SAP Analysis for Office (AfO) is a powerful Excel-based tool designed for business users and analysts to create flexible, interactive reports by leveraging SAP data sources such as SAP BW, SAP HANA, and SAP S/4HANA. It combines the familiarity of Microsoft Excel with the robustness of SAP’s analytical capabilities, making it easier to analyze, visualize, and share business insights. This article guides you through building simple reports using SAP Analysis for Office.
SAP Analysis for Office is an add-in that integrates SAP analytics into Excel and PowerPoint, enabling users to connect to SAP data models and build reports with drag-and-drop simplicity. It supports multidimensional data analysis and integrates with SAP Business Warehouse (BW), SAP HANA views, and SAP Analytics Cloud.
¶ Step 1: Install and Launch SAP Analysis for Office
- Ensure SAP Analysis for Office is installed as an Excel add-in.
- Open Microsoft Excel, then navigate to the “Analysis” tab added by the plugin.
- Click on “Insert Data Source” or “Open Data Source.”
- Select the appropriate system connection (SAP BW, SAP HANA, or SAP S/4HANA).
- Enter your credentials and choose the query or info provider relevant to your reporting needs.
- Use the Analysis panel on the right to drag and drop dimensions (characteristics) and key figures onto the report.
- Characteristics are typically your rows or columns (e.g., Product, Region).
- Key figures represent the data values (e.g., Sales Amount, Quantity).
- Drag characteristics to rows or columns as desired to structure your report.
- Drag key figures to the “Key Figures” section to populate your measures.
- Use filters to focus on specific data subsets (e.g., select sales for a particular year or region).
- Apply Excel formatting (tables, colors, conditional formatting) for better readability.
- Add charts based on the report data using Excel’s charting tools.
- Use pivot table functionalities provided by Analysis for Office to rearrange data dynamically.
¶ Step 6: Refresh Data and Save
- Refresh your report to retrieve the latest data from the SAP system.
- Save the workbook locally or on a shared drive for distribution.
- Keep it simple: Start with key business metrics and build complexity gradually.
- Leverage Filters: Use filters to allow users to drill down into specific areas without creating multiple reports.
- Use Variables: Incorporate SAP query variables for dynamic user input.
- Performance Considerations: Limit the number of characteristics and key figures to improve performance.
- Collaborate: Share reports with colleagues and encourage feedback to enhance report usefulness.
SAP Analysis for Office offers a user-friendly and powerful way to create simple, interactive reports by leveraging SAP data within Excel. By following these steps, users can quickly generate insightful reports that support informed decision-making. As you gain familiarity, you can explore advanced features like custom calculations, scripting, and integration with SAP Analytics Cloud to further enrich your reporting capabilities.