Item: SAP Analytics Cloud
Rating: 8
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We have been testing SAP Analytics Cloud for the past six months to expand our BI/analytics capabilities and further integrate it with SAP Cloud solutions. Being powered by HANA with instant (built-in) data source options (BW), it piqued our interest. It is being used by selective power users/analysts throughout the entire organization. For a long time they have been asking for an all-in-one cloud-based solution where they can develop dashboards and use planning/predictive features (modules) and share them in a centralized location (digital boardroom).

Pros and Cons

Easy ways for managing public dimensions by creating attributes
Custom apps and widgets
Predictive analytics capability

Poor performance when doing modeling in the cloud
Data preparation has limited capabilities
Complex currency conversion

Return on Investment

A way to move our existing BI solution (BO) to the cloud
Ability to use additional SAC cloud-based features
Costly compared to other solutions

Alternatives Considered

Salesforce Einstein Analytics (formerly Wave Analytics) and Tableau Server

Salesforce Einstein Analytics Platform easier to use and set up. However, its main purpose is predictive analytics, and it does not have all the features SAP Analytics Cloud provides. Also, far greater distribution capabilities and integration with BI tools (like Business Objects). With acquisition of Tableau, Einstein Analytics Platform roadmap is not clear.

Tableau Server is easier to use and it has better public facing capabilities (important for government agencies). However, SAP Analytics Cloud has better access real time data with more features, and easy way to use other modules available on the same platform. It also has native data access/cleansing tool from virtually any source.

Key Insights

Do you think SAP Analytics Cloud delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with SAP Analytics Cloud's feature set?

Yes

Did SAP Analytics Cloud live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of SAP Analytics Cloud go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy SAP Analytics Cloud again?

Yes

Other Software Used

SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence (BI) Platform, Tableau Server, Microsoft Power BI

Usability

SAP Analytics Cloud combines all analytics capabilities, including business intelligence, planning, and predictive analytics in a single cloud-based solution. You can create dynamic, visual stories with trusted native data--plus virtually any data source. SAP Analytics Cloud offers an intuitive solution for data modeling and can be utilized more with SAP S/4HANA data (for SAP ERP customers). Special features: Geo Maps, smart discovery, and R visualization are very helpful.

Support Rating

Support is excellent, even if you have a basic support package. Their knowledge base is very extensive, so you can easily find related articles on your own. The chat option is very good as well--very knowledgeable support engineers--but first you have to go through a somewhat complex selection process in order to be assigned to the right person. They also try to close cases as soon as possible, so make sure your issue is addressed thoroughly first before you close the incident.

Likelihood to Recommend

It has come a long way since it was introduced in 2015. It would be a common sense solution for customers with an SAP ERP ecosystem who are already running their apps on SAP HANA Cloud Platform. It provides easy access to internal data sources like BPC, SAP BW, SAP ERP, SAP HANA, or SAP Universe (Business Objects). At the same time, business users have access to the right set of tools to cover the entire BI analysis process in an easy way without creating additional work for the IT team.

Depending on the SAP footprint in your organization, licensing could be a major roadblock. It can be expensive (depending on which model you choose--private or public) for non-SAP customers, so make sure you understand what you are paying for.

SAP Analytics Cloud for SAP and non-SAP customers

Overall Satisfaction with SAP Analytics Cloud