SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) is a versatile cloud-based platform that delivers powerful analytics, planning, and predictive capabilities. However, as data volumes grow and user interactions become more complex, performance can be impacted. Optimizing SAC for speed is essential to provide users with a smooth, responsive experience and timely insights.
This article explores key strategies and best practices to tune SAP Analytics Cloud for optimal performance.
Fast-loading dashboards, responsive visualizations, and quick data refreshes enhance user satisfaction and decision-making. Poor performance can lead to frustration, reduced adoption, and inaccurate conclusions due to delayed or incomplete data.
- Simplify Models: Use only necessary dimensions and measures. Avoid overly complex models with excessive calculated columns.
- Use Aggregations: Pre-aggregate data where possible to reduce query times.
- Optimize Data Volume: Limit data loaded into SAC by filtering or partitioning large datasets.
- Leverage Import vs Live Data: Use import connections for faster performance when real-time data is not critical; live connections offer real-time data but may add latency.
¶ 2. Story and Visualization Optimization
- Minimize Widgets: Limit the number of charts, tables, and input controls on a single page.
- Use Efficient Chart Types: Prefer simple visualizations over complex ones that require heavy computations.
- Optimize Data Binding: Bind widgets to smaller data sets or aggregated data rather than full models.
- Avoid Complex Calculations in Stories: Perform heavy calculations in the model layer rather than in story formulas.
¶ 3. Data Connectivity and Network
- Optimize Data Sources: Ensure backend systems (e.g., SAP BW, S/4HANA) are performing efficiently.
- Use Data Blending Wisely: Limit the number of blended data sources to reduce query complexity.
- Network Considerations: Ensure users have stable, high-speed internet connections.
¶ 4. System Settings and Tenant Configuration
- Tenant Sizing: Work with SAP to ensure your SAC tenant has adequate resources based on user load and data volumes.
- Caching: Utilize SAC’s caching mechanisms to speed up repeated queries.
- Regular Maintenance: Clean up unused content and archives to reduce system clutter.
- Conduct Regular Performance Testing: Measure load times and response under typical usage scenarios.
- Monitor Usage Patterns: Identify heavy users, large data sets, and slow queries for targeted optimization.
- Educate Users: Train users on designing efficient stories and avoiding common pitfalls.
- Leverage SAP Tools: Use SAC’s built-in performance monitoring and analytics to identify bottlenecks.
- Collaborate with Backend Teams: Ensure source systems are tuned for optimal query performance.
- SAP Analytics Cloud Performance Monitor: Track story load times, query performance, and system health.
- SAP Solution Manager: For end-to-end monitoring of data sources integrated with SAC.
- SAP BW or HANA Studio: Optimize data models and queries on backend systems.
- Network Monitoring Tools: Ensure network latency is not a bottleneck.
Performance optimization in SAP Analytics Cloud is a continuous effort that combines efficient data modeling, smart story design, backend tuning, and system configuration. By applying these strategies, organizations can deliver fast, reliable analytics experiences that empower users to make timely, confident decisions.
Optimizing SAC not only improves user satisfaction but also drives greater adoption and maximizes the return on analytics investments.