Extending the Value of SAP Datasphere and SAP Analytics Cloud with SAP Business Data Cloud

Extending the Value of SAP Datasphere and SAP Analytics Cloud with SAP Business Data Cloud

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations are struggling with a fundamental challenge: how to transform data into actionable insights quickly enough to drive meaningful business outcomes. If you’re currently using SAP Datasphere and SAP Analytics Cloud, you’re already on the right path – but there’s an opportunity to unlock even greater value from your existing investments.

The Current Data Challenge

Modern businesses face what we call “the hidden tax of data extraction.” Organizations typically spend most of their time and effort on connecting data, leaving minimal resources for what truly matters: transforming business outcomes.

The problem is clear: extraction alone isn’t enough for business data. When organizations rely solely on data extraction, they:

  • Require extensive time and effort to recreate business logic and context

  • Inhibit their ability to deliver meaningful business data to users

  • Miss critical knowledge and metadata from business processes

Leading organizations are taking a different approach. They’re simplifying their data landscape to dedicate more time and effort to outcomes rather than tasks.

Introducing SAP Business Data Cloud: Your Next Evolution

SAP Business Data Cloud represents the next pivotal step in SAP’s data strategy, building upon the foundation you’ve already established with SAP Datasphere and SAP Analytics Cloud. This isn’t about replacing your current investments – it’s about extending and amplifying their value.

Key Benefits for Current SAP Datasphere and Analytics Cloud Users

For SAP Datasphere Users: Your existing investment into data warehouse modernization, multi-source data integration, business semantics, and data governance remains intact while gaining:

  • Access to pre-built SAP managed data products

  • Enhanced AI/ML capabilities through SAP Databricks integration

  • Simplified data catalog and discovery features

  • Advanced analytics capabilities at scale

For SAP Analytics Cloud Users: Your operational dashboards, financial planning and consolidation, predictive analytics, and self-service capabilities are preserved while adding:

  • Deeper integration with unified data foundation

  • Access to AI-powered insights through Joule

  • Enhanced planning capabilities with richer data context

  • Advanced machine learning integration for forecasting

Your Investment Protection Strategy

The transition to SAP Business Data Cloud follows an “evolution, not revolution” approach.

Your Strong Foundation (Current State):

  • Established data integration with SAP Datasphere

  • Business user adoption in SAP Analytics Cloud

  • Data governance framework in place

  • Business models and terminology

  • Existing expertise and skills

Transition Approach:

  • Extend, don’t replace existing investments

  • Gradual capability enhancement

  • Introduction to data products

  • Data discovery through enhanced catalog

  • Integration of SAP and non-SAP data

  • Support for both structured and unstructured data

Future State Benefits:

  • Unified business data fabric

  • Data products and intelligent applications

  • Cross-line-of-business domain models

  • Enhanced AI/ML capabilities

  • Seamless planning integration

Real-World Use Cases: From Current State to Future Value

Use Case 1: Enhanced Business Intelligence

Current State: You’re using SAP Analytics Cloud for reporting with various data connections and live connections to different sources.

Future State: SAP Business Data Cloud centralizes your data foundation through SAP Datasphere, enabling:

  • Live connections pointing to analytical models in a unified foundation

  • Consistent data security through centralized data access controls

  • Access to SAP managed data products

  • Advanced analytics through SAP Databricks integration

  • Comprehensive data cataloging capabilities

Use Case 2: Integrated Analytics with SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Datasphere

Current State: You have SAP Datasphere as your data foundation with SAP Analytics Cloud for business intelligence.

Future State: Enhanced integration delivers:

  • Seamless data flow between analytics and planning

  • Enriched data products from SAP’s deep application expertise

  • Advanced predictive capabilities through machine learning

  • Unified semantic layer across all business functions

  • Self-service analytics with governed data access

Use Case 3: Advanced Planning Capabilities

Current State: Planning based on imported data within SAP Analytics Cloud with separate reporting processes.

Future State: Unified planning and analytics environment offering:

  • Planning models deployed directly into SAP Datasphere

  • Integrated data loading and consumption workflows

  • Combined planning and reporting in unified interface

  • Advanced scenario modeling with AI/ML insights

  • Real-time collaboration across planning and analytics teams

Unlocking Advanced Analytics with SAP Databricks

One of the most compelling additions to your current environment is SAP Databricks integration, which enables:

  • Zero-copy data access through delta sharing

  • Trusted data products from curated SAP managed datasets

  • Custom AI and ML development with governed, secure solutions

  • Pro-code tooling for data engineering and advanced analytics

  • Scale-on-demand analysis for faster decision making

The Business Value Proposition

Transform outcomes with intelligent applications by leveraging your organizational data, SAP Data Products, and your business context.

Connect all your data through unified governance – SAP data and third-party data.

Foster reliable AI by fueling AI activities with semantically rich data and accelerating productivity with the Joule copilot.

Important Licensing Considerations

For current SAP Datasphere and Analytics Cloud users, here’s what you need to know:

  • Both services remain strategic to SAP and will continue to be enhanced through their own roadmaps

  • Services will be offered via SAP Business Data Cloud going forward

  • Existing tenants will be preserved under SAP Business Data Cloud with no technical content migration required

Next Steps: Assessing Your Readiness

If you’re currently using SAP Datasphere and SAP Analytics Cloud, you’re already well-positioned to benefit from SAP Business Data Cloud. The key advantages include:

Simplify and align your SAP data landscape with a unified data and analytics strategy

Extend the value of your existing investments while preparing for modern cloud-based capabilities

Empower business users with governed, self-service access to trusted data

Accelerate AI adoption with a scalable, business-ready data platform

Conclusion

SAP Business Data Cloud isn’t just another platform – it’s the natural evolution of your existing SAP Datasphere and Analytics Cloud investments. By extending your current capabilities rather than replacing them, you can unlock new levels of business value while protecting the investments you’ve already made.

The future of data-driven decision making lies not in choosing between different tools, but in creating a unified, intelligent business data fabric that seamlessly connects planning, analytics, and AI capabilities. With SAP Business Data Cloud, that future is within reach.

Ready to explore how SAP Business Data Cloud can extend the value of your current SAP Datasphere and Analytics Cloud investments? Consider conducting a readiness assessment to understand your organization’s specific opportunities and implementation path.

Taking the Next Steps with SimpleFI Solutions

Why SimpleFI Solutions?

SimpleFi Solutions stands out as a premier partner for SAP customers embarking on their journey with SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC). With a senior leadership team averaging over 20 years in data management, analytics, finance and accounting, and more than 15 years in Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) implementations, SimpleFi combines deep financial acumen with technical expertise in SAP’s data solutions, including SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP Datasphere, and SAP Business AI.

As an SAP Gold Partner recognized for excellence in planning, analytics, and consolidations, SimpleFi offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to the needs of the office of the CFO. Their approach integrates business process design, automation, and implementation, ensuring that clients can leverage SAP Business Data Cloud to unify data sources, enhance decision-making, and accelerate time to value.

Moreover, SimpleFi’s commitment to delivering pre-packaged solutions and their active participation in SAP’s Partner-Led Territories initiative underscore their capability to guide organizations through the complexities of modern data strategies. Their proven track record in deploying SAP solutions positions them as a trusted advisor for businesses aiming to harness the full potential of their data assets.

SAP Business Data Cloud Assessment

As a recognized leader in SAP data and analytics, SimpleFi Solutions offers a tailored SAP Business Data Cloud Assessment to help customers evaluate their readiness, identify high-value use cases, and define a roadmap aligned with their business goals. This assessment provides a structured approach to understanding how SAP Business Data Cloud can integrate with your existing landscape, unlock actionable insights, and prepare your organization for AI-enabled decision-making. Whether you’re modernizing SAP BW, enhancing planning capabilities, or streamlining data access across systems, our expert team will guide you through the next steps to maximize the value of your data.

Book your personalized assessment session with SimpleFi today.

Join Our Upcoming Webinars

Discover how SAP Business Data Cloud can transform the way your organization leverages data for faster, smarter decisions. In our upcoming webinars, you’ll hear from experts, see real-world demos, and learn how leading companies are unlocking value through unified data, prebuilt insights, and AI readiness.

Reserve your spot today and take the first step toward a modern, business-ready data foundation.

  • From BW to SAP Business Data Cloud: Evolving Your Data Strategy for the Future

  • View OnDemand

  • Extend the Value of SAP Datasphere & SAP Analytics Cloud with SAP Business Data Cloud

  • View OnDemand

Author: Ingo Hilgefort


*the content in this blog is the opinion of the writer and does not reflect the official views and position of SimpleFi or their strategic partners including SAP.  

Licensing information is based on the writer’s understanding of current state information from SAP, which may be subject to change at any time without notice.  SimpleFi does not recommend basing purchasing decisions on the information here within.   

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