SAC : Input Control a brief

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Glossary of Key Terms

• SAP SAC (SAP Analytics Cloud): A cloud-based analytics solution from SAP for business intelligence, planning, and predictive analytics.
• Input Control: A feature in SAP SAC that allows users to filter, manipulate, and control the view of data within a dashboard or report.
• Dimension: A category by which data is grouped, such as time, location, or product.
• Story: A collection of visualizations, charts, and graphs created in SAP SAC to tell a data-driven narrative.
• Widget: An interactive component in SAC, such as a chart, table, or KPI tile.
• Contextual Filtering: A feature that dynamically adjusts data in a report or visualization based on user input.

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What is Input Control in SAP SAC?

Input Control in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) refers to a feature that allows users to interact with data by applying filters and modifying the displayed content in a story, without the need to navigate through multiple reports or dashboards. This functionality enables users to manipulate dimensions, such as time periods, locations, or product lines, within the context of a specific report or visualization, providing a more interactive and tailored user experience.

Input Controls are often used to make reports more flexible, allowing users to view the same data from different perspectives without needing multiple versions of the same report. This improves the decision-making process by offering real-time filtering capabilities that adjust visualizations and insights based on the selected filters.

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Business Use Cases for Input Control

1. Sales Performance Analysis by Region A sales manager can use Input Control to view sales performance across different regions. By selecting different geographical dimensions (e.g., "North America" or "Europe"), the user can analyze trends and performance without leaving the dashboard or requiring separate reports.

2. Financial Planning In financial planning, Input Controls can be used to switch between various departments or cost centers, allowing finance teams to analyze budgets and forecasts. For example, selecting different departments like "Marketing" or "R&D" allows a granular look at each division's financials in a single story.

3. Marketing Campaign Analysis A marketer might want to compare different campaigns based on performance metrics such as conversions, clicks, or ROI. Input Controls allow them to switch between campaigns, time periods, or product categories, making it easier to analyze effectiveness and optimize future campaigns.

4. Human Resource (HR) Reports Input Controls can enable HR teams to filter employee data by attributes such as job role, location, or tenure. For example, a report might show turnover rates, and with Input Controls, users could toggle between different departments or regions to spot trends.

5. Product Line Performance in Manufacturing Manufacturing managers can use Input Control to track production and quality metrics for different product lines. By selecting a product line or factory, they can monitor output and defect rates, and adjust operational strategies accordingly.

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Examples of Input Control

1. Filter by Time Period A business analyst might create a sales report that allows users to filter sales data by quarter or month using Input Control. This gives the flexibility to focus on specific periods without needing separate reports for each.

2. Product Segmentation An executive reviewing a profitability dashboard might want to see how different product segments are performing. Input Controls allow them to switch between different product categories, such as "Electronics" or "Furniture."

3. Employee Data Analysis In an HR dashboard, Input Control could be used to filter employee turnover rates by department, age group, or employment status. This helps HR teams analyze data more efficiently.

In summary, Input Controls in SAP SAC empower users to interact with reports dynamically, providing flexible and real-time data exploration. The ability to control dimensions and filter data on the fly adds significant value to business analysis and decision-making.