What’s New in SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Digital ...

meganhoy · ‎10-28-2022

SAP Analytics Cloud brings together analytics and planning with unique integration to SAP applications and seamless access to heterogenous data sources. It helps everyone in your organization make decisions without doubt with trusted insights and integrated plans.

This blog post introduces the new features and enhancements of the SAP Analytics Cloud Q4 2022 Quarterly Release.

Join our SAP Product Experts in the video below as they demonstrate some of the features highlighted in Q4 2022.

System Administration and Technical Requirements

Although not required, you may upgrade to the latest SAP Analytics Cloud agent version 1.0.359 to take advantage of all data acquisition types.

The agent’s minimum version remains at 1.0.75, with the following exceptions:

Version 1.0.99 for SAP ERP/SQL Database
Version 1.0.91 for SAP universe (UNX)
Version 1.0.353 for SAP Business Warehouse (BW)
Version 1.0.235 for SAP HANA View
Version 1.0.248 for File Server

For more information, see System Requirements and Technical Prerequisites.

Regarding supported features and required updates for the integration of SAP BW with SAP Analytics Cloud, refer to SAP Note 2541557 for further details.

Regarding supported features and required updates for live universe access through SAP BusinessObjects Live Data Connect with SAP Analytics Cloud, refer to SAP Note 2771921 for further details.

Release Highlights

Administration and Service Management

Analytics Cataloging
- Administrator Level Control of Catalog Settings | (SAP Roadmap Explorer) (Video)

Business Content Delivery
- Industry and Line-of-Business Content Packages | (SAP Roadmap Explorer)

Augmented Analytics
- Predictive Planning
  - Understanding the impact of Cycles on the Predictions | (SAP Roadmap Explorer) (Video)

Dashboard and Story Design

Data Integration

Data Modeling
- Modeling – New Model (on going enhancements) | (SAP Roadmap Explorer) (Video)
  - Cross Account/Measure Lookup Formula
  - Recursive Calculation (Iterative Functions) Model Formula | (SAP Roadmap Explorer)
- Modeling – Exception Aggregation by Property | (SAP Roadmap Explorer)
- Workforce Analytics Connector now Available in New Model or Dataset
- "Not in Hierarchy" Handling for Level Based Hierarchy

Enterprise Planning

Microsoft Office integration

Mobile Analytics
- Optimized Story Experience Updates in SAP Analytics Cloud Mobile Application

User Collaboration

Administration and Service Management

Analytics Content Network

Using the Content Network, users can import, export, and share packages of content from within SAP Analytics Cloud. The following enhancements have been made to the Content Network this release:

Transport of Private Content for Cloud Analytics

Include or exclude object dependencies while exporting

Export a Content Network Package to a Physical file (dot) package

For more information check out the following blog posts by ashokkumar.kn:

Transport of Private content into predefined public folder in Destination tenant

Download/Upload of Content Network package to physical file (dot Package)

Analytic Workspaces

Administrators can set up virtual workspaces that mimic organization setup and different lines of businesses. Workspaces allow for easier management of content and users. The following enhancement have been made to workspaces this release:

Cross-consumption of Workspace Content

Move or Copy Content Between My Files and Workspaces

Assign Team as a Workspace Administrator

Request File Access for Any Content Published to Catalog

Display Team Description in Workspace Management

For more details, check out this blog post by 537671 .

Private Versions Statistics and Analysis

The new Story Private Versions Statistics and Analysis helps administrators and support to get an overview of the private versions that have been created in the SAP Analytics Cloud Tenant. This is accessible from the side navigation bar System > Performance > Private Versions Statistics and Analysis

For more details, check out this blog post by thomas.fery .

Business Content Delivery

Industry and Line-of-Business Content Packages

Leverage new and updated content packages that cover a variety of industries and lines of businesses. (SAP Roadmap Explorer)

New industry and line-of-business content packages from SAP:

- SAP Ariba Procurement: operational reporting
- SAP Ariba Procurement: benchmark reporting
- SAP Ariba Procurement: supplier management reporting
- Service contract dashboard
- Cybersecurity dashboard

Updated industry and line-of-business content packages:

- Group financial planning for SAP S/4HANA
- Integrated financial planning for SAP S/4HANA
- Cross-model add-on for integrated financial Planning for SAP S/4HANA
- Rapid financial planning and analysis for SAP S/4HANA (best practices)
- Rapid sales planning and analysis for SAP S/4HANA (best practices)
- Rapid workforce planning and analysis for SAP S/4HANA (best practices)
- Process control and risk management
- Order-management foundation
- Public sector management KPI reporting

Dashboard and Story Design

Optimized Story Experience Updates

Many improvements are now available with the Optimized Story Experience with this quarterly release: (SAP Roadmap Explorer) (Video)

Active Viewport Rendering

Histogram with New Model Type

Rank and Sort on Color Dimension

Rank on Multiple Dimensions

Sort Members in Filters (Story, Page, and Local)

Geo Visualizations

BW Custom Grouping

Account Dimension – Multi Hierarchy Support

Dynamic Calculation Input Controls

For more details on the Optimized Story Experience, check out this blog post by anna.burkhardt

Enhanced Geo-Support with SAP Data Warehouse Cloud

SAP Analytics Cloud support for a choropleth layer based on geo-enriched data from SAP Data Warehouse Cloud:

Aggregated data on geographical areas as opposed to localized information

Hierarchical navigation from country to region to city

Enhanced choice between the bubble layer, the heat map layer, and the choropleth layer

This will enable users to enrich existing information with geo-relevant information, such as longitude and latitude values for a store location. (SAP Roadmap Explorer)

Data Integration

Live SAP BW – Ability to Select Maximum Hierarchy Drill Level

Users can select the maximum drill level of a hierarchy using tables on a live connection to SAP Business Warehouse from SAP Analytics Cloud. (SAP Roadmap Explorer)

Note: Please consider the version dependencies of SAP BW to related features of SAP Analytics Cloud when using the live connection. For more details on feature support, see SAP Note 2715030.

Support for Using the Message Server for SAP Business Warehouse in Import Connections

Enable SAP Analytics Cloud to use the message server for SAP Business Warehouse in import connections to increase processing efficiency during load jobs. (SAP Roadmap Explorer)

Microsoft Office Integration

Custom Order for Measures or Dimensions

Users now have more flexibility in visualizing grids by customizing the sort order of measures or dimensions according to business needs. (SAP Roadmap Explorer) (Video)

This blog post only provides a high-level overview of the latest features and enhancements of SAP Analytics Cloud. For more details on these features, please visit the SAP Analytics Cloud Help Portal. You can also visit the SAP Road Map Explorer to see the upcoming features of SAP Analytics Cloud.