SAP BI Innovations – Cloud for Analytics Webcast Summary
This was an SAP EMEA webcast yesterday. The Cloud for Analytics part was only 30 minutes so my notes are brief
The usual legal disclaimer applies:
Figure: 1 Source: SAP
Figure 2: Source: SAP
This has been the statement from SAP “Innovate the core, lead in the cloud”
This was launched at SAP TechEd in November
This was previously known as Project Orca
It is brand new, built for cloud, software as a service offering – all analytics for users – not just BI, EPM, planning, in one unified platform
Today includes both BI and Planning
In the future will expand into predictive and GRC
Can build apps on top of it, such as Digital Boardroom, using a touch screen interface
Can connect in the cloud and on premise
Figure 3: Source: SAP
You don’t need to buy HCP first
You can’t run on premise
You can only run on HCP
Core Capabilities Today
Figure 4: Source: SAP
Can query online mode or acquisition – acquire in own engine
Acquisition – load into Cloud for Analytics – Google Drive, Salesforce, and HCP
Can connect to on premise, HANA< BW, BPC, CSV, Excel
On premise – you install Cloud Connector in your firewall
Figure 5
It is similar to Lumira, has data manipulation types, prepare for visualization
Figure 6: Source: SAP
Easy to create charts, combine in single sources, blend data sources together
Figure 7: Source: SAP
No ESRI license required
Click on draw, and draw shape you want
Not limited to predefined regions
Use points of interest features
Can analyze routes and networks
Figure 8: Source: SAP
Can share with others
Feeds into planning capabilities
Figure 9: Source: SAP
You can pin your item to the home screen as shown in Figure 9
Figure 10: Source: SAP
Figure 10 shows an “Explorer-like” capability, interactively as you go
Figure 11: Source: SAP
Figure 11 shows financial planning features, with an Excel style interface, analyze in a pivot table style
Figure 12: Source: SAP
Collaboration for events, create on a calendar, and other features are shown in Figure 12
Digital Boardroom
Drive strategic meetings – any meeting where data is important and needs to be presented
Figure 13: Source: SAP
The Digital Boardroom provides supporting information for a meeting, including an Agenda builder, three touch screens
Organize into a meeting agenda
Built on Cloud for Analytics
Figure 14: Source: SAP
Available as an add-on application
Future plans
New application, evolving rapidly
In the cloud, able to deliver updates and new features faster than on premise
SaaS – when new features are developed you don’t worry about upgrading and patches, new features are available
Short timeline – in coming weeks and months
New release every 2 weeks
Figure 15: Source: SAP
Enhanced data connectivity – expect data sources for universes
Data transformation, loading larger data sets and improve visualizations
Figure 16: Source: SAP
Integrate directly into the application
Will release SDK’s and API’s; working on mobility support
Figure 17: Source: SAP
Exploratory analytics is planned
Look at historical data, what is driving KPI’s to drive your business
Still in development, early
Subject to change
Expect to see in next few months
Question & Answer
Q: What does HCP stand for?
A: HANA Cloud Platform
Q: Acquire from just NW BPC or MS BPC
A: both are supported
Q: Universe connection?
A: Planned for later this quarter
Q: geo – just for North America?
A: covers the world
Q: Can you do what if planning in Digital Boardroom?
A: Yes, and plan to release unique visualization for Digital Boardroom
Q: connection overlap between Cloud for Analytics and BI portfolio
A: envision Cloud for Analytics to be a complete analytics solution and still maintain on premise solution
Focus on data interoperability – access universes for example
Won’t publish Web Intelligence documents in the cloud
ASUG has a webcast next week on Digital Boardroom – you can register here.
Thank you for this nice blog!
Is there any plan to add some OData capabilities, or SOAP consumption in C4A?
I am thinking of Cloud fo Customer and Business ByDesign which are not mentioned in the next steps for data sources.
It is possible to extract data as Excel/CSV and import into C4A but it is cumbersoe. A diretc connceiton through OData would be far better.
Thank you for your attention.
Jacques-Antoine Ollier
Hi Jacques-Antoine - I don't work for SAP, so I don't know about the OData connection. I recommend looking at the current SAP Roadmap for Cloud for Analytics at https://websmp109.sap-ag.de/~sapidb/012002523100016366762015E.pdf (SMP logon)
Hello Tammy,
Thank you for your support! 🙂
I already looked at the roadmap and unfortunately, there is no mention of a future release of direct connection through OData or APIs.
Neither there is a mention of a future connector for C4C or ByD.
If I get some info back from SAP I will keep you in touch also.
Thank you for your attention.
Best regards.
Jacques-Antoine
Hi Tammy Powlas
This blog going to help for several person, really helpful information about BI innovation.
Regards,
Akhilesh