planned and actual costs for a selected period, analysis of cost levels over time,
• HR: employee structure, type of employment.

The scope of this scenario includes: using an existing connection to the source system (or file), creating a dashboard in SAP Analytics Cloud (KPIs, charts, hierarchies, filters), providing a “how-to".

In this scenario, specialists and decision makers learn about the tools’ capabilities in order to select the optimal solution. On the other hand, in companies that already work with SAC or Datasphere, the training allows to improve the skills of the teams (IT and business) and increase their independence in creating models and reports/plans.

The training takes the form of a workshop and is based on company cases: from a connector, to a model in Datasphere, to a dashboard and/or a simple planning form in SAC (including integration with Excel).

After the training:

• Users can modify reports and add new views themselves,
• IT gains control over data models and the KPI standard,
• Fewer bottlenecks, shorter time to implement changes.

This scenario is dedicated to users of data warehouses from different vendors. If your company uses SAP BW, using the BW Modernization component may be part of the analysis.

The purpose of developing a data warehouse modernization strategy is mainly to reduce the costs associated with maintaining the current solution, such as by defining a transition path to a BDC (or target architecture). A good analysis of the environment and needs will help avoid costly mistakes and develop a plan for transitioning to a new technology (including the use of AI). The result of this scenario can be the development of a solid transition plan, with prioritization of activities, timeframe and investment framework.

Reducing the execution time of planning cycles and responding more quickly to changes in the market environment are the primary objectives of this scenario. Defining the scope of relevant planning modules and corresponding business and IT requirements will simplify the planning and budgeting process.

The end result of the workshop in this scenario is a proposal for a planning architecture that will eliminate unnecessary data silos or data heterogeneity risks. A strategic roadmap will identify priority actions, timelines and investment requirements for the target planning system.

Developing an analytics and reporting system is a necessity today due to the increasing volumes and complexity of data. Rising costs of data management, and at the same time access to new technologies (cloud, AI) are challenges to which we cannot remain indifferent.

Our experience suggests that in such a broad area as data analytics and reporting, it is good practice to start with small steps, “trial balloons" that will allow you to learn about the capabilities of new tools and your organization’s readiness to implement them, but at the same time quickly deliver useful business results.

SAP Business Data Cloud is a tailor-made environment, easily scalable, in line with technology trends and customer requirements.

The scenarios proposed by All for One will allow organizations to shorten the path of entry into the world of cloud reporting, develop an implementation strategy and concept, and plan an implementation project.