In today’s complex business environments, insights often require analysis across multiple data sources—such as ERP systems, CRM databases, cloud services, and spreadsheets. SAP Lumira empowers users with the ability to perform data blending, a powerful technique that allows seamless integration of diverse datasets for comprehensive analysis and richer visualizations.
This article delves into what data blending is, why it matters, and how to leverage this capability effectively within SAP Lumira.
Data blending refers to the process of combining data from multiple, heterogeneous sources into a single, unified view. Unlike traditional data warehousing, which consolidates data physically, data blending happens dynamically at the reporting or visualization layer. It allows users to join datasets based on common fields, enabling comparative and correlated analysis without complex backend integration.
- Access diverse data: Combine structured data from SAP systems (like SAP BW or SAP HANA) with unstructured or semi-structured data (like Excel files or cloud data).
- Faster insights: Quickly integrate external data sources for on-the-fly analysis without waiting for IT to build data warehouses.
- Flexibility: Adapt and modify datasets as business needs evolve.
- Enhanced decision-making: Gain broader perspectives by analyzing data across organizational silos.
SAP Lumira provides intuitive tools to blend data from multiple sources within the same visualization or story:
- Import datasets from various sources, such as SAP BW queries, HANA views, Excel spreadsheets, CSV files, or web services.
- Clean and prepare each dataset individually in the Prepare Room: filter irrelevant data, create calculated columns, and structure fields.
- Identify common fields (keys) between datasets, such as Customer ID, Product Code, or Date.
- These keys enable SAP Lumira to link records from different datasets correctly.
- Use the Merge Datasets feature.
- Select the primary dataset and the secondary dataset(s).
- Specify the join type (inner join, left join, etc.) depending on analysis needs.
- Lumira merges data virtually based on join keys without physically altering source datasets.
- Build charts and tables using fields from both datasets.
- For example, blend sales data from SAP BW with marketing campaign data from Excel to analyze campaign effectiveness.
- Dynamic filters and hierarchies can be applied across blended datasets.
- Ensure clean join keys: Consistent data formats and values across datasets are critical for accurate blending.
- Limit dataset size: Blending large datasets can impact performance; pre-aggregate or filter data when possible.
- Understand join types: Choose the right join to avoid data loss or duplication.
- Validate results: Check blended data carefully to ensure the accuracy and completeness of merged information.
- Document your blend logic: Maintain clarity on how datasets are combined to aid future updates and audits.
A multinational company wants to analyze sales performance (from SAP BW) alongside social media sentiment data (from CSV exports). By blending these datasets on the Product ID and Date, analysts can visualize correlations between customer sentiment trends and sales fluctuations—enabling marketing and sales teams to align strategies effectively.
Data blending in SAP Lumira provides a flexible, efficient way to integrate multiple data sources without extensive IT intervention. By combining diverse datasets dynamically, SAP Lumira users can unlock deeper insights and create richer, more contextualized visualizations that drive smarter business decisions.
Whether blending internal SAP data with external files or cloud data, mastering this feature is essential for modern data analysts looking to maximize the value of their analytics environment.