SAP Analytics Cloud: Updates and Enhancements in Q1 2023

The new version of Activity Log API in SAP Analytics Cloud now supports OAuth. OAuth (Open Authorization) is an open standard for authorization that enables users to grant third-party applications access to their resources without sharing their login credentials. It acts as an access token for the third-party application.

• The updates provide an additional layer of security since users do not have to share login credentials.
• OAuth simplifies efficient integration with Activity Log API
• Aids automatic download of activities log

The new release in SAP Analytics Cloud includes additional permission or activity called ‘Uploaded Files’. The added function allows users to directly upload files to the tenant.

This brings an added layer of control over the movement of files in the repository. It allows administrators to check and control which users have the access to upload files to a particular discussion.

Forecasting scenarios and time series analytics are more accurate in the new update. The previous system introduced a Median Expected MAPE in addition to the average to evaluate the accuracy of each prediction. The median values are more stable and not skewed with extreme values, it works as a better evaluation metric for segmented models.

In addition, the Multi-Action Forecast step now includes a “Save Forecast Values for Past Periods” option. This allows users to generate previous forecast values when using the predictive. The added option improves the quality of evaluation processes for predictive models.

The member selector now includes additional filters and classification leverage. Users can sort and filter the values in chronological, alphabetical, or in any other customizable manner. This gives the user freedom to arrange, study, and analyze member data at their convenience.

The existing process for the integration of the SAP Data Warehouse Cloud model lacked simplicity. With the new updates, SAC improved the UX for this integration, making workflow improvements and streamlining the connection. Now, users can directly integrate SAP Data Warehouse cloud models into the existing selection dialog.

These cloud tenants now appear as an individual remote places, aiding the model selection process.

The Data Analyzer has undergone a massive reinvention with the new innovations in SAP Analytics Cloud. It features high-functioning, user-specific enhancements and a smart upgradation of the UX. The upgrade allows users to effortlessly migrate their existing insights to the new Analyzer.

There are several design, contextual, and layout changes in the new analyzer that significantly improves the overall process:

• Adaptive table layout to increase functionality and simplicity
• Filter enhancements—more dynamic and customizable
• Context Menu includes a filter by member option
• Customize display attributes in Builder Panel
• Open and integrate Data Analyzer directly in sync with the story.

The time-period-based added feature allows in-depth comparative studies and analysis. It helps analyze increments and/or falls in business performance as depicted by a change in values over two time periods.

With a live connection to SAP BW, it aids business analysis and further planning. This ‘Difference From’ feature directly shows the disparity in the values of two accounts across specified time periods. It closes the feature gap between SAP HANA and SAP BW-based models.

The improved SAC data modeling capabilities now include support for geospatial data. Users can geo-dimensions to existing models, both during creation and after. The solution offers support for coordinates and improves overall geospatial handling requirements.

• Simpler management and powerful geo-dimension in models.
• Smarter analysis of geospatial data

With the real-time tracing ability, users can track data actions and analyze the execution step-by-step in a story-like table layout. It allows users to set points in particular data action, initiate the process, and check results on the go. The entire system creates a beneficial debugging system for advanced formulas.

Insights from the intermediate results offer the ability to make relevant fixes and execute the debugging process.

The Calendar Administration Mode solution adds a degree of standardization to the SAC environment. This new feature introduces an “Admin Mode” in the calendar. Any user can be assigned or granted admin access, who will then be responsible to manage, monitor, and execute all calendar events in a centralized dashboard.

The “Calendar Admin” role is assigned to administrators by default. They get complete visibility over the events, with the added ability to:

• Assign responsibilities
• Reopen workflows
• Monitor progress and push execution

Traditionally, users could not use the planning panel and interact with tables simultaneously. The SAP Analytics Cloud Q1 updates worked around this issue and added more flexibility when operating the planning panel. Users can now navigate, interact, and make edits to the table while the panel is open.

The tables collapse or expand as per user preference. They can freely make changes to the dimensions and edit grid numbers, eliminating the previous restrictions.

While commenting on the table cells and widgets are vital for inter-department collaboration, they can get messy and clutter up the workspace. The latest features in SAP analytics cloud allow users to disable these comments and declutter the table by toggling the option introduced in the builder panel.

The feature increases user control and leverages the SAC ecosystem, promoting customization opportunities to personalize the interface. It enables users to eliminate conflicts and streamline overall processes.

The new updates give users more authority over the cross-model copy step. Where previously they had no control over the source and target hierarchies when mapping dimensions together, the new feature works around this. It allows users to define a specific source and target hierarchies to be used.

This added feature introduces a new level of customization and power over the SAC ecosystem. It results in a more precise and targeted copying of data across different models. The enhancement helps perform complex data transformations more efficiently and accurately.

The feature increases user control and leverages the SAC ecosystem, promoting customization opportunities to personalize the interface. It enables users to eliminate conflicts and streamline overall processes.

The “Multi-Actions” technical object now includes the utility of script APIs, promoting the creation of more interactive and customized analytical applications. With this, Application Designer allows users to execute multi-actions and set/read parameter values even at runtime.

The new updates increase flexibility in designing and executing analytical applications. It also improves and expands on the utility of multi-actions in the application designer.

Enhancing the process workflow of importing and managing data, the update wraps different functions under a single multi-action. More specifically, this multi-action allows users to facilitate the master and fact data imports, planning calculations, and data publishing to a version—all in one workflow.

It lets users choose whether to import model data or master data and helps to streamline the overall analytics workflow experience. Overall, the feature reduces the time required to perform these tasks.

The SAP Analytics Cloud Q1 enhancements include the ability to prevent overwriting of content in excel sheets. The features prompt a warning message when the new content overlaps with the existing content. It allows users to work more efficiently and flexibly with Excel content in their analytics workflows. This feature restored important information and simplifies working with multiple data sets and reports.

In addition, it includes the ability to add multiple tables on a single sheet. The comprehensive single-sheet visibility effectively centralizes data organization. It helps create more complex, extensive reports, represented in an easy-to-interpret format.

The new feature induces systemization into Excel sheets as users can now fill rows and columns with specific formulas. It provides greater flexibility and control when working with the SAP Analytics Cloud new release. The user-defined calculations promote a more familiar and intuitive experience.

Moreover, when a user inputs a defined formula in one cell, it will be inherited by all data rows/columns. This feature allows quick and easy application of formulas to large data sets, reducing the time required to perform complex calculations.

Updates in the Get DATA formula under the SAP Analytics Cloud updates for Q1 2023 offer a new and improved way to retrieve data from data sources and analyze it in the SAC platform. As per the new feature, SAP.GETDATA returns data values for a specified set of dimensions and member combinations.

Earlier, the formula required users to define a table as a prerequisite before using it. However, the update now allows them directly retrieve member combinations from a data source, making it easier to analyze data without the need for additional steps or dependencies.