SAP Analytics Cloud FAQ

Have a question about SAP Analytics Cloud? You're in the right place! Start here to find answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Page Contents

On this page, you will find frequently asked questions around:

General Questions

What is SAP Analytics Cloud?

SAP Analytics Cloud is a single solution for business intelligence, augmented and predictive analytics, and enterprise planning with the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. It is embedded in SAP's cloud enterprise applications delivering analytics in the context of business processes and has unique, direct connectivity to SAP data sources, and provides data integration, management, and analysis capabilities on a common, enterprise-grade infrastructure in the cloud for all data (SAP and non-SAP).

What makes SAP Analytics Cloud different from other analytics solutions?

There are a few reasons why SAP Analytics Cloud is different from other analytics solutions. For starters, SAP Analytics Cloud is 100% accessible in the cloud. This means you’ll only need your web browser to access your account, no desktop application setup is required.

Thanks to the SAP Business Technology Platform, SAP has unique, direct connectivity to SAP data sources and provides data integration, management, and analysis capabilities on a common, enterprise-grade infrastructure in the cloud for all data (SAP and non-SAP).

What makes SAP Analytics Cloud truly stand out from other solutions is our integrated planning capabilities. Bringing planning and business intelligence together allows you to analyze, report, budget, and forecast within a single solution. And, with SAP Digital Boardroom, you can extends SAP Analytics Cloud to provide a 360° view across all Lines of Business and operations to transform the modern boardroom experience on large touchscreen displays.

SAP Analytics Cloud also has augmented and predictive analytics features powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning technology.

As well, SAP Analytics Cloud offers a mobile app for iOS devices, so you can access your dashboards anywhere, anytime. You can download it for free from the app store.

For more information, please check out our product page

Is SAP Analytics Cloud right for my business?

There’s a reason we’re recognized for leading customer experience and analytics. SAP Analytics Cloud is designed to scale for businesses of any size, from a sole proprietorship to large enterprises. And for more details, check out our plans and options page.

Is it easy to collaborate using SAP Analytics Cloud?

Collaborating is super easy with SAP Analytics Cloud. You can easily export dashboards as PDF, PowerPoint, or Google Slides files. Scheduling publications also allows you to share a dashboard on a regular cadence to your stakeholders through email. With the calendar, you can create tasks, assign tasks to other users, and set due dates. You can also chat with your team, in real-time or through notifications!

What types of data sources can I connect to with SAP Analytics Cloud?

SAP Analytics Cloud can connect to various on-premise and cloud data sources including SAP HANA, SAP BW, SAP BPC, OData, Google BigQuery, SQL, SAP Universes and more. Check out our Data Connections page for more information and help on setting up your connections.

Trial users can work with data by importing local files (.csv, .xlsx) or by connecting to Google Drive.

Can I share stories outside my organization?

You can’t share stories outside your organization, but this is for your own protection.

Stories can only be shared with users on the same Analytics Cloud system, and cannot be accessed without logging in. This is to protect your private information from getting into the wrong hands.

Is SAP Analytics Cloud available in different languages?

Yes, it is! You can change your language preferences in your profile to update SAP Analytics Cloud to one of the available translations.

How often is SAP Analytics Cloud updated?

As a cloud solution, SAP Analytics Cloud is updated frequently. Visit  Product Updates for the latest release notes and roadmap information.

Basic Trial

What is SAP Analytics Cloud Basic Trial?

Learn all about how to get started and what is included in the SAP Analytics Cloud Basic Trial here.

Your Account

How do I sign up for an SAP Analytics Cloud account?

You can start by signing up for our basic trial or subscribe to SAP Analytics Cloud for Business Intelligence for more data source connections, the ability to add more users, and in-app collaboration features.

Can I change the email address associated with my account?

If you’re on a free trial, you won’t be able to update the email associated with your account until you upgrade to a Business Plan.

If you’re already subscribed to SAP Analytics Cloud for business intelligence or SAP Analytics Cloud for planning, your System Administrator can update your email address for you.

I signed up for an account, but I still didn’t receive an email. Now what?

If you still don’t have an email, check your junk mail just to make sure that our email didn’t get misplaced. If you don’t see anything from us, visit the login page and click the “Forgot Password” link. Enter the appropriate email address and follow the instructions in the email to setup a new password. 

Still having trouble? It might be time to contact support.

I’m having trouble logging in to my unique URL

If you’re having trouble logging in, check your email for a direct link to your login page or contact your system administrator.

Which browser should I use for my SAP Analytics Cloud basic trial?

We recommend the latest versions Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, which are fully supported by SAP Analytics Cloud. 

Please check our system requirements and technical prerequisites for all requirements.

Product Updates and Quarterly Release Cycle

How often does SAP Analytics Cloud receive updates?
SAP Analytics Cloud receives updates on a Quarterly Release Cycle. This means that your SAP cloud applications will update on a quarterly cadence (every 3 months).
Why is SAP Analytics Cloud on a Quarterly Release Cycle?

With a Quarterly Release Cycle, you can expect a new version once every 3 months, which is consistent with SAP's global strategy for cloud application releases.

When will the next Quarterly Release Cycle update for SAP Analytics Cloud take place?

Quarterly updates are usually planned for February, May, August, and November of each year. For more information, read this article for detailed release dates.


When are the maintenance windows for SAP Analytics Cloud?

SAP Analytics Cloud has a weekly maintenance window and it will be unavailable during the times and duration listed in the following location: Maintenance Windows and Major Upgrade Windows for SAP Cloud Services. The mentioned duration defines the maximum scheduled downtime. The actual downtime during these windows can vary (partial consumption). Unless otherwise stated, all times are specified in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Once I've been updated to the Quarterly Release Cycle, is it possible to switch back to bi-weekly releases?

No. Over time, all subscriptions will be transitioned to the Quarterly Release Cycle.

Is it possible to preview the features coming in the next Quarterly Release?
You can purchase a test edition tenant to preview new features before your quarterly update. Preview releases are updated on your test edition tenant weeks in advance of general availability. Contact your SAP Analytics Cloud representative to learn more.
If I have a test edition subscription, will it be on the Quarterly Release Cycle?

Yes. Once you've moved to the Quarterly Release Cycle, all of your subscriptions (with the exception of your test subscription) will also be on the Quarterly Release Cycle.

How do I know when SAP Analytics Cloud has been updated?

When you log in to SAP Analytics Cloud after an update, you’ll see a prominent notification banner with a link to our “What’s New” help content.

What is the version numbering convention for the Quarterly Release Cycle?
Each version number of SAP Analytics Cloud starts with the year, followed by the number of that release. For example, the version number of the first release of 2020 is 2020.01.

You may notice the Quarterly Release Cycle versions appear to skip certain numbers. This is because Fast-Track customers receive updates every 2 weeks, and these releases are considered in the version numbering process.


You can find the latest release notes for SAP Analytics Cloud here. Don’t worry! The Quarterly Release Cycle receives all of the features that the Fast-Track Cycle receives.

How do I know what version number of SAP Analytics Cloud I’m on?
To check which version of SAP Analytics Cloud you’re on, navigate to System > About from the main menu.
Where can I find the release notes and help documentation for the version I'm on?

When accessing documentation from within SAP Analytics Cloud, simply click the “Help” icon. All documentation is versioned to your particular release schedule.