SAP Analytics Cloud Blended Data Variance Analysis

SAP Analytics Cloud provides very extensive variance analysis functionality for measures within one model. It is still not supported for linked models (blended data). In my blog I will demonstrate how to walkaround this limitation.

This is ideal variance visualization that comes standard for measures within one model. In my example actual is compared with forecast

The closest you can get with linked model (blended data) is this

The height of each of column is actual = forecast + ∆. I wish I could color code ∆ (green for positive and red for negative), but it not possible for blended data as well.

This how above chart is created:

• Variance measure is defined
• Variance and Forecast measures are added to stacked column chart

Variance measure is defined

Variance and Forecast measures are added to stacked column chart

Note:

• Variance measure is placed above Forecast measure
• Variance measure colored to differentiate from Forecast measure