SAP adds new features to Analytics Cloud

SAP has announced improvements to its Analytics Cloud. These include new smart analytics functions, enterprise planning functions and the addition of new data sources.

With the new updates it is possible for users to ask questions about their data in natural language, writes ZDNet. They can also gain automated insights into their data via the ‘smart discovery’ option. There is also a ‘smart predict’ function, which allows analysts to train models to predict future outcomes.

In enterprise planning, Analytics Cloud users get improved live connectivity for Analytics Cloud users. This means users can connect complex planning processes from across the enterprise to create end-to-end business plans. Users can create and customize business plans with tools outside of the Analytics Cloud, for example in Microsoft Excel.

Meanwhile, the Analytics Cloud also gains access to over a hundred new data sources, bringing the total number of sources to over 250. Customers get access to data that is both cloud and on premise, from sources such as SAP BusinessObjects solutions, the SAP HANA data platform, the Business Warehouse application, S/4HANA, S/4HANA Cloud and Marketing Cloud.

Restructuring

SAP is going to change a lot in 2019, if we are to believe their January announcement. The company then announced its intention to restructure, in order to save considerable costs in the long term. Savings of 750 to 850 million euros should be noticeable for the organisation by 2020. A number of employees are offered a new position, while others are offered early retirement.

The announcement of the restructuring came just after the presentation of the 2018 results. However, turnover and profit were disappointing compared to the company’s expectations. In the area of cloud, for example, the company grew 23 percent, compared to 37 percent a quarter earlier.