SAP Analytics Cloud: The Power of “Just Ask” 

SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) is continuously evolving, and one of its most powerful features is “Just Ask,” introduced in the 2024 Q1 QRC release.  “Just Ask” takes analytics to a new level by transforming how insights are generated and consumed. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore how “Just Ask” has emerged as the successor to the “Search to Insight” feature (which will soon be deprecated), how you can use it to query your SAC data models, and what enhancements to expect in the current and upcoming releases. 

What is “Just Ask”? 

“Just Ask” allows users to ask questions and receive immediate insights from SAC’s data models. In its earlier and current form, it supports questions in English, but as of the 2025 Q3 release, users will also be able to ask questions in German, French, Italian, or Spanish. 

This feature supports both SAP Analytics Cloud acquired data models and SAP Datasphere models, making it possible to query a wide variety of datasets. 

How to Use “Just Ask” 

Accessing “Just Ask” is simple. From the SAC home page, click on the light bulb icon with two stars in the main toolbar to launch the feature, you may have already noticed it but not known what it was. Here’s a quick guide to get started: 

If the “Just Ask” icon is not visible on the top toolbar, please contact your administrator to enable it.  

They can do this by going to System > Administration > Default Appearance and setting Conversational Analytics to ON under Home Screen Tiles. Additionally, they should switch the default mode from “Search to Insight” to “Just Ask” under the Conversational Analytics section. 

1. Select a Model 

Choose one or more acquired data models that your administrator has already indexed. Previously, only administrators could add and index models in “Just Ask,” but since the Q2 2024 release, users with this permission can, in addition to accessing the tool, upload models not explicitly indexed for “Just Ask,” empowering them to generate insights independently. 

2. Using Suggestions 

As you type a query, suggestions will appear to help you auto-complete your question. You can hit the right arrow key to accept an autocomplete suggestion or use the drop-down menu to choose from available options using the up/down arrow keys. 

3. Accessing Measures and Dimensions 

By clicking the “+” icon to the left of the search bar, users can directly select measures and dimensions from the data models to refine their queries. This makes querying more intuitive for all users. 

4. Sample Questions 

Administrators can define sample questions for users to start with, ensuring everyone can quickly leverage “Just Ask” for effective analysis. 

Key Features of “Just Ask” 

1. Advanced Comparisons 

With the Q3 2024 release, “Just Ask” became even more powerful by introducing more flexible comparison options. Users can now ask for complex comparisons, such as: 

• Comparing total sales of Store A against Store B. 

Combining measures, such as sales vs. expenses by store. 

• Adding time-based comparisons, like this year’s sales compared to last year’s for specific stores. 

• Version dimension combinations, such as actual vs. Forecast. 

The results are presented visually, with variance charts for measure comparisons, time periods, or different planning versions, providing a clearer view of performance differences. 

2. Aggregation Calculations 

In the Q2 2024 release, SAC introduced the ability to ask for average, median, count, minimum, and maximum aggregations. For example, users can request queries like, “What is the average bonus by sale?” to gain specific statistical insights. 

3. Customizable Visualization 

Once the results are generated, “Just Ask” provides an analytical query in the form of a visualization. You also have the option to: 

• Switch to a table view for detailed analysis. 

• Open the visualization in Data Analyzer for deeper analysis. 

• Copy to clipboard to paste into optimized stories (note: classic stories are not supported). 

Additional customization options are available through the ellipsis menu, allowing users to filter, drill, add forecasts, sort, rank, and export data in CSV format.

 

Streamlining the User Experience 

1.  Model indexing 

Administrators can index models through the “Manage Models” option located in the top right corner. By selecting “Add acquired model to index,” they make the model accessible to users.

Additionally, you can adjust the model’s alias and label. It’s also possible to disable the model from being searchable via “Just Ask”. 

2. Model Label 

Labels help users easily identify the models they need. 

3. Hiding Model Objects

With the Q3 2024 release, SAC administrators can now simplify models for users by hiding unnecessary objects. This makes it easier for users to ask relevant questions without being overwhelmed by irrelevant data points.

4. Synonyms 

By setting synonyms for dimensions and measures, users can query models without needing the exact terminology. For example, “Business area” and “Activity area” can be synonyms.  

Synonyms can also be implemented for values, such as “drink” and “beverage.”

5. Rules 

Defining rules enhances result accuracy. Rules act like logical statements that are executed under specific conditions. They can provide relevant answers even when user questions carry implicit context. For instance, if the typed question contains “Expenses,” the admin can set a rule to exclude the “Sales” measure, include the “Date” dimension, and filter results to specific brands like “Hermanos” and “Jumbo.”

Conclusion 

“Just Ask” is transforming how users interact with data within SAC, making advanced insights more accessible to everyone. 

By simplifying data exploration, automating complex comparisons, and delivering insights in just a few keystrokes, SAC is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in self-service analytics. 

Stay tuned for future releases, as SAP continues to innovate and enhance the “Just Ask” experience! 

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