AI for Planning & Analytics (SAC 2026.8)
Source: 002-ai-planning-analytics.md.
Key capabilities
- Just Ask / Search to Insight: natural language queries; use for quick checks and to seed stories.
- Smart Predict / Predictive Planning: time-series forecasts feeding planning versions; pair with predictive steps in multi actions.
- Smart Insights / Smart Discovery: driver analysis to explain variances; useful before setting allocations.
- AI-Assisted Data Actions (QRC1 2026 / 2026.3+): generate advanced formula scripts from natural-language comments, or generate explanatory comments from existing scripts. Requires Execute permission for the Generative AI privilege.
When to apply in planning
- Pre-allocations: use Smart Insights to find drivers, then set allocation drivers accordingly.
- Forecast cycles: run predictive forecasts into private versions, validate, then publish.
- Ad-hoc questions during planning meetings with Just Ask to reduce manual slice-and-dice.
- Data action development: use AI-assisted script generation to accelerate formula creation in advanced formula steps.
Just Ask enhancements (QRC2 2026 / 2026.8+)
- Mixing Advanced Filters: excluded date members can now be combined with date range filters (e.g.,
Show me taxes by product for 2013–2017 excluding Q3 2015). The exclusion is preserved via an Advanced Filter. - Compound Growth Rate queries: visualize growth over time with queries like
Show me the compound growth rate of sales from 2024 to 2025. - Percentage contribution queries: ask
How much does California contribute to total USA sales?to get percentage breakdowns. - Dimension members in Datasphere models: dimension members are now included in SAP Datasphere model suggestions.
Smart Insights enhancements (QRC2 2026 / 2026.8+)
- Automatic Loading Top Contributors: for SAP Datasphere and Seamless Planning models, progressive loading of Top Contributors is enabled automatically when dimensions or hierarchy levels exceed 20. Not supported for non-additive measures (ratios, exception aggregations).
- Lite Viewer support: Smart Insights are now available in Lite Viewer mode.
Guardrails
- Validate AI outputs before publish; keep in private versions for review.
- Ensure model permissions align; AI respects data access control.
- For AI-assisted data actions, always verify generated scripts before accepting.