SAC & GCP Excel import
- Data Science, Google Cloud Platform, SAP Analytics Cloud
- data science, GCP, google cloud platform, sac, sap analytics cloud
- 4 min reading time
Gary Lude
The article describes the SAC & GCP solution, with which Excel plan data can be easily and conveniently imported into SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) models. With the help of Excel templates and a user-friendly web application, the data is prepared locally and automatically transferred to the SAC model via the SAC Data Import API.
Table of contents
SAC & GCP: Import planning data from Excel into your models with the SAC Data Import API
The SAP Analytics Cloud provides users with numerous functions for creating planning online directly in the application. Nevertheless, the operational reality is often still different. Excel is still the tool of choice in many controlling departments and in many cases serves as the basis for creating plans, the results of which are then simply uploaded to the SAP Analytics Cloud.
Although the SAP Analytics Cloud already offers the option of uploading data from Excel as standard, this is only possible via the backend and only as an administrator. The options for end users to upload Excel data via the front end were previously limited. It was therefore obvious to develop a solution that is intuitive to use for many users and offers the option of easily and conveniently writing the planning created in Excel into a SAC planning model.
How does the import work?
The solution relies on the Excel file standard and a simple web user interface based on Python Flask technology to import the planning data. Flask provides the front end in this product and enables interaction with the back end consisting of Google Cloud Run and the SAC Data Import API.
As a basis, it initially requires Excel templates, which are provided in the web application and can be downloaded by users. The template is individually adapted to the respective planning model. The dimensions that are available in the planning model (all or a subset) are offered as standard. As the solution offers the option of implementing further logic before the data is posted, individual solutions are also conceivable here.
The template is filled with planning data locally by the user using Excel. The user can then upload the Excel file created within the user interface. The data is processed and imported into the selected SAC planning model via the import API. The user receives a message about the successful update or any problems that may have arisen during the update.
The user can also select various eImport methods offered by the SAC Import API: "CleanAndReplace", "Update" and "Insert". Depending on the method, the data is imported and published accordingly in the SAC planning model and is directly available for further integration, such as creating a report in a SAC story.
What are the advantages of this solution?
Features of the product
Integration of Excel as a standard tool for handling data
Every user should be able to use the product without having to spend time learning new skills - because time must be respected. That is why this product uses Excel templates as the import standard within the user interface. This allows users to carry out planning in Excel locally as usual and then upload the result of their planning to SAP Analytics Cloud via the web application. This reduces the training required for the introduction of SAP Analytics Cloud Planning and increases the acceptance of the solution in a heavily Excel-based environment. At the same time, all the advantages of integrated planning with SAP Analytics Cloud are available.
Customized web application
It must be possible to cover the individual needs of each company in order to enable easy integration into the working environment. Based on this, the product is an application that can be easily adapted to individual requirements. The focus here is on the Excel templates, although there are no limits to further modifications. The use of Python Flask enables a high degree of flexibility, even for the fulfillment of complex requirements.
Using the SAC Import API
The natively available SAC Import API offers an interface provided by SAP for communication with the SAC planning backend. This technology has been integrated into the solution to ensure a stable, secure and functional import option. Furthermore, the import API is maintained and further developed by SAP in order to minimize susceptibility to errors and downtimes
What opportunities are missed without the product?
Are there difficulties importing complex planning data into the SAP Analytics Cloud? Is there no easy way to import the data into the SAC? If so, you are missing out on the full potential of the data. This is exactly where this application comes into play.
With the simple Excel import based on an intuitive user interface, the data can be filled into templates locally and uploaded to the web application. The automated data import via SAC Data Import API reliably transfers the data to the SAC models.
Without the Excel import, SAC teams may spend countless hours manually importing their data planned in Excel into SAP Analytics Cloud, leaving room for errors and inaccuracies. However, with Excel import, teams can automate the process and focus on other important business tasks to further enhance their competitiveness.
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