Analytics in S/4HANA World … What’s New and Expected

July 25, 2017 | 300 Views |

Monika Patel

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SAP S/4HANA
SAP Analytics CloudSAP BW/4HANASAP Predictive Analysis s4hana analytics

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Many Thanks to Juergen from SAP who gave us a glimpse of what’s expected and on roadmaps of SAP
S/4HANA Analytics. The session was interesting and detailed one, though half an hour was not just enough
time to cover all that could have been shared and discussed on the topic. My personal thanks to Juergen to
continue answering the questions, and encouraging the queries.

Sharing key highlights of the session, I would like to share as below :

SAP Analytical Portfolio

Covers SAP S/4HANA Embedded Analytics and SAP BW/4HANA Integrated Data Warehousing, seamlessly
integrating with SAP Analytics Hybrid Cloud solutions
Source : SAP -slides from SAP’s ennoblement session

SAP S/4HANA (Embedded Analytics) and SAP BW/4HANA each have their unique usecases.

Deep understanding of the capabilities of each of these will help in deciding best option for a given business
requirement.

Let’s have a quick look at what each one has to offer and how they complement each other to enrich the SAP
Analytics portfolio
SAP S/4HANA Analytical offerings

 SAP S/4HANA Analytics has offering for each type of user

o End User : Analyze the Data and act according to Insights
o Key Users : Enable the End Users
o IT Users : Provide the Single Source of Truth in ONE Semantic Layer

Embedded analytics with FIORI –

S/4HANA Analytics is tightly integrated with “New”type of FIORI Applications being released.

Well I am yet to get a handle on what exactly “analytical List Page Smart Template” is and a UX Expert can help
simplify understanding the various possibilities –

Floorplans/Frameworks for implementing

 Analytical List Page Smart Template

 Object Page Smart Template
 Overview Pages
 “Free-style” Fiori Apps
 Fiori Smart Business KPIs + Standard Drill Down
 Fiori Smart Business KPIs + Analysis Path
 Multidimensional Client

One of Usecase of “S/4HANA Analytical Apps using FIORI embedded Analytics – LOB Financials – Event Based
Revenue Recognition.

Its good to see the increase in Analytical Apps with each cloud version. Well On-Premise also have few good
apps with strong usecase.

Technical Architecture
Source : SAP -slides from SAP’s ennoblement session

CDS Key User TOOLING

 CDS Key User Tooling “View Browser” is useful for Business Users who can explore thousands of VDM
views without the need for technical skill.

 CDS Key User Tooling – “Custom CDS View app” Key users can model company specific data access on
top of public CDS views. One can build CUSTOM CDS views (e.g. Cube-views) on top of SAP delivered
VDM’s as well as create their own CDS views.
  CDS Key User Tooling – “Custom Analytical Queries App”
 this tool used for reporting and Analysis.This tool will transforms and organizes raw data delivered
from busines documents into a meaningful grid. It abstracts the process of writing structured queries. I
see this too as powerful usecase, where business users who do not understand query language or
technical details will be easily able to “Design a query”, select required fields, set filters and preview
the query results.

SAP BW/4HANA

SAP BW/4HANA is innovation platform for EDW. All new enhancements regarding the integration of SAP
S/4HANA and SAP BW will be implemented in SAP BW/4HANA

Embedded BW is NOT recommended for building an Enterprise Data Warehouse, considering multiple SAP
Applications on SAP HANA in productive environment regarding :

– Upgrades and patches, resource allocation and capacity planning, system management, workload
monitoring, back-up and recovery, security and so on.

Important point – the version of BW used in embedded scenario is BW7.5 (BW on HANA), – not on the
innovation codelines and missing the improvements already delivered with BW/4HANA.

Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning

The session covered Usecases of Predictive Analytics using Machine Learning concept.
Source : SAP -slides from SAP’s enablement session

I see this a one – Predictive Analytics as very big promising area that opens door to new innovative business
processes and multiple usecases

The FUTURE is NOW & here and soon becoming PAST