In the world of business intelligence, the ability to clearly communicate complex data processes is invaluable. SAP Lumira, a leading data visualization and analytics tool in the SAP ecosystem, provides users with versatile charting options that go beyond traditional bar or line graphs. Two powerful but often underutilized visualization types are Funnel charts and Waterfall charts.
These charts enable organizations to visualize processes and financial flows in intuitive ways, helping stakeholders understand the step-by-step progression or cumulative impact of different factors. This article explores how to create and use funnel and waterfall charts in SAP Lumira to deliver advanced insights and facilitate better decision-making.
Funnel charts are ideal for visualizing a sequential process where data progressively narrows down through different stages. Commonly used in sales and marketing, a funnel chart helps illustrate conversion rates and identify bottlenecks in a process.
Key use cases:
Waterfall charts display how an initial value is incrementally increased or decreased by a series of positive and negative values, showing the cumulative effect over time or across categories.
Key use cases:
Although SAP Lumira does not offer a built-in funnel chart type, you can creatively use bar charts or stacked bar charts to mimic a funnel chart effect by adjusting bar widths or ordering.
Prepare your dataset with sequential stages and corresponding values (e.g., sales stages and lead counts).
Create a bar chart sorted by stages in descending order.
Use custom formatting to visually represent the funnel narrowing effect:
Add labels to indicate percentages or absolute numbers for clarity.
This approach requires some creativity but effectively communicates funnel data within SAP Lumira’s flexible charting environment.
Waterfall charts are more straightforward to build in SAP Lumira with its built-in chart options or via custom calculations.
Prepare your data including:
In the Chart Type menu, select Waterfall Chart (if available in your Lumira version) or use a combination of bar and line charts to simulate one.
Use calculated measures to define increments and decrements.
Configure the chart to clearly show cumulative totals at each stage.
Add labels to indicate value changes and totals.
The waterfall chart allows decision-makers to trace exactly how each component contributes to the final result, making it invaluable for financial analysis and operational reviews.
Funnel and waterfall charts are powerful tools in SAP Lumira’s visualization arsenal that help transform raw data into actionable narratives. Whether tracking a sales pipeline’s health or dissecting a financial report’s components, these charts provide clarity and enhance decision-making.
By mastering these advanced chart types, SAP professionals can deliver more insightful reports, identify business challenges faster, and communicate results more effectively across the enterprise.
Keywords: SAP Lumira, funnel chart, waterfall chart, advanced visualization, business intelligence, sales funnel, financial analysis, SAP analytics, data storytelling.