Describing Embedded Analytics

Analytics are embedded directly within SAP S/4HANA Cloud, meaning business data and analytical applications reside in the same software stack. SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) serves as the underlying engine, powering various applications via a live connection. Consequently, users do not need to log into a separate SAC system; all analytical reports are accessible directly through SAP Fiori apps in SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

The architecture of embedded analytics consists of three main layers. The SAP HANA database is the foundation where business data is stored. The top layer consists of SAP Fiori analytical applications where users consume this data. To connect these layers, the Virtual Data Model (VDM) acts as a middle layer, using Core Data Services (CDS) views to transform raw database data into meaningful analytical structures.

Historically, SAP acquired various cloud solutions that used different data structures and languages. To unify these, SAP developed Core Data Services (CDS) as a common language to interpret data from SAP, acquired, and third-party solutions, ensuring compatibility with SAP S/4HANA Cloud business data.

Core Data Services (CDS) provide domain-specific languages to define and consume semantically rich data models across different software stacks. The VDM organizes these CDS views, offering direct access to business data through a library of predelivered templates. You can also develop custom CDS views to meet specific requirements.

For Line of Business (LoB) configuration experts, this architecture is essential because many standard business processes include analytical tasks. During Fit-to-Standard workshops, you will demonstrate these apps to identify any gaps. For instance, if a custom field is added to a business process, it must also be added to the corresponding analytical report. If predelivered CDS templates do not meet customer needs, you can copy and modify them by adding required dimensions or fields. Once a CDS view or analytical query is ready, it can serve as a data source for:

• Data Analyzer Reports
• Multidimensional Reports
• Review Booklets
• SAP Analytical Cloud Stories

Use the View Browser app to explore all available Core Data Services (CDS) views, including those released by SAP and any custom versions. This app allows you to analyze data directly within a selected view. If the standard views do not meet your specific requirements, use the Custom CDS Views app to adapt an existing view or build a new one from scratch.

Custom CDS views support various business scenarios:

• Analytical Scenarios: Create Cube or Dimension views to support custom analytical queries or KPI (Key Performance Indicator) evaluations.

• Data Integration: Generate an external API to expose data from the SAP HANA database via an OData service. This enables you to use a specific selection of data fields in custom reports, other SAP solutions, or third-party applications.

The Query Browser app provides an overview of all available analytical queries, including those released by SAP and custom-made versions. You can use this app to run data analyses directly within the Web Dynpro Grid tool.

If standard queries do not meet specific business requirements, use the Custom Analytical Queries app. This tool allows you to copy and modify existing queries or build entirely new ones from scratch.

An analytical query is a multidimensional model that combines business data fields with specific parameters and filters to refine the results. These queries serve as the data source for various reporting tools, including:

• Data Analyzer Reports
• Multidimensional Reports
• Review Booklets
• SAP Analytics Cloud Stories

Use the Manage KPIs and Reports app to view all SAP-delivered KPIs, reports, and SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) stories. You can also create your own custom KPIs, reports, and SAC stories based on data sources from CDS views or analytical queries.

The following analyses can be created from the Manage KPIs and Reports app:

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  KPIs are selected key figures used to evaluate a certain measure of performance toward a goal or target. KPIs are often evaluated against a reference or target value and can be used to:

  • Create a Generic Drilldown report.
  • Create an SAP Fiori app to launch either the Generic Drilldown report or an Analysis Path Framework (APF)-based app where you can drill-down to explore KPIs and their influencing factors with charts and tables.

• Reports

  • Generic Drilldown, which use charts and tables to visualize data based on a KPI.
  • Analytical List Page, which use KPIs, charts, tables, and visual filters to create a dashboard that allows you to drill down into the data sources.
  • Data Analyzer, which enables you to visualize a report on ad-hoc analytical queries in SAP Analytics Cloud without creating a model.

• Multidimensional Reports

  Display data about a focused topic (for example, Sales Orders) in SAP Web Dynpro apps with a table (grid) or graphical display. Viewing data in an SAP Web Dynpro app is visually similar to viewing data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

• Review Booklets

  Review booklets are the next generation of multidimensional analytical applications with a more modern theme compared to the SAP Web Dynpro apps. You can present an aggregated view of business data by combining predefined business pages and analytical components in the same UI5 theme used for SAP Fiori apps.

• SAC Stories

  Stories use charts, graphs, text, images, and other elements to visualize data in a way that can help customers find hidden insights and perform in-depth analyses. There are two types of stories:

  • Embedded Stories are powered by the embedded SAP Analytics Cloud and include a variety of predefined stories.
  • Stand-Alone Stories enable you to create custom stories that aggregate data from other SAP Cloud solutions (for example, SAP SuccessFactors, SAP Fieldglass, etc.). To create stand-alone stories, an Enterprise license to SAP Analytics Cloud is required, and an integration between SAP S/4HANA Cloud and the SAP Analytics Cloud service running on SAP Business Technology Platform must be set up. Learn more here.

You can generate an SAP Fiori app to make your KPIs, SAC Stories, and Reports (Generic Drilldown, Analytical List Page, or Data Analyzer) available to authorized users on the SAP Fiori launchpad.

In the Manage KPIs and Reports app, select your custom KPI, Report, or Story. Then, navigate to the Applications tab to create the launchpad application.

To ensure the app is visible on the launchpad and not just available via enterprise search, complete the following steps:

• Assign the app to a custom business catalog using the Custom Catalog Extensions app.
• Assign that business catalog to a business role.
• Add the app to a custom launchpad page, or to an existing page assigned to the space mapped to the business role.

Intelligent Scenario Lifecycle Management (ISLM) is a framework designed to help customers manage their machine learning scenarios effectively.

You can leverage embedded scenarios where SAP S/4HANA Cloud runs on the same stack as SAP HANA Machine Learning. This setup utilizes analytics libraries such as:

• SAP HANA Automated Predictive Library (APL)
• SAP HANA Predictive Analysis Library (PAL)

While APL provides automated data mining capabilities for business analysts, PAL offers advanced algorithms for data scientists. These scenarios support:

• Forecasting
• Trend analysis
• Other predictive functions

Alternatively, the side-by-side approach uses a machine learning provider on the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), which requires a separate license and specific integration steps.

As a partner LoB configuration expert, you manage tasks within your specific line of business. If a business process uses an embedded intelligent scenario, refer to the SAP Signavio Process Navigator for setup instructions. Ensure all prerequisites are completed in the customer's development system tenants to enable correct functionality.