Recording: Feature Update on SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), BDC, and Datasphere 2026 | Joelle Strubel and Marie Daipo
- Dr. Yvonne Avaro
SAP continuously updates the Analytics Cloud and Data Fabric components in short release cycles. The sheer number of new features introduced each quarter makes it difficult for users and decision-makers to keep track of everything and make targeted use of the relevant functions.
What was presented?
Joelle Strubel and Marie Daipo organized the updates from Q1 and Q2 2026 around the three product areas: SAP Analytics Cloud, Business Data Cloud (BDC), and Datasphere.
In the visualization area, new native chart types have been introduced: Pareto charts for cause-and-effect analyses and area charts for trend displays. Both types are available directly in SAC without the need for external extensions.
The new story versioning framework delivers significant operational value: users will now be able to manage up to ten major versions of a story in parallel. This is complemented by a central dashboard for comment management, which makes collaborative review processes more structured. For the planning area, data access capabilities for plannable models have been extended to Snowflake—a significant step for companies that run planning processes on a hybrid database architecture.
In the Data Fabric environment, new connectors to AWS, BigQuery, Databricks, and Microsoft Fabric are now available. This is SAP’s response to the multi-cloud and hybrid architectures commonly encountered in practice. At the same time, the BDC Cockpit and data access controls for pipeline management have been revised—with the goal of simplifying the operational control and monitoring of data pipelines.
The session concluded with an introduction to the strategic concept of the SAP Autonomous Enterprise: a framework that outlines how SAP plans to further develop the automation of analytical processes over the long term. A live demonstration of the asymmetric reporting functions in SAC illustrated the possibilities this offers for flexible reporting structures.
Who is this recording intended for?
- SAP Analytics Cloud users who want to know the current feature status
- SAP architects and consultants who are planning Data Fabric connectivity
- BI managers who use SAC to manage reporting and planning processes
- Decision-makers who want to assess the strategic development path of SAP Analytics
Conclusion
The updates presented point in a clear direction: SAP is systematically expanding the Analytics Cloud to include features for collaborative work, broader data integration, and stronger connectivity to popular cloud database platforms. This session provides a concise and practical foundation for understanding how these developments apply to your specific context.
