SAP Analytics Cloud Planning with Live Snowflake Data

[Max_Gander]

Introduction

In Q4 2025, we released live versions for planning models in SAP Analytics Cloud: 

• In seamless planning, you can connect live to fact data in SAP Datasphere (blogpost)
• In non-seamless planning scenarios, you can connect to the live SQL sources available in SAP Analytics Cloud. Up until now, Google BigQuery was the only available source (blogpost)

With QRC1 2026, Snowflake is added to the portfolio of live sources and with that, you can now reference Snowflake data for planning without replication!

How does it work?

In my blogpost on live versions from Google BigQuery, I demonstrated how to add live data to an existing model. So this time, we will take another approach and create a planning model from data.

• Go to the modeler
• Create model
• Create model from data
• Choose Snowflake. You can filter the list of connections to Data Storage “Cloud”
• Choose a connection.
• Choose a view
• The model is created along the source view’s structures. You see the instant live connection in the data preview

You can now work with this model as you know from model’s without live versions. In the example below, we remove dimensions and measures that we do not need. We re-create one of the measures as a live calculation.

We can also leverage the data in data actions. See this example where we copy the Actual data into a plan version with a factor. The actual version that you see is sourced directly from Snowflake. When we copy the data into a plan version, the plan data is stored in the fact table of our model in SAP Analytics Cloud. 

 

FAQ

Where can I use this feature?

This feature is available for SAP Analytics Cloud models that are not deployed to SAP Datasphere (=not using seamless planning).

Can I use any source view?

Yes. However, not all data types are supported (details).

What can I do with live versions? (And what can I not do?)

• You can display the live version data in the model data foundation and in tables, charts, etc. in stories.
• You can reference the live version data in model and story calculations as well as data actions (incl. advanced formulas).
• You cannot write back to the source. You can copy the live version data into planning versions via copy/paste in the table, data actions and version management.

How do I see if data is live or not?

• In models, a live version is highlighted in the data preview. In the version dimension, you see the data source per version. 
• In tables, live version data is locked for data entry and formatted accordingly. Reasons for unplannable data give accurate information.

 

Conclusion

Live data access in planning models represents a massive opportunity. SAP Analytics Cloud aligns with SAP Business Data Cloud’s ambition to be open and keeps on expanding its live connectivity portfolio. Look forward to use your Azure data for planning in the future and follow the respective innovation in the Roadmap Explorer.