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SAP Analytics Cloud Live data connection to SAP SuccessFactors

Maheshwar_Singh
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert
‎2024 Jun 05 3:33 PM
7,343

The objective of this blog post is to help provide an overview to establish the live data connection between SAP Analytics Cloud and the SAP SuccessFactors system.  

With this new enhancement, you can copy the live connection (used in People Analytics Stories) to the Enterprise edition of SAP Analytics Cloud.

Update: With the Q4'24 release. You can copy the LMS connection as well.

Some additional capabilities available to this live connection in SAC Enterprise are:

  • Data consolidation and cross application reporting

  • Use both Acquired and Live connections in a single story.

  • Build custom analytical applications. 

  • Scripting Capabilities

  • Custom Widgets/ Widget Add-ons

  • Composites

  • View stories in presentation mode

  • Theming capabilities

  • Public Models can be re-used.

 

Below is the architecture of the connection options available to an SAP SuccessFactors system.

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Pre-requisites: 

  • You must be assigned the Story Admin permission in SAP SuccessFactors.

  • You must be assigned the BI Admin role in SAP Analytics Cloud to be able to copy the live connection to SAP Analytics Cloud.

  • You have enabled and configured Stories in People Analytics on your SAP SuccessFactors tenant.

  • You have a common Identity Authentication service between SAP SuccessFactors and SAP Analytics Cloud (for single sign on).

 
Creating the live connection in the SAP Analytics Cloud: 
  • From the side navigation, choose   Connections -> (Add Connection).  

The Select a data source dialog will appear.  

maheshwarsing_1-1717562040429.png

  • Expand Connect to Live Data and select SAP Cloud Application.  

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  • You are now asked to Sign in, From the Select application dropdown pick SAP SuccessFactors.  

For Application URL enter your SAP SuccessFactors URL e.g.: https://xxx.sf.com.

Enter your Company ID, the Sign In button is activated, Click it.

maheshwarsing_3-1717562209600.png

  1. If SSO is enabled, once you select Sign In, you are signed in automatically.

If not, a Log on dialog appears to connect to SAP SuccessFactors. Provide user credentials to Log On.

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The validation of your credentials and role can take up to a minute.

  1. You will now see a list of connections available.   Select it and click Next to copy it.

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Currently “SAP SuccessFactors Reporting” connection is supported. In the subsequent release we will support “SAP SuccessFactors Learning” connection as well.

 Note: If this connection already exists in the tenant, an error message is displayed. Please delete the old connection and try again.

  1. Select the connection you want to clone and click Create.  

maheshwarsing_2-1717563135818.png

  7. The new connection details are displayed in the Clone Summary page.

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Select Finish to complete the workflow.

Note: After copying the SuccessFactors connection, you must refresh the page.  

Tip: It is recommended that you use the same IAS (Identity Authentication Service) for both SuccessFactors and SAP Analytics Cloud for Single sign on else you will always be prompted for your credentials in all workflows.

Conclusion:  You have configured a successful live connection between SAP Analytics Cloud and the SAP SuccessFactors system.    

 

Using the Modeler

To create the first model, select Modeler from the side panel

maheshwarsing_4-1717563519819.png

Select “Live Data Model” option.

  • Select “SAP Cloud Application” in the System Type dropdown. Select “SAPSFSFREP” as the connection.

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  • The credential for the connection is validated. Once confirmed the OK button is enabled.

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  • The modeler provides a similar experience as in the Stories for People analytics with minor changes.

Some changes include cancel, preview query, finish buttons removed from the bottom. Preview button is moved to the top of tool bar.

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  • Once the model is complete. You can save it in a folder to be used by Stories.

Note:  The Model saved as a public model in any accessible folder. This means you can now re-use the same model in multiple stories.

You can now design a story using this model.

Pro-Tip: you can design stories with highly aggregated widgets delivered via acquired connection, with a linked analysis to a table widget that is using the live connection to display employee level data.
This can be a important design consideration to use coarse grain Data Access Control in Datasphere, leverage the live connection and the fine-grained Role based Permission to control what a user can see on employee level.

 

Restrictions to SAP SuccessFactors Live Data Connections
  • Classic Design Experience
  • Scheduled Publication (Planned)
  • Data Change Insights
  • Model Repointing
  • Time Hierarchies
  • R Widgets
  • Search To Insights
  • Geo / Map Functionality
  • Natural Language Queries

All the restrictions applicable to SAP HANA live connections are also valid here.

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