Technology Blogs by SAP
Learn how to extend and personalize SAP applications. Follow the SAP technology blog for insights into SAP BTP, ABAP, SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP HANA, and more.
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Mario
Product and Topic Expert
Product and Topic Expert
1,188
Cloud-based analytics have evolved into a powerful force of insight and growth for businesses of all sizes. In four short years, the technology has converged data access, wrangling, visualization, analysis, prediction, forecasting, planning, and scenario evaluation onto a single platform in faster, more reliable, and more democratic ways.

While such advancements are helping growing companies make better decisions and take swifter action to tackle opportunities and mitigate risk, analytics tools will continue to mature. Augmented capabilities will be pulled into the mix to allow decision makers to go beyond traditional business intelligence, planning, and prediction. Plus, companies would be hard-pressed to operate intelligently without the flexibility to build, embed, and extend at their pace.

For this reason, many business leaders are looking to build analytical applications and embed insights into the workflow of line-of-business solutions. Additionally, they're beginning to take advantage of the vast prebuilt content offered by a diverse network of partners to accelerate their journey towards becoming an intelligent enterprise.

Building Adaptable Analytics Applications


The creation of analytical applications that can be perfectly adapted to address end-user requirements is the ultimate step to higher efficiency. Businesses can build applications themselves or seek the support of a trusted partner to develop the technology in very little time. Tailored analytical applications that harness planning, machine learning, and smart analytics can also be used to reimagine use cases. In return, the right analytics-driven insights can be delivered to every employee when and where it matters.

[caption id="attachment_15829" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Figure 1: Adaptable Analytics Application[/caption]

Embedding Capabilities for Simpler, Faster Decision-Making


A wide variety of business applications running with data-driven insight are working better and faster with embedded analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. They contain tighter security standards and can operate in the cloud, on premise, and as a hybrid without losing the context of the real-time workflow.

Take, for example, Q1 Energie AG. The group-independent energy company comprised of approximately 200 gas stations across Germany is using the SAP Vehicle Network solution to create a smooth in-car experience to step up the ease, speed, and convenience of its customer service. “By using customer data we are taking customer service one step further, providing relevant offers at the right time,” Q1 Energie CEO Frederick Beckmann explains. “Our customers will never get randomized promotions that don’t apply to them.”

[caption id="attachment_15830" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Figure 2: Embedded Analytics Functionality Available in a Vehicle Network[/caption]

Extending Analytics Advancements That Capitalize on the Power of Data


As analytics tools evolve and gain greater sophistication, the range of potential use cases broaden to include every business function, even extending into areas that are traditionally slow to apply data-driven insights and capabilities. The adoption of these applications can generate tremendous productivity gains and an improved quality of life.

However, sometimes, companies require the help of trusted partners well versed in technology and business processes to fully capitalize on the power of the SAP platform. With a continuous commitment towards innovation, joint efforts with our partners help perfect the delivery of line-of-business and industry scenarios. This includes a range of data models, KPIs, and customer stories of digital boardrooms experiences and business best practices---as well as free sample data and business content to provide a quick and easy starting point for your individual analytics scenarios.

For example, our partner Renew HR supports HR organizations with four targeted business content packages. Visual BI, another partner of ours, is delivering industry content that can be extended into our analytics. Meanwhile, many businesses are engaging our partner Bramasol to extend analytics capabilities with a focus on revenue recognition.



[caption id="attachment_15832" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Figure 3: SAP Partners Dedicated to Extending Advancements in Analytics[/caption]

In some cases, our partners are also our customers. Delaware Consulting is taking advantage of such a relationship with SAP. It's using SAP Analytics Cloud to manage its daily operations while helping its customers implement and apply the solution to address their business needs. This constant exposure to the cloud analytics solution empowered our partner to create an industry extension for professional services, available in SAP App Center.

[caption id="attachment_15833" align="aligncenter" width="550"] Figure 4: Example of How Partners Accelerate Deployment and Value Realization of SAP Analytics Cloud[/caption]

Finding the Right Cloud-Based Analytics Tools to Scale to Unique Business Needs


According to the 451 Research report, “SAP Looks to the Cloud with a Hybrid Analytics Strategy,” using analytics in the cloud doesn't require wholesale abandonment of existing on-premise investments. “Instead, the aim is to enable [businesses] to continue to employ the longtime SAP BusinessObjects BI platform---which has historically been used on premises but now supports a variety of cloud---with a view to deploying SAP Analytics Cloud for new projects and use cases,” cites the IT industry analyst firm.

The sentiment expressed in the 451 Research report echoes exactly what we're seeing within our customer base. In fact, the results from “The BI Survey 18,” conducted by industry analyst firm BARC, revealed that 96% of surveyed users recommend SAP Analytics Cloud. The solution also received top rankings for business value, customer satisfaction, cloud BI, and innovations, when compared to large international BI vendors.

Such a strategic focus on using SAP Analytics Cloud gives growing companies an opportunity to innovate and launch business intelligence initiatives. They can, for example, blend data sources, use predictive analytics, visualize trends, automate processes, run ad hoc reporting, and leverage location intelligence for mobile devices, remote laptops, and in-office desktops. And more importantly, businesses gain a significant growth enabler---immediate insights at any level of detail, from a single data point to an entire model, anytime and anywhere.

Learn More


Discover how your business can take advantage of the hybrid cloud analytics strategy from SAP by reading these reports:

Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter at @SAPAnalytics for the latest analytics news, updates, and innovations.