📑 Table of Contents
What is SAP Analytics Cloud
SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) is an end-to-end cloud solution that brings together Business Intelligence, Augmented Analytics, and Enterprise Planning in a single system. It runs on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and serves as the analytics foundation for the intelligent enterprise.
📊 Business Intelligence
Self-service analytics — governed data, interactive stories and dashboards. Actionable insights for business users with intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
🤖 Augmented Analytics
Embedded AI/ML for automatic strategic insights. Smart Predict, Smart Insights, and natural language queries surface patterns instantly.
📅 Enterprise Planning
End-to-end planning — budgets, forecasts, scenario simulations. Supports read/write models with version and date dimensions as required dimensions.
🔗 Platform Services
Live connections to cloud and on-premise SAP sources. Eliminates silos with seamless blending of multiple data sources.
SAP Analytics Cloud — Home Screen interface with four tabs: Today, Catalog, Favorites, Shared With Me
Interface & Navigation
Home Screen — Four Tabs
Today (default)
Cards and notes you have pinned. Private — cannot be shared or added to discussions.
Catalog
Single access point for published content. View-only tiles — cannot copy, paste, delete, or edit. Content types: Stories, Models, Datasets, Files, Content links, Insights.
Favorites
Resources you marked as favorites for quick access.
Shared With Me
All resources other users have shared with you.
Admin publishes to Catalog: Files → Select object → Share → Publish to Catalog → Select team → OK → Share. Only admins can publish; users can view but cannot modify catalog content.
Shell Bar & Side Navigation
- Shell bar (top) — breadcrumb navigation, search, notifications, profile
- Side navigation (left) — switch between Stories, Datasets, Modeler, Data Actions, Analytics Designer, and admin areas
- Profile — set display language, data access language, date/number formatting, upload profile picture
Files Area
- My Files — content you own + content shared with you
- Input Forms — planning stories and elements assigned to you
- Public — available to all users (read-only by default); administrators can assign copy/delete permissions
- Samples — sample models and stories for learning
Connections
Connections provide communication between SAC and data sources. Each data source requires a separate connection.
SAC Connections — Live vs Import connection options
⚡ Live Connections
SAP sources only. Real-time query — data stays at source, no import needed.
Supported: SAP BW, SAP HANA, SAP Datasphere, SAP S/4HANA, SAP BPC
No data copy Real-time SAP only
Supported: SAP BW, SAP HANA, SAP Datasphere, SAP S/4HANA, SAP BPC
No data copy Real-time SAP only
📥 Import Connections
SAP + non-SAP sources. Data imported and stored in SAC model.
Supported: Google Drive, SQL databases, OData Services, flat files, Salesforce, and more
SAP & non-SAP Scheduled refresh
Supported: Google Drive, SQL databases, OData Services, flat files, Salesforce, and more
SAP & non-SAP Scheduled refresh
Key rule: Live connections = SAP sources only. Import connections = SAP + non-SAP. Datasets cannot be scheduled for auto-refresh — must manually re-import.
Models & Datasets
SAC Modeler — building dimensions and measures for analytical and planning models
Two Model Types
📊 Analytic Model — Read Only
Strictly for reporting and analysis. Date dimension is optional (remove if data always represents current state). No planning capabilities.
📅 Planning Model — Read/Write
Date and Version dimensions are mandatory. Supports user write-back, data actions, version management (Budget, Forecast, Actual).
SAC Model — Dimensions and Measures framework defining the analytical structure
Dimensions vs Measures
| Concept | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Dimension | Categories providing perspective on data. Can have properties, hierarchies. | Product Category, Date, Region, Cost Centre |
| Measure | Numeric values being analysed. | Sales Revenue, Salary, Units Sold |
| Account Dimension | Special dimension holding all numeric values as line items (balance sheet style). | Revenue, COGS, Gross Profit — all in one Account dim |
Hierarchy Types
Parent-Child Hierarchy
Variable depth. Uses Member ID + Parent ID columns. Best for org charts, cost centre hierarchies.
Level-Based Hierarchy
Fixed depth, one column per level. Best for geography (Country → Region → City) and time hierarchies.
Datasets vs Models — Key Differences
| Feature | Datasets | Models |
|---|---|---|
| Use case | Ad hoc, ungoverned, quick analysis | Formal, governed data analysis & planning |
| Live data | On-premise SAP HANA only | Many live SAP data sources |
| Planning | Not supported | Fully supported |
| Sharing | Embedded = story-specific; Public = shareable | Shareable across stories |
| Auto-refresh | Manual only (no scheduling) | Can schedule for import models |
| Change source | Embedded = yes; Public = no | Yes |
Dataset Conversion Rules
- Embedded → Public dataset: allowed; but public dataset cannot change its data source
- Embedded → Model: allowed; but prior transformations are lost and must be recreated
- Public dataset → Model: not allowed
Stories & Dashboards
An SAC story is the primary data reporting and analysis medium — a combination of tables, charts, text, images, and interactive elements.
SAC Story — dashboard combining charts, tables, and interactive filtering
Story Page Types
Canvas Page
Fixed height and width blank canvas. Place elements anywhere. Same layout across all device sizes.
Responsive Page
Adjusts element size and position based on device or screen size. Better for mobile users.
Bookmarks
- Bookmarks save filters and prompts only — not the full story state
- Two types: Private (your own) or Global (requires authorization)
- Can be shared with other users
- Customize Link option provides a meaningful label at the end of the URL
SAC Bookmarks — saving filter and prompt states for reuse
Data Analyzer
A predefined ready-to-run service for ad hoc analysis — no model creation needed. Connects directly to SAP BW queries, SAP HANA live views, SAP Datasphere models, and SAC models.
SAC Data Analyzer — tabular/chart view with filter area and drag-and-drop builder panel
- Tabular or chart view with drag-and-drop dimensions/measures
- Create calculated measures (exist in the insight only, not transferred to source)
- Apply conditional formatting
- Save drill-down state as a named insight
- Edit Prompts dialog for BW/HANA queries with prompt variables
My Metrics
Personalised KPI watchlist — gather vital metrics from multiple sources into one central screen updated in real-time. Use Smart Insights for contextual visualisations on any selected metric.
SAC My Metrics — central KPI watchlist with real-time updates across multiple data sources
Planning Models
SAC Planning — budget/forecast/actual versions with write-back capability
Planning Model mandatory dimensions: Date and Version are always required. Date drives time-period-based planning. Version separates Actual, Budget, Forecast, and Planning versions.
Planning Capabilities
- Write-back — users type new values directly into planning stories
- Data Actions — scripted calculation steps (spread, copy, allocate, disaggregate)
- Value Driver Trees — driver-based planning models showing causal relationships
- Versions — separate planning categories (Actual, Budget, Forecast); users create private versions
- Multi-action — chain multiple data actions into a sequence
Planning Model Security
Planning models support security at both the model level and dimension level. Users with planning permissions can create their own private versions and write data through copy/paste, typed input, or data actions.
Key Features
Account-Based Model
All numeric values stored in a single Account dimension. Each member of the Account dimension represents a financial line item (Revenue, COGS, Gross Profit). Account hierarchies drive aggregation. Calculated members (GP, NI) use formulas on the Account dimension — not separate measures.
Account hierarchy rule: Parent members aggregate child members automatically. Calculated members (like Gross Profit = Revenue − COGS) are defined as formula members on the Account dimension.
Content Network
- Promotes content across multiple SAC tenants via the cloud
- Each system stores up to 300 MB of exported content free in the My Content area
- Where SAP Business Content is stored — admins import and make available
- Source and target tenant versions must match (same or max one version apart)
Share Access Levels
| Level | Permissions |
|---|---|
| View | Read, copy, view comment, add comment |
| Edit | Update, create files, create folders |
| Full Control | Delete, delete comment, share |
| Custom | Any customised combination |
Security & Monitoring
SAC Security — functional and data access model with audit logging
- Functional security — controls which features users can access (modeler, admin, stories)
- Data security — row-level access control on dimension members
- Audit logging — SAC logs all user activities; accessible from Security area
- Monitoring reports — real-time statistics and system usage
- Quarterly release cycle — SAC releases quarterly with new features; max 1 version gap for Content Network transfers
AI & Augmented Analytics
SAC embeds generative AI capabilities across the platform. All AI features require administrator activation.
🔢 AI-Assisted Calculations
Natural language queries generate calculation formulas in Data Analyzer calculation dialog.
💬 AI-Assisted Commenting
Summarise comments on table data cells and within comment widgets — extracting key insights.
⚙️ AI-Assisted Data Actions
Generate scripts or comments for advanced formula steps in data actions using natural language.
💡 AI-Assisted Prompt Insights
Prompt widget generates data-backed business insights combining planning data with real-time web search via LLM.
📝 Story Code Generation
Natural language queries help write scripts for SAC advanced stories.
📊 AI Chart Summary
Generate chart summaries in Microsoft PowerPoint using the SAC add-in with generative AI.
Smart Insights: Right-click any data point in a chart → Smart Insights → AI automatically explains why that value is what it is — surfacing contributing factors and anomalies.
Exam Tips & Quick Reference
Critical Facts to Remember
CERT Model Types
Analytic = read only. Planning = read/write. Planning requires Date + Version dimensions (mandatory). Analytic Date dimension is optional.
CERT Live vs Import
Live = SAP only. Import = SAP + non-SAP. Datasets cannot auto-refresh — manual only.
CERT Bookmarks
Save filters and prompts ONLY. Private or Global. Can be shared. Use Customize Link for meaningful URL label.
CERT Catalog
View-only. Admin publishes. Cannot copy, paste, delete, or edit from catalog. Published items = tiles.
CERT Content Network
300 MB free. Max 1 version gap between source/target tenants. Used for Business Content import.
CERT Dataset Conversion
Embedded → Public: allowed. Embedded → Model: allowed (transformations lost). Public → Model: NOT allowed.
Quick Terminology Map
| Term | Definition | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Story | Primary reporting medium — charts, tables, interactive elements | = Report / Dashboard |
| Widget | Any element on a story page — chart, table, text box, image | Generic term for all story elements |
| Model | Governed data representation — basis for stories | Analytic (RO) vs Planning (RW) |
| Dataset | Simple tabular collection — for ad hoc use | Embedded (story-only) vs Public (shared) |
| Data Analyzer | Ad hoc tool — no model needed, saves as insight | BW/HANA/Datasphere/SAC models directly |
| My Metrics | Personal KPI watchlist across multiple stories | Real-time, centralised metric monitoring |
| Bookmark | Saved filter/prompt state | Saves filters only, not full story state |