Unlocking the Next Chapter of Seamless Planning in...

Max_Gander

Introduction

Seamless planning is generally available since Q1 2025. Since then, plan data resides directly in SAP Datasphere and with that, in the core of SAP Business Data Cloud. We are now thrilled to announce the release of live versions with QRC4 2025 (fast track wave 20.2025) that bring fact data into planning models without replication! Learn how this works, why it brings many planning use cases to a new level and how it benefits from the data product architecture of BDC.

I also want to highlight more features that we are introducing in this context:

Seamless planning support for SAP Analytics Cloud compass incl. support for live versions (Check out this great blogpost from @ChenNee)
Detection of mismatches between fact and master data (postings on dimension members that are not part of your dimension tables)
Planning on live versions from other sources (e.g., Google BigQuery; not applicable for seamless planning; check out this blogpost )

Watch out for more blogposts to come in the next weeks!

Use cases & benefits

You cannot plan in a data vacuum. Plans rely on reference data and input. That can be actual data, other plan data, external influencer data etc. Until now, you were required to physically bring this data into your planning models using import jobs, uploads or data actions. Hence, live versions represent an advanced paradigm to data management and offer benefits in core planning scenarios for different personas.

Accurate forecasts & plans: Live versions pull actuals, and external drivers directly from SAP Datasphere into your planning models - without replication. This removes latency and reconciliation work, so forecasts are built on the latest, governed facts from a single source of truth. Rolling forecasts and variance analysis become immediate and more reliable, reducing forecast bias and improving plan quality. Live versions can even feed SAP Analytics Cloud predictive scenarios with live data!

Extended Planning and Analysis: Cross-functional teams (finance, supply chain, sales, HR) consume the same governed facts directly from SAP Datasphere. Plans, assumptions and driver changes propagate instantly across domains, enabling end-to-end scenarios, consistent KPIs, and accelerating aligned decisions.

Operating a planning solution: No more nightly imports, manual uploads, or complex data actions to keep models current. Live versions reduce data movement & data footprint, simplify model building & operations, and lower TCO. Furthermore, the graphical modeling interface in SAP Datasphere lets you define joins, mappings, transformations etc. to bring data into the exact shape that you need for your planning model.

SAP Business Data Cloud's data product architecture augments this opportunity.

Use SAP-managed data products and base planning models directly on curated data from SAP applications.
Use customer-managed data products from SAP BW PCE to support hybrid planning architectures while transitioning from BPC to planning in BDC.
Integrate results from SAP Databricks via SAP Datasphere

How does it work?

Add data to an existing model

In your model details, you will find a new entry in the ‘Data’ section which is called ‘External Live Version Data Sources’
Here, ‘Connect External Data Source’
Choose an existing target version for the data source or create a blank version
Choose your fact view from your model’s SAP Datasphere space
Map the data source columns to your model’s columns
- Not all source columns need to be mapped
- Not all target columns need to be mapped
  - Measures can be NULL
  - Dimensions can receive a default member
- Certain data type differences can be handled
If we detect a mismatch between the live version and your master data, we will notify you and you can add missing dimension members directly (not shown in the video)
You’re done! You can add more sources to the model, if you want

Adding a live version to a model

Build a model from an SAP Datasphere view

Create a new model
‘Start with data’
Select SAP Datasphere as data storage location (=use seamless planning)
Select a space. The view you want to use as basis for the planning model must be in the same space or shared with the space
Select SAP Datasphere as datasource
Select your view
You now already see the live connection to the source view data
Create dimension tables as needed
Save the model
You’re done!

Creating a model from an SAP Datasphere view

A usage example

In the following example, we add headcount (full-time equivalent / FTE) data to the previously created sales planning model because we want to add a calculation of revenue generated per sales employee.

We have an FTE planning model which is deployed to our SAP Datasphere space. Note that the fact table is exposed in the data builder.
We create a view on the fact table with a filter on sales employees in SAP Datasphere
We add the view to our sales planning model, do the mappings and add a calculation
In the story, we see the live data from the FTE planning model and the calculation result
When we change data in the FTE planning and publish it, the calculation in the sales model is refreshed in real-time

Referring to data from another planning model

FAQ

Where can I use this feature?

This feature is available for SAP Analytics Cloud models that use SAP Datasphere as data storage location (=seamless planning models).

Can I use any fact table/view from SAP Datasphere?

You can use fact views that are exposed for consumption. They must be available in the space that your model is deployed to. They can be shared with the space as well. You cannot use a view on the fact table of the planning model that you want to use the view in.

Can I also add data from other planning models?

You can add data from other seamless planning models if they are deployed and exposed in the same space or if the exposed data has been shared from another space. You need to create a view on top of the tables which is exposed for consumption.

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 into the referenced views (or rather their underlying tables). 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.

Is SAP Datasphere Data Access Control considered?

Yes, it is.

Do planners need to have certain roles in SAP Datasphere?

Only if a user has a consumer role for the underlying space, he will be able to see live version data. Otherwise, he can use the planning model but will not see live version data.

Data access control applies as well.

What about live access to master data?

Live access to master data is future enhancement with high priority.

Conclusion

Live versions bring seamless planning to the next level and unlock a lot of value for planning in SAP Business Data Cloud. I am delighted to announce the general availability in Q4 2025.