Introduction
Before diving into planning workflows in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), it’s important to understand three core concepts that form the foundation of how SAC works: Stories, Models, and Collaboration. These building blocks enable users to input, analyze, and act on planning data in a connected and scalable way.
What Is a Story?
A story in SAC is a workspace where users visualize and interact with planning data. Stories are where most business users spend their time during planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
Key Functions of a Story:
- Display input tables for manual data entry
- Visualize data with charts, variance indicators, and tables
- Access planning tools like version management, value driver trees, and the planning panel
- Collaborate by adding comments, sharing content, or assigning input tasks
What Is a Planning Model?
A planning model defines the structure, rules, and data of your planning scenario. It determines how your data is organized, stored, and manipulated within SAC.
Key Components of a Planning Model:
- Dimensions: Categories like Time, Version, Account, and Organization
- Measures: Numeric values like Revenue, Units Sold, or Headcount
- Hierarchy: Parent-child structures (e.g., Q1 includes Jan, Feb, Mar)
- Leaf Members: The lowest level in a hierarchy where data is entered (e.g., January or a specific cost center)
- Versions: Represent different states of data (e.g., Actuals, Forecast, Budget)
Why Models Matter:
- Only planning models support features like version control, manual data input, and structured planning operations (e.g., data actions, allocations).
- All planning actions in SAC—whether manual or automated—ultimately write data into the model.
Planning and Collaboration
Planning in SAC isn’t a solo activity. It involves different users, departments, and steps—made easier through collaboration tools embedded in the platform.
Key Collaboration Features:
- Input Tasks: Assign specific data entry tasks to users with due dates and notifications
- Comments: Add cell-level or widget-level comments for context or discussion
- Shared Versions: Use public versions to align on the same forecast or budget
- Private Versions: Let users test ideas before publishing to a broader team
- Calendar: Organize and track planning activities in a centralized view
