Seamless planning between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere is coming! Controlled release in Q4

[Max_Gander]

Introduction

You may have heard of it already. We have been busy bringing the integration between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere for planning use case to an entirely new level. And we are about to reach a crucial milestone as we are going for a controlled release with QRC4.2024 for SAP Analytics Cloud running on HANA Cloud infrastructure.

In this blogpost, I want to give you an overview of the concept of seamless planning, the current scope, future plans, prerequisites and release plans. More info is available in my second blogpost on the topic where we cover more in-depth product FAQ.

Seamless Planning – Overview and Functionality

What is seamless planning?

Seamless planning is a new approach to the planning integration between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere. It is not a new product. With seamless planning, you can store the SAP Analytics Cloud model’s data (fact and master data) directly in SAP Datasphere, reducing the data footprint and making it available for real-time consumption, additional processing and extensibility scenarios using SAP Datasphere’s capabilities.

SAP Analytics Cloud will continue to define the model structure, own the model’s metadata, define calculations, planning processes, etc. SAP Analytics Cloud modelers can opt for SAP Datasphere data storage when creating new models and public dimension tables, or when importing content. They can also control the visibility of the SAP Analytics Cloud objects in SAP Datasphere. These objects are read-only in SAP Datasphere.

All known SAP Analytics Cloud functionality for modeling, planning, predictive and story-building are or shall be available. This also includes the usage of SAP Analytics Cloud, add-in for Microsoft Office.

The goal is to reduce the time to action and foster collaboration across different lines of business by enabling planning and analytics on a simplified, centralized, and governed data platform. Hereby, we are facilitating true extend planning & analysis (xP&A).

What is in the controlled release? (incl. limitations)

In the first release of seamless planning, you will be able to select an SAP Datasphere space as the storage location for your planning model. This is a per-model choice. Within the model, you can then choose to expose fact data and/or distinct public dimension tables in the data builder in SAP Datasphere. You can also import content using the Content Network and deploy data to SAP Datasphere.                      

With that, you will be able to realize the following benefits:

• Reduced data redundancy
• Enhanced flexibility to perform live reporting across SAP Analytics Cloud and other data sources based on joint SAP Datasphere analytic models
• Extensibility of SAP Analytics Cloud planning using SAP Datasphere capabilities such as data operations using SQL editor. Note, programming languages like Python can extend Datasphere in many areas as well.

Note the following feature imparities during initial release compared to the features offered for models that are not using seamless planning (updated April 2025). We will try to lift them asap:

• The following features of Data Export Service are unavailable (planned):
  • Delta subscriptions
  • Public dimension tables
  • Audit tables

• The following features of the Data Import API are unavailable (planned):

  • Public dimension tables
  • Private versions
• SAP Analytics Cloud compass (planned)

Also, I’d like to point out some more functional restrictions that we want to remove in releases after the controlled release:  

• Having shared public dimensions across models is only possible when the models and the public dimensions are deployed to the same SAP Datasphere space. The same applies to the currency rate tables.
• Hierarchies are not exposed to SAP Datasphere. If they are needed, SAP Datasphere modelers are required to rebuild them.
• Cross-model planning activities, such as data action cross-model copy step, are only allowed if the required models are deployed to the same data persistence (i.e. all in SAP Analytics Cloud or all in SAP Datasphere), and in the case of objects deployed to SAP Datasphere, to the same SAP Datasphere space.
• [Bug]: Fact and dimension tables that are exposed lose the exposure setting when transported/imported via Content Network.

What features are planned for the future?

First and foremost, we want to remove the limitations outlined above. Then, we plan highly value-adding features to strengthen the cross-consumption of data, streamline modeling efforts and the orchestration of seamless planning use cases. We have many ideas to strengthen the integration even more. These are just some of them:

• (Live) Cross-consumption of SAP Datasphere data
• Migration support for existing SAP Analytics Cloud content to the new architecture
• Re-use of dimensions from SAP Datasphere
• Cross-orchestration of workflows between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere with multi actions and task chains

 

Infrastructure & prerequisites

What are the prerequisites to use seamless planning?

To connect SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere for seamless planning, the following prerequisites apply:

• SAP Analytics Cloud running on HANA Cloud
• SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere are located in the same data center. SAP datacenters are not in scope
• SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere use the same identity provider
• SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere tenants are linked for seamless planning in a 1:1 relationship by the system owner

How can I learn more about the HANA Cloud migration?

Learn more in this blogpost.

Controlled release & way forward

Who can participate in the Controlled Release?

Obviously, you must be a customer of both SAP Analytics Cloud planning and SAP Datasphere. Your SAP Analytics Cloud tenant must run on HANA Cloud (see above).

Is there a way to participate in the Controlled Release if my SAP Analytics Cloud tenant is not running on HANA Cloud?

The only way to participate if your SAP Analytics Cloud tenant is not running on HANA Cloud is the purchase of a new SAP Analytics Cloud tenant. However, the deployment of any new tenant will be aligned with your existing tenants. So, it must be ensured that it will be deployed on HANA Cloud instead. To do so, you can use a BTPEA agreement or you work with your account team to flag the delivery of the tenant as an exception with our operations teams before it is ordered.

Be aware that moving content built on new tenants to your old tenants once these are migrated is challenging. This is due to the 1:1 relationship between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere, the redundancy of objects deployed in different ways in the tenants and built content in SAP Datasphere. This is why the approach of a new SAP Analytics Cloud tenant on HANA Cloud for the Controlled Release is recommended for POC purposes only.

How can I sign up?

A registration page is available on Customer Influence. Link 

Registration closes December 16, 2024 (EOD). With general availability still planned for QRC1.2025, preview and partner tenants shall get seamless planning on January 18, 2025 if the prerequisites described above are met. 

When can I expect general availability?

General availability is planned for QRC1.2025. Note that availability only applies to SAP Analytics Cloud tenants running on HANA Cloud. Refer to this blogpost for more info on migration plans.

Conclusion

The upcoming controlled release of seamless planning marks a milestone in the journey to true extended planning & analysis (xP&A). Plan data now lives right next to actual data. Extend the capabilities of SAP Analytics Cloud using SAP Datasphere’s capabilities. In the future, you shall exchange data across planning domains seamlessly. You shall see modeling and data management efforts become streamlined and efficient.

We are looking forward to welcoming many customers to this controlled release and to making seamless planning available across our customer base in 2025. We shall deliver additional functionality unlocking more of the potential of this incredibly powerful set-up.