Seamless Planning with Datasphere & SAC: Seamless Planning in the Cloud?

[dirkfrick]

What is Seamless Planning? 

Seamless Planning creates a tighter integration between planning in SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere. This integration makes it possible to create planning models in SAC, while the associated transaction and master data is stored in SAP Datasphere.  

The model definition and calculation logic remain within SAC, while the persistence for master data and planning data takes place in SAP Datasphere, so that both systems are closely linked - without the effort of manual data transfers or imports. 

From BI-directional to Seamless Planning

Previously, planning data had to be stored in the SAC and then regularly exported to external data warehouse systems. Although it was possible, for example, to use planning data via virtual tables in SAP Datasphere, this required SAP Cloud Data Integration as an additional component. Seamless Planning eliminates this additional step for new models. The data remains synchronized throughout and is available in real time for both planning and further analyses in Datasphere. However, a direct migration of existing classic SAC models is not yet possible, but has been announced. 

Seamless Planning is not a separate piece of software, but a change to the persistence of planning models in SAC. The aim of this development is to provide companies with a more flexible, scalable and reliable planning solution that is directly linked to their data warehouse. 

Seamless Planning functions

Seamless Planning offers a range of functions that optimize the integration between the SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere. 

• Automatic data synchronization: Changes to transaction and master data in the SAC are automatically transferred to SAP Datasphere, increasing data consistency and eliminating the need for manual exports.
  

• Real-time data availability: By storing the data in SAP Datasphere, it is available in real time for analysis purposes, which speeds up decision-making.
  

• Extended usage options: SAC models and objects can be used in SAP Datasphere, for example in Transformation Flows or Analytic Models, making the integration and analysis of data more flexible. This is possible with Seamless Planning without SAP Cloud Data Integration.
  

• Reduction of manual activities: Direct access to planning data in SAP Datasphere reduces the need for manual exports and imports, making the planning process more efficient. 
  

• Centralized data storage: By storing planning and analysis data in a common database, data redundancies are reduced and a harmonized data landscape is created. 

These functions help to simplify planning processes, promote collaboration between different business areas and enable well-founded decisions based on consistent data. 

Prerequisites for the use of Seamless Planning 

• Technical requirements: SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) and SAP Datasphere must be operated in the same data center. There must be a 1:1 relationship between the respective tenants. 

• System requirements: The SAC tenant must run on the HANA Cloud infrastructure. This infrastructure has been used as standard for new tenants since mid-2024. 

• Licensing: No additional license costs, provided the technical requirements are met. 

These technical requirements are a necessary condition for the use of Seamless Planning. Companies already working with SAP Analytics Cloud and Datasphere should check whether their infrastructure is compatible. It should be noted that classic SAC planning models (without measures) cannot be used in Seamless Planning. 

In addition, shared dimensions must be stored within the same SAP Datasphere Space in order to be usable in multiple planning models. 

Process flow and required steps

Current status and SAP roadmap 

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Seamless Planning was introduced in the Controlled Release for registered customers and partners; since the Q1.2025 release, Seamless Planning has been generally available - for all customers who meet the above requirements and link both Tennants for Seamless Planning. With this initial release, master and plan data can be saved in Datasphere as described and used there in views, analytic models and transformation flows - but initially only as a source; the content of the plan data tables generated from SAC is “protected” in Datasphere and can only be modified via SAC, but not directly in Datasphere. 

When using existing content, e.g. from SAP, it is possible to select where the deployment (of the persistence layer) should take place when using seamless planning. 

Future developments include the integration of existing analytical models, the reuse of SAP Datasphere dimensions in SAC planning models and the improvement of the authorization concept. This will soon open up functions that go far beyond the current scope of planning with SAC and Datasphere. 

From the later SAC releases in 2025, Seamless Planning will offer numerous new options that will enable deeper integration between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere. The most important enhancements include: 

• Improved integration of existing data models: Creation of SAC planning models with seamless planning based on existing Datasphere models. 

• Display of parent/child hierarchies: The display of hierarchical structures in SAP Datasphere is optimized to better represent such relationships.
  

• Make local dimensions visible: Local dimensions can be displayed and used directly in SAP Datasphere. Currently, only public dimensions can be used, apart from the special dimensions for date and version, of course.
  

• Cross-orchestration integration: Workflows from SAC (Multi Actions and Datasphere (Task Chains) are integrated so that Datasphere actions can be triggered directly from planning in SAP Analytics Cloud.
  

• Live use of factual data: Real-time data from SAP Datasphere can be used directly in SAC planning models. This enables the simple (re)use of existing data models in planning. This can significantly simplify and accelerate data model development.
  

• Cross-space object sharing: Objects can be shared across different spaces, which facilitates or even enables reuse and adaptation to customer-specific governance requirements.
  

• Model migration to seamless planning: Migration of existing SAC planning models; models currently have to be newly created or transferred to the content network in order to be able to use them in seamless planning.
  

• Reuse of dimensions and data access controls: Dimensions and data access controls from SAP Datasphere can be used directly in SAC models. This simplifies user management as an operational task.
  

• Writing to SAC models: Data can be written directly from SAP Datasphere to the SAC model using transformation flows, which further simplifies integration. 

These enhancements promote a consistent database and enable more efficient planning and well-founded data-driven decisions. In addition, the reuse of existing data models is dramatically improved.  

Premises for planning architectures

The premises for planning architectures include essential aspects that ensure efficient and seamless planning. Only if these are fulfilled will the planning architecture meet the task of providing good and sustainable support for decision-making and maximizing the value of the planning data. Data integration plays a central role here by storing the planning data in the same systems in which master and reference data is managed. This enables a consistent database, simplified operation and reduces redundancies.  

Report integration ensures that planning and forecasting data can be easily incorporated into reports, ensuring transparent and consistent analysis and communication of key performance indicators and increasing the value of planning data.  

Finally, user integration is crucial: a unified environment that combines planning, forecasting and reporting provides users with an intuitive and efficient way of working, increases productivity and minimizes switching between different tools or platforms. These premises form the basis for a modern and efficient planning architecture and can be supported with seamless planning.  

Basic paths to seamless planning

Seamless planning already offers a powerful range of functions and represents an important step towards closer integration of planning and data management. However, the technical requirements for its use are not trivial and require careful consideration. Even though integration into SAP Datasphere is being continuously improved, there are still some relevant limitations at present. 

With Semless Planning, SAP is combining the advantages of close integration - as known from BW Integrated Planning or BPC Embedded - with the advantages that Datasphere offers, for example, in terms of openness and self-service capabilities and the modern user interface and flexibility of planning in SAP Analytics Cloud. However, the key functionalities for this are currently still on the roadmap and will be successively published in the next quarterly releases. 

However, SAP's long-term vision is clear: Seamless Planning is set to become the standard architecture for modern corporate planning, particularly as a result of the Business Data Cloud and the announced Data Products and Insight Apps with planning functions. If DataProducts and Insight Apps establish themselves successfully, SAP will create a solution with benefits that go far beyond the advantages of previous (BW-based) solution architectures - including expected project runtimes, self-service options and the use of machine learning using SAP Databricks, for example for predictive forecasting use cases.  

Nevertheless, companies should not rush to postpone ongoing or planned projects, but rather carry out a strategic assessment. 

Seamless planning is above all a future-oriented architecture option that should be continuously monitored with a view to the roadmap and the further expansion of functionalities. If you want to make your planning landscape modern and flexible in the long term, you should incorporate the potential of this new integration into your IT strategy at an early stage.