I can’t be prouder to announce the upcoming general release of SAP Analytics Could compass, which is planned for 2025 Q1 (targeted fast track 2024.25). Finally, questions such as the one here can be answered via a few clicks, instead of multi-day discussions: “What is the impact on the operating income if the inflation, labour cost and gross revenue are not as planned?”
What is compass?
Compass is the new Monte Carlo simulation functionality, enabling the analysis of possible outcomes when faced with uncertainties in performance drivers. It can be used to explore probable range of company earnings, required workforce, sales target, ROI, project duration etc. … the list is endless. With compass, we have broken down the barrier between this mathematical technique and business users by stripping away the complexity and providing an end-user centric interface for configuration and risk analysis. Now non-technical user can also enjoy the benefits of stochastic simulation without prior advanced maths knowledge or IT setup. No more coding, no data or formula duplication; just click-and-run! Functionalities will include:
Scenario Modelling and Comparison
Model “What-if” assumptions for multiple driver fluctuations and use scenarios to group them into separate concepts. This is particularly useful for the comparison of strategies or impact of uncontrollable events. If desired, chosen scenario outcomes can be displayed alongside to compare the chances and risks involved for each.
Multidimensional Simulation
Configure possible performance fluctuations for different dimensions and combinations (e.g. products, regions, company codes, business units, period etc.), and simulate their compound effect on a dependent target. The flexible interface also allows for the changing of multidimensional drivers without any coding. This allows e.g. the quick integration of geographical / business segment aspects into the risk analysis, and offers transparency to the assumptions made at the same time.
Insights to Pessimistic / Realistic / Optimistic cases
The impact distribution and risk context of each scenario is made comprehensible by a graphical representation of the pessimistic, realistic and optimistic cases, each including boundary values and chances in percentile. Elements such as the color, name or percentile of each case can be customized to add more context.
Risk Context Exploration for a Specific Goal
With compass, user can choose to explore the entire impact distribution of driver uncertainties, or zoom in to explore the chances of achieving a specific goal. Questions such as “What are the chances of us achieving 50 m$ this year?” could be easily answered. Combined with the insights from the pessimistic, realistic and optimistic cases, users can quickly comprehend whether the goal is tending towards the aggressive or conservative edge, obtaining in turn an objective definition of the risk involved which could be checked against subjective interpretation.
Simulation Collaboration With Private and Public Scenarios
Within a compass simulation, the scenario created can be used for private experiments or be made public and disclosed to shared users. This enables simulation collaboration and traceability of assumptions made, down to individual level, if desired. The sharing rights are governed by the established file repository framework and come with similar flexibility and control as when sharing models and stories or any other SAP Analytics Cloud artifact.
Simulation Persistency
Simulations can be saved in the file repository alongside models and other artifacts for reuse and administration. This way, not only collaborations are enabled, but also the benefit of concept traceability: Assumptions made in the past can be easily retrieved and compared to the actuals later for validation of simulation approach. This, if done along time, can help improving understanding of the data dynamic within own company.
Driver Uncertainty Configuration
All possible drivers in the model for a chosen KPI will be automatically detected and simulation can be started right away. Simply enter the minimum and maximum values expected for a desired driver; these will be used as guidance for the impact calculation. Model the fluctuation behaviour by choosing between normal and uniform distribution type.
On-the-spot activating / deactivating of effects
Single-click interaction to include or remove uncertainty effects for simulation, without remodelling scenario. This allows for agile on-the-spot experiments when working towards a conceptual grouping of assumptions.
Join Our Journey
With the general release of compass, the first step is done towards the long term vision that some of you might already have seen in Data Unleashed 2024 . While the general release will not come with AI integration, we strive to improve compass constantly and our vision still remains clear. We invite you to join us on our journey to push compass further by trying it out once it is generally available and let us know how it can help you even more by using the influence portal.
Keep an eye on compass too with the Roadmap Explorer!
I can’t be prouder to announce the upcoming general release of SAP Analytics Could compass, which is planned for 2025 Q1 (targeted fast track 2024.25). Finally, questions such as the one here can be answered via a few clicks, instead of multi-day discussions: “What is the impact on the operating income if the inflation, labour cost and gross revenue are not as planned?”What is compass?Compass is the new Monte Carlo simulation functionality, enabling the analysis of possible outcomes when faced with uncertainties in performance drivers. It can be used to explore probable range of company earnings, required workforce, sales target, ROI, project duration etc. … the list is endless. With compass, we have broken down the barrier between this mathematical technique and business users by stripping away the complexity and providing an end-user centric interface for configuration and risk analysis. Now non-technical user can also enjoy the benefits of stochastic simulation without prior advanced maths knowledge or IT setup. No more coding, no data or formula duplication; just click-and-run! Functionalities will include:Scenario Modelling and ComparisonModel “What-if” assumptions for multiple driver fluctuations and use scenarios to group them into separate concepts. This is particularly useful for the comparison of strategies or impact of uncontrollable events. If desired, chosen scenario outcomes can be displayed alongside to compare the chances and risks involved for each. Multidimensional SimulationConfigure possible performance fluctuations for different dimensions and combinations (e.g. products, regions, company codes, business units, period etc.), and simulate their compound effect on a dependent target. The flexible interface also allows for the changing of multidimensional drivers without any coding. This allows e.g. the quick integration of geographical / business segment aspects into the risk analysis, and offers transparency to the assumptions made at the same time. Insights to Pessimistic / Realistic / Optimistic casesThe impact distribution and risk context of each scenario is made comprehensible by a graphical representation of the pessimistic, realistic and optimistic cases, each including boundary values and chances in percentile. Elements such as the color, name or percentile of each case can be customized to add more context. Risk Context Exploration for a Specific GoalWith compass, user can choose to explore the entire impact distribution of driver uncertainties, or zoom in to explore the chances of achieving a specific goal. Questions such as “What are the chances of us achieving 50 m$ this year?” could be easily answered. Combined with the insights from the pessimistic, realistic and optimistic cases, users can quickly comprehend whether the goal is tending towards the aggressive or conservative edge, obtaining in turn an objective definition of the risk involved which could be checked against subjective interpretation.Simulation Collaboration With Private and Public ScenariosWithin a compass simulation, the scenario created can be used for private experiments or be made public and disclosed to shared users. This enables simulation collaboration and traceability of assumptions made, down to individual level, if desired. The sharing rights are governed by the established file repository framework and come with similar flexibility and control as when sharing models and stories or any other SAP Analytics Cloud artifact. Simulation PersistencySimulations can be saved in the file repository alongside models and other artifacts for reuse and administration. This way, not only collaborations are enabled, but also the benefit of concept traceability: Assumptions made in the past can be easily retrieved and compared to the actuals later for validation of simulation approach. This, if done along time, can help improving understanding of the data dynamic within own company. Driver Uncertainty ConfigurationAll possible drivers in the model for a chosen KPI will be automatically detected and simulation can be started right away. Simply enter the minimum and maximum values expected for a desired driver; these will be used as guidance for the impact calculation. Model the fluctuation behaviour by choosing between normal and uniform distribution type. On-the-spot activating / deactivating of effectsSingle-click interaction to include or remove uncertainty effects for simulation, without remodelling scenario. This allows for agile on-the-spot experiments when working towards a conceptual grouping of assumptions. Join Our JourneyWith the general release of compass, the first step is done towards the long term vision that some of you might already have seen in Data Unleashed 2024 . While the general release will not come with AI integration, we strive to improve compass constantly and our vision still remains clear. We invite you to join us on our journey to push compass further by trying it out once it is generally available and let us know how it can help you even more by using the influence portal. Keep an eye on compass too with the Roadmap Explorer! Read More Technology Blogs by SAP articles
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