SAC : Linked Analysis a brief

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Glossary of Key Terms

• Linked Analysis: A feature in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) that enables the interaction between multiple charts, tables, or widgets within a story, where selecting data in one visualization automatically filters or affects others.
• Story: A collection of visualizations, such as charts, graphs, and tables, created to convey data-driven insights.
• Dimension: A data attribute, like time or location, used to categorize data.
• Measure: A quantitative value that can be aggregated, such as revenue, profit, or number of units sold.
• Widget: An interactive element in SAC, such as a chart, table, or map, used to visualize data.
• Filtering: The process of narrowing down data based on specific criteria or dimensions.

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What is Linked Analysis in SAP SAC?

Linked Analysis in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) allows users to interact with one chart, table, or widget in a story and have that interaction dynamically update other visualizations. This feature connects multiple widgets, so when a user clicks or selects a data point in one widget, the connected widgets adjust their content based on the selected data point.

For example, in a dashboard showing sales data, clicking on a specific product category in one chart could automatically update related charts to show regional sales for that product. Linked Analysis simplifies complex data exploration and helps users uncover insights across various dimensions without needing to manually apply filters to each chart or table.

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Business Use Cases for Linked Analysis

1. Sales Dashboard: Product and Region Performance A sales director might use a story to analyze both product sales and regional performance. With Linked Analysis, selecting a product in one chart automatically filters other charts to show how that product is performing in different regions. This allows for a deeper understanding of where specific products are successful.

2. Financial Analysis: Income Statement and Balance Sheet Linked Analysis can be used in a financial dashboard, where selecting a specific line item (e.g., "Operating Expenses") in the income statement chart updates related visualizations, such as a breakdown of those expenses by department or cost center. This gives financial analysts quick insights into the relationships between financial metrics.

3. Marketing Campaign Analysis: Campaign Type vs. Channel A marketing team could set up Linked Analysis between a chart showing campaign types (e.g., email, social media) and another showing conversion rates by channel. Selecting "Email Campaign" in one widget might automatically filter the conversion chart to show data for email-driven conversions only, giving insights into campaign effectiveness across channels.

4. HR Analysis: Employee Demographics and Turnover An HR manager might want to analyze turnover rates by demographic groups (age, gender, location). By using Linked Analysis, selecting a particular demographic group (e.g., employees aged 30-40) in a pie chart will dynamically update other charts, such as tenure distribution or reasons for leaving, allowing for a comprehensive review of HR data.

5. Manufacturing: Production and Quality Control In a manufacturing dashboard, a production manager could link production volume charts with quality control metrics. Selecting a specific production line might automatically update other charts to show defect rates, material usage, or downtime associated with that line. This helps managers understand operational efficiency at a glance.

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Examples of Linked Analysis

1. Sales Performance by Region A sales performance dashboard includes a chart of overall sales and a regional breakdown. By selecting a specific region (e.g., North America) in one chart, all other visualizations, such as sales by product category and profit margins, are automatically filtered to show data specific to that region.

2. Customer Demographics and Purchase Behavior In a customer analysis report, Linked Analysis can be applied to correlate customer demographics with purchase behaviors. Selecting a customer age group (e.g., 25-34 years old) in one chart will automatically update purchase behavior visualizations (e.g., most purchased products, average spend) to reflect that demographic.

3. Project Management: Task Progress and Resource Allocation A project management dashboard shows task progress and resource allocation. Using Linked Analysis, selecting a specific project in the task progress chart filters the resource allocation chart to display only resources assigned to that project, providing a clear view of the project's status.

In summary, Linked Analysis in SAP SAC facilitates cross-chart interactivity, enabling users to derive more meaningful insights by connecting data points across multiple visualizations. It helps users explore data relationships quickly, making it a powerful tool for business decision-making.