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Author's profile photo Orla Cullen

SAP S/4HANA and SAP Predictive Analytics integrator Blog Series

In recent months you may have heard a lot about the Intelligent Enterprise and, how we are enabling customers to effectively use their data assets to achieve their desired outcomes faster – and with less risk. At the core of the Intelligent Enterprise is Machine Learning, which enables computers to learn from large amounts of data without being explicitly programmed. The world’s most relevant enterprise data is part of SAP’s system and business network. Our aspiration to make all its enterprise solutions intelligent, and help customers to leverage their data.

Seamless Integration

One of the key enablers of this digital revolution is the newest edition to the Predictive Analytics suite namely Predictive Analytics integator (PAi). PAi enables SAP Applications such as SAP S/4HANA to create and ship predictive use cases specific to their business directly to their customers. Customers can than easily manage the lifecycles of these models by retraining and debriefing these models directly within the applications.

Furthermore customer and partners can adapt predictive use cases, or create new ones based on their own business needs in SAP Predictive Analytics, and publish to the application with one click.

 

Fig 1. SAP predictive Analytics integrator

From S/4HANA Cloud Edition 1705 and S/4HANA On premise 1709 or above, we have been delivering new predictive content across many business areas out of the box using PAi. Our Domain Experts across Finance, Procurement, Sales, to name but a few, have been working closely with our Data Scientists to identify key business areas where predictive and machine learning techniques can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and automate time consuming business processes. Below we have listed some of the predictive scenarios already available for customers to use.

Fig 2. Predictive Scenarios live with SAP S/4HANA since 1705

 

If you want to know how you can get started with all this new predictive content you have come to the right place. In this Blog Series the PAi team and I will introduce the Predictive Scenario, and take you through how to get started, how to use what SAP is shipping out of the box, and how you can customize these Predictive Scenarios to meet your specific needs.

 

Blog 1 & 2: Installation and Configuration by Shekhar Chhabra 

If you are an S/4HANA Cloud customer (1705+), there is no installation or configuration required. This is all taken care for you by SAP, so you can move straight to Blog 2.

However, if you are an S/4HANA On Premise customer (1709+), there are some steps required to get you up in running. In our first Blog Shekhar will take you through how to install the required components in SAP how to configure the SAP Netweaver elements.

Blog 1: HANA installation steps

Blog 2: Netweaver config steps

Blog 3: Training and Activating the Models shipped by S/4HANA by Orla Cullen

Once PAi is successfully installed, I will take you through how you can start to train the models that are shipped out of the box with S/4HANA and how you can periodically review and retrain them directly within S/4HANA with our Fiori tiles.

 

Publish to PAi

 

Fig 2. Publish new Predictive Scenario from SAP Predictive Factory to SAP S/4HANA via PAi

 

Once you have been successfully using the Predictive Scenarios S/4HANA are shipping out of the box with PAi, you may already have some ideas of your own. In the next few blogs by Shekhar, Paul, and I, are going to start looking at creating your own predictive models in SAP Predictive Analytics, and publishing them back in to PAi. Shekhar will cover how to get started, and install Predictive Factory to be used with PAi. Paul will guide you through an approach to modeling for those new to the topic, and finally I will take you through a full worked example.

 

Blog 4: Approach to Modeling by Paul O’Hara 

So, now you have been using the existing Predictive Scenarios shipped out of the box with S/4HANA, but you have some new ideas for predictive use cases that you want to try out. In this Blog, Paul will take you through how to approach predictive modeling, and some of the things to keep in mind when building a new use case.

 

Blog 5: Installing and Configurating Predictive Factory and PAi 

Now that you are ready to start modellingwill need to install SAP Predictive Analytics, and connect it to the PAi application within your S/4HANA system.

 

Blog 6: Defining the Target Variable by Paul O’Hara

Paul will walk you through one of the most important stages of a predictive use case, namely defining the target value to be predicted.  It is critical that the target value is correctly defined, as it can have a significant impact on the output for a use case.

 

Blog 7: Introducing SAP Analytics Cloud – Smart Predict by Sam Wong

Sam is going to going to introduce SAP Analytics Cloud – Smart Predict. Smart Predict is a new feature in SAP Analytics Cloud that enables Business users to answer questions using predictive analytics and machine learning. It’s self service approach means predictive analytics is available to everyone and not just Data Scientists.

Blog 8: Exporting a model from SAP Analytics Cloud to SAP S/4HANA Cloud by Orla Cullen

We will then walk you through how you can export a model from SAP Analytics Cloud to SAP S/4HANA Cloud similarly to what we did previously with Predictive Factory

Blog 9: Exporting a model from SAP Analytics Cloud to SAP S/4HANA On Premise by Orla Cullen

We will then walk you through how you can export a model from SAP Analytics Cloud to SAP S/4HANA On Premise similarly to what we did previously with Predictive Factory

Blog 10: Integrating your Predictive Scenario into a new business process using Fiori by Cathal McGovern

In this blog we show you how to take the output of your new Predictive Scenario and create a new Fiori App to consumue it.

 

We will endeavour to release weekly episodes to this series, at every stage your feedback and suggestions for new topics would be much appreciated.

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      26 Comments
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      Author's profile photo Renaud VAN DEN DAELE
      Renaud VAN DEN DAELE

      Hi,

      Looks very great! Now I'm teased!  Will follow for sure!

      best regards

      Renaud

      Author's profile photo Henry Banks
      Henry Banks

      Thanks Orla! cheers, H

      Author's profile photo Sainath Kumar
      Sainath Kumar

      Looking forward to this series. Do we have SAP HANA academy Videos that can get us started with PAi

      Author's profile photo Antoine CHABERT
      Antoine CHABERT

      @Orla.Cullen

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      We don't have anything in SAP HANA Academy but we have included a PAI module in to the OpenSAP Course Intelligent ERP with SAP S/4HANA Cloud

       

      It is in week 2 unit 6.

      Author's profile photo Carlos Orencio Horta
      Carlos Orencio Horta

      Hello Sainath, is the PAi the same as you were referring on your blog as SAP Predictive Analytics Integrator Service?

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Carlos,

      The above blog is refering to PAi with respect to S/4HANA but it is the same technology as the predictive services in SAP Cloud Platform.

      Thanks,

       

      Orla

       

      Author's profile photo Sinead Hickey
      Sinead Hickey

      Hi Orla,

       

      Just wondering when the remainder of the series will be published, i see the first blog, but no more?

       

      Thanks

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Sinead,

      Thanks for the interest.

      We had a bit of a Hiatus over the past month or so but we will be starting back this week with the latest installment.

      Thanks,

      Orla

      Author's profile photo Carlos Orencio Horta
      Carlos Orencio Horta

      Hi Orla,

      I just reviewed the PAM and realized that the end of mainstream maintenance is 31.12.2018, is the new PAi referenced with another name?

      Cheers,

      Carlos Orencio

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Carlos,

       

      I will double check the PAM but can assure you that we are continuing to develop PAi and it is still in mainstream maintenance.

       

      Thanks,

      Orla

      Author's profile photo Sameer Raikar
      Sameer Raikar

      Hi Orla,

       

      When can we expect Blog 4 in the series to be published? I need to understand the detailed process of creating custom predictive analytics use cases in S/4 embedded analytics. Also need to understand the high level architecture and softwares which will be required to facilitate the development.

       

      Regards,

      Sameer

       

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Sameer,

      The next installment will be on Thursday. However you can also reference our help documentation here:

      Main page: https://help.sap.com/viewer/product/SAP_S4HANA_ON-PREMISE/1809.000/en-US

      Product Assistance (the guide about our two apps): https://help.sap.com/viewer/6b356c79dea443c4bbeeaf0865e04207/1809.000/en-US/e9ccec502ecf41adaa9fb5c4d6f1d202.html

      Installation (PDF version): https://help.sap.com/doc/6b11678926d3409bbfea8897cb34d10f/1809.000/en-US/INST_OP1809.pdf

      Thanks,

      Orla

       

      Author's profile photo Sameer Raikar
      Sameer Raikar

      Thanks Orla for the prompt response. I have gone through the links you provided but they do not have what I am looking for. Hopefully the blog will have answers to all my questions around creating and publishing custom predictive analytics scenarios.

      Author's profile photo Pavan Kumar Parepalli
      Pavan Kumar Parepalli

      Hi Orla,

       

      Thanks for the blog.

       

      Can I know how to use SAP Leonardo Restful API'S from S/4 Hana PAI.

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Unfortunately it is not possible to consume SAP Leonardo Restful API’S from PAi.

       

      Thanks,

       

      Orla

      Author's profile photo James Elliott
      James Elliott

      Hi Orla - What is an average implementation time range or project timeline for integrating SAP Predictive Analytics for SAP S/4  HANA 1709, specifically for

      1. Preconfiguration Steps installing PAi and PAL and Predictive Scenarios for Sales Volume?
      2. Will you clarify if it is one week or what are some real use case timelines?
      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Implementation of PAi and APL only takes a few hours. Then all you need to do is train the model

      Author's profile photo James Elliott
      James Elliott

      Hello again Orla- What are some good pitch points to convince the Sales team that it is worth integrating SAP PAL with SAP S4 HANA 1709....

      I understand the use of predictive scenarios for Sales Volume and the templates for it, but will the icing on the cake be about the ability to access data faster, use of multiple data sources is possible, and generating predictive values vs actual values forecasting trends based on historical data be the main selling points?

      Please elaborate or share more tips that I can add that are just as persuasive?

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Could pitch points would be that the Sales team consume the results directly in their application without having to go to another tool to get predictions.

      Also helps them identify issues before they happen.

       

      Thanks,

      Orla

      Author's profile photo Mio Yasutake
      Mio Yasutake

      Hi Orla,

      Thanks for these blog series.

      I have a question regarding system landscape.

      Which HANA and S/4HANA system (Dev or Prod) should PAi and PA connect?

      I suppose for model training, Prod data should be used while CDS view for the model shoud be deloyed first to Dev because there will be subsequent CDS view creation on top of it.

      In conclusion, PAi should be installed to both Dev and Prod servers?

       

      Regards,

      Mio

       

       

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Mio,

      Yes they should be as you should in any case test the training of your models before activating in Production.

      For development you could use be either. Both CDS views and Predictive Scenarios are transportable objects so you could do your modeling in a pre-production and transport the final CDS and Predictive Scenario to productions.

      Two consideration to take in to account would be how up to date is the data in your pre-production.

      Thanks,

      Orla

      Author's profile photo Mio Yasutake
      Mio Yasutake

      Hi Orla,

       

      Thanks for your answer.

      I understood that model(CDS) developmemt environment must have the data equivalent with production.

      And after the model has been transported to production, PAi is still needed for model re-training.

       

      Regards,

      Mio

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Correct you can still need PAi to retrain.

      Thanks,

      Orla

      Author's profile photo Thomas Berger
      Thomas Berger

      Hello,

      is a HANA enterpriese license required for the SAP Predictive Analytics integrator? or can we use them with the HANA Runtime license?

       

      bg Thomas

      Author's profile photo Orla Cullen
      Orla Cullen
      Blog Post Author

      Hi Thomas,

      I no longer work in this area. Can I suggest you check out this blog:

      https://blogs.sap.com/2021/05/09/intelligent-scenario-lifecycle-management-frequently-asked-questions/

      It has the most uptodate details.

      Thanks,

      Orla