SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) empowers users to create rich, interactive stories that visualize data insights and support decision-making. However, the impact of these stories depends heavily on how effectively users can navigate through the content. Story navigation is a crucial design element that guides users seamlessly through analysis, helping them understand key findings and explore data intuitively.
This article explores best practices and features available in SAP Analytics Cloud to build efficient story navigation and deliver an engaging user experience.
¶ Understanding Stories and Navigation in SAC
In SAC, a story is a collection of pages that contain visualizations, tables, input controls, and text designed to present data insights. Effective story navigation ensures users can move through these pages logically, interact with data, and drill down into details without confusion.
¶ 1. Pages and Sections
- Stories are divided into pages, each typically representing a major theme or area of analysis.
- Pages can be further organized into sections or tabs for better content grouping.
- Use descriptive page titles and section names to provide clear context.
¶ 2. Bookmarks and Story Navigation Buttons
- Bookmarks allow users to save specific views or filters within a story and quickly return to them.
- SAC supports navigation buttons that link pages or bookmarks, enabling guided walkthroughs.
- These buttons can be styled and positioned to encourage users to follow a predefined analysis path.
- Linked analysis synchronizes filters and selections across multiple charts or tables on different pages.
- This creates a cohesive experience, allowing users to explore related insights without resetting filters manually.
¶ 4. Story Filters and Input Controls
- Global or page-specific filters enable users to customize the data shown dynamically.
- Input controls (dropdowns, sliders, checkboxes) provide intuitive navigation within the story, refining the analysis interactively.
¶ 5. Drill-Down and Drill-Through
- Drill-down functionality lets users move from aggregated data to detailed levels by clicking on charts or tables.
- Drill-through links enable jumping from one story or page to another with contextually relevant data.
¶ 6. Story Outline and Table of Contents
- SAC provides a story outline panel that lists all pages and bookmarks for quick access.
- Authors can enable a table of contents for users to jump directly to sections of interest.
- Plan the User Journey: Define a clear narrative flow that guides users from high-level insights to detailed analysis.
- Use Consistent Navigation Elements: Maintain uniform placement and style for buttons, filters, and controls to reduce user confusion.
- Limit Overload: Avoid cluttering pages with too many navigation options; focus on key paths.
- Leverage Interactive Features: Use linked analysis, drill-downs, and input controls to empower users to explore data actively.
- Provide Contextual Help: Include descriptive text, tooltips, and legends to support navigation and interpretation.
- Test with End Users: Gather feedback on navigation ease and adjust design to match user expectations.
- Improved User Engagement: Intuitive navigation keeps users interested and reduces frustration.
- Faster Insights Discovery: Guided analysis helps users quickly understand key messages.
- Empowered Self-Service Analytics: Users can explore beyond preset views confidently.
- Consistent Reporting: Structured navigation enforces a standardized approach to presenting data.
Story navigation in SAP Analytics Cloud is more than just moving between pages—it’s about crafting an intuitive, engaging experience that drives user understanding and action. By leveraging SAC’s navigation features and applying thoughtful design principles, organizations can create impactful stories that guide users effectively through their data analysis journey.