Why consider Embedded Analytics? An ASUG Webcast Summary (part 1)
Earlier this week, Satheesh Gannamraju of SAP provided an ASUG Webcast on Embedded Analytics. Why should you consider embedded analytics? Read below
Figure 1: Source: SAP
Figure 1 shows what is Embedded Analytics is. Satheesh said it bring the best of the suite inside ERP and BusinessObjects together. He said they want to modernize the legacy reporting in business suite, offer analysis for all types of users.
Embedded analytics gives you the ability to report in real time inside ECC. It gives you the best of breed solutions, the most integrated solutions together.
Figure 2: Source: SAP
Why Embedded Analytics? Historically, applications had embedded reporting. With BI they were taking data out of transactional applications and reporting
Now tools have matured and they want to bring the reporting & analytics back into applications.
The organization benefits from faster, better decisions – operational people are able to access the information right there. You are not jumping out of the applications.
Figure 3: Source: SAP
Satheesh said “BI will find you rather than you go finding BI”. SAP is offering out of the box, pixel perfect Crystal reports and offering interactive dashboards.
The content is inside business suite.
It is easy to access and easy to set up.
Contextual insights, meaning that the specific report or dashboard that you interact with is tied to a specific role, or the business problem
As an example, the HR analyst is able to view data right there
Figure 4: Source: SAP
The second most benefit is the content, including preconfigured Crystal and Dashboards
As part of release strategy pre-delivered dashboards are provided.
It provides content in different functional areas
This is a framework for you to add your own content
It is embedded in business processes
You get content and data foundation; good jumpstart content to customize and adapt
Figure 5: Source: SAP
Figure 5 shows SAP portal and it can be integrated in terms of how embedded analytics is accessed.
Figure 6: Source: SAP
Figure 6 shows release strategy
Release name is Innovations 2010 – it went GA in 2011
Release lines include ECC 6, ehp5
Built in integrated dashboards (right side of Figure 6) are new
Built in reports and dashboards are embedded into the business processes
Figure 7: Source: SAP
How do you access? Crystal Viewer is available from the Service Marketplace. Crystal Viewer is “free” and licenses are not required
Figure 8: Source: SAP
Figure 8 shows the three technical capabilities in enhancement package 5
One is displaying ECC reports
Today SAP users login and run reports and the output is in ALV but it is not interactive-friendly. You can convert the ALV into Crystal using a viewing toggle in Crystal. You can do for any ALV output format.
Figure 9: Source: SAP
Figure 9 above shows you can change the report into different templates and put back in ECC system, and your report is refreshed real time.
It is a “non-disruptive” feature and gives your users an option to take advantage of viewer using ALV reports real time. The ALV convert s to Crystal Reports with a viewing toggle to view that report in Crystal inside SAP.
Figure 10: Source: SAP
Figure 10 shows that Xcelsius can use a plug in UI component to have your dashboards inside ECC, using Flash Island integration
Subset of Question & Answer:
Q: Does any of your new EA Content go directly “real time” against ECC (Infosets, etc) or using the typical ETL to BW and using BI for Reporting?
A: Yes it can go against ECC infosets in real time, not using the typical ETL to BW
Q: Do these “embedded” reports have a stand-alone Business Objects Enterprise Server – or can “embedded” report-content be hosted on an existing BOE 4.0 platform if the client has been a long-term user of BOE against Oracle Financials…?
A: Embedded reporting/ALV reporting is inside ECC so you do not need a BI environment
When time allows I will post notes on what is new in Enhancement Package 6 with Embedded Analytics.
Hi, Tammy. I saw your demo of crystal report using ALV during the insight even in Chicago. Question: After downloading the default crystal output into crystal report designer, I added additional component and changed the layout. We could upload the changed crystal report back into ECC. But we could not find the setting to make the new uploaded crystal report as the default output option for the ABAP ALV report. Could you let us know whether this is possible ?
I know we could custom the crystal template in SPRO. But that change would be wholesale for All ALV report, right ?
We would like to keep the uploaded crystal report for the one ABAL report that it came from.
Thanks a lot. Looking forward to your guidance.
Thanks a lot.
Peter
Hi Peter
Yes, you can save the Crystal uploaded report as the default.
That is in the ALV Viewer where you save it as the default layout and then you save it as the variant.
That way the user goes right to Crystal when launching the transaction.
Yes, global templates would be for wholesale ALV
Let me know if you need more information.
HI Tammy,
Great article, I see only one standard template in SPRO, do you know if SAP had released standard templates for different functional areas? I got the impression that they do, but I can't find any standard delivery crystal reports. Thanks a lot, Simon
Simon - SAP offers pre-canned reports via a Launchpad but we have not implemented those.
You can also develop your own templates to go against the reports as well.
I hope to blog more later on the topic
Tammy
HI Tammy,
Thanks for the reply, appreciate it.
Do you mind elaborate on the "launch pad" a little bit more for me please? Is it from the Crystal report start page, as I couldn't seem find anything there?
Thanks,
Simon
There is pre-delivered Crystal / XCelsius content - see http://scn.sap.com/docs/DOC-28931 - I have not deployed. I recommend posting further questions in the discussion area so SAP can better answer than I can. Best of luck
Thanks a lot Tammy for your great article and help, appreciate that.