The company always in view?

Viewed soberly, it is a matter of S/4 Hana Embedded Analytics first of all around integrated Analysis-Functions on Real-time–Datawhich are used for operational business processes in the S/4–Hana-system are incurred.

The essential task of Embedded Analytics lies in giving the User the Informationrelevant to its respective operational activities, not only in Real-timebut also integrated into its individual workflow.

Thus, he should be able to make better and faster decisions.

What do you need to pay attention to?

This depends on which functions are supported by Embedded Analytics are to be used. In principle, only the operation of SAP S/4 Hana is necessary to Embedded Analytics to be introduced in the company.

It is used with the S/4–Hana-Suite and can therefore be used immediately. Embedded Analytics contains both standard analyses and functions preconceived by SAP as well as the possibility of extending the range of functions through Customers to expand customized solutions.

To have the possibility to access all functionalities of Embedded Analytics However, the Fiori Launchpad must be configured in order to access and exploit them.

This is a clear, intuitive web interface in tile design, on which User their Applicationswhich they need in their day-to-day work.

For example, from this web interface, you can access transactions, BW reports and Embedded–Analytics–Applications can be accessed without giving the Users itself becomes apparent in which system it moves.

To be able to understand how Embedded Analytics works, one should take a brief look at the underlying Data model in S/4 Throw Hana.

In addition to the physical tables in which the business data is persistently stored, there is a multi-tier Virtual Data model (VDM).

This is formed by so-called Abap Core Data Service (CDS) views and allows the Data model (for example, by in-relating different physical tables or CDS views) to specific business scenarios.

In addition, CDS views automatically provide services and protocols that allow, among other things, the Data directly in various Applications to consume.

However, to create your own CDS views, you should have experience in programming and dealing with data models, as CDS views are created by Abap coding in Eclipse.

As already indicated, the possibilities for using this data model are manifold.

They range from so-called KPIs to multi-dimensional reports and the use of ready-made Design Studio templates to analytical fiori-Apps or the integration of BO-Tools.

This makes it possible to decide which tool makes the most sense, depending on the use case and the target group, without having to make changes to the Data model to have to make.

KPIs appear as a representation of a specific metric relevant to the company in a tiled look.

This key figure can be visualized in various ways. For example, it is possible to display a simple number, the relation to the target value or even a trend over time by means of a tile in the Fiori Launchpad.

Coloring can be used to indicate whether a key figure is in the critical, neutral or ideal range and whether activities are therefore necessary.

This tile serves as a link to an extended drilldown of the key figure.Here, more detailed Information to the key figure can be displayed as a table or graph. In this drilldown the User again the Analysis change slightly or move directly to operational activities.

Through the use of KPIs, it is possible to create a Smart Business Cockpit, which shows the current state of the company at a glance. This can help both the Users of an operational department (What do I have to do?) as well as the management level (What is the state of the company?) help to make decisions and to execute them directly afterwards.

The border between Analysis the Data and operational activity is fluid due to the direct navigation into transactional Applications.

S/4 Hana already offers a repertoire of KPIs for standard processes that can be used directly (e.g. Smart Business Cockpit in the area of purchasing - see figure).

In addition, the KPI-modeler offers the possibility to design own KPIs and thus to adapt them to the corresponding needs of the business environment and the target group.

The User itself thus obtains already prepared Informationso that such Applications are suitable for a wide range of tasks and do not require a deeper understanding of analysis.

Multi Dimensional Reports for advanced Analyseswhich are based on the Web Dynpro technology, offer the possibility to display a CDS view for your own needs, i.e. for the Visualization from Information, which corresponds to the interpretation of the KPI serve.

The same applies to the execution of for Embedded Analytics provided and usable without additional license Design Studio Templates.

So the User decide for themselves how they want to analyze key figures and adjust the drilldown accordingly.

He can then use these adjustments as a variant and in the case of the Design Studio templates can also be saved as tiles in the Fiori Launchpad. Thus the Users here the possibility to compile your own data analyses for specific cases and save them for later access.

To work with such a view, however, requires experience in dealing with data models and their Visualization. Thus these Tools primarily intended for users who are familiar with the Analysis from Data are already familiar with.

Furthermore enables Embedded Analytics also, with BusinessObjects (BO) to the Virtual Data model to set up.

These front-end solutions, which are already known from the BW environment, areTools provide the ability to use dashboards or Excel reports to provide real-time ERPData visualize in a way that is familiar from the BW environment.

Thus create these Tools the prerequisite for providing users with the right solution for a wide range of use cases. The integration of these Tools into the VDM of S/4 Hana runs very smoothly because CDS views can be used like queries in the BW environment.

In addition, you can set up Bex Queries on top of the VDM and then use it as a data source for BO-.Tools use. Those who are familiar with the BW-Tools will have no difficulties in implementing a reporting system with the help of Embedded Analytics.

Should one wish to use these tools, however, the corresponding additional BusinessObjects license is required.

If an even more specialized solution is required, highly flexible web applications based on SAPUI5 can also be developed according to Fiori guidelines. These can be developed very precisely according to the wishes and requirements of a company and its employees and still fit seamlessly into the overall Fiori picture.

In addition, they can be displayed in an optimized way on different end devices (smartphones, tablets, desktop).

However, developing such a solution requires extensive knowledge of SAPUI5 and related technologies. In addition to the option of in-house development, SAP already delivers a range of standard solutions in the SAPUI5/Fiori app environment.

Differences to the previous BW

S/4 Hana Embedded Analytics serves to DataThe following table shows the amounts recognized in the income statement Real-time to analyze.

This means that Data are represented exactly as it corresponds to their current state, and they are thus subject to permanent change. The BW historicizes Data over long periods of time and gives the possibility to keep them as they were at a certain point in time.

Thus serves Embedded Analytics primarily to provide support for operational decisions, whereas SAP BW's strength lies in providing tactical and strategic decision support through Analysis of long-term data.

In addition, in a data warehouse system such as SAP BW, it is possible to connect external systems. As a result, it offers an all-encompassing view of all the DataThe system also serves as a single point of truth for the data that accumulates in a company outside of SAP.

In conclusion, based on our initial experience with the system, we can say that S/4 Hana Embedded Analytics delivers key functionalities to support the operational business through real-time analytics.

This real-time support rounds out Embedded Analytics the previous BW reporting options.With the advancement of the S/4-technology will also be available for Embedded Analytics probably be improvements and innovations in the future.

In addition, there is the possibility, Applications to the needs of a company and its employees to a greater extent than before, thus facilitating day-to-day work and simplifying familiarization.

However, this is where the boundaries between areas of operational work and the Analysis. To get the full potential out of solutions like S/4 Embedded Analytics In order to draw the right conclusions, it is becoming even more necessary than before to view a company from a holistic perspective.

Thus, a strong interdisciplinary cooperation of different business units is necessary.

When business processes and their support through analytical and operational Applications are to be considered as a whole, this must already be incorporated in the planning of system processes and thus requires know-how from the areas of process optimization, data analysis and development right from the start.