task of a consultant when implementing BO Cloud

[Former Member]

hi BO Cloud gurus, I m a BPC Consultant with experience in Planning and Consolidation models, and I have seen some tutorials about BO Cloud (focus on Planning) but I can not identify what are the tasks of a consultant in a BO Cloud implementation project, for example in BPC Consolidation, we have to build: models, packages, set-up eliminations rules, convertion rules, epm-reports, etc...but in BO Cloud it looks like we just have to train the user about how to use it and we (as consultants) are not supposed to build anything, just train and support the users, is that correct?

regards

mah

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Modelling is still a very important area in BOC implementation. Some of the task I can highlight for a consultant to perform are as below.

- Create the model (Analytic/ Planning/Predictive) as required by the Business.

- Create the HANA views in case the model is live model based on a HANA source.

- Design the Master data and Transaction Data load strategies.

- Create Planning/ Analytic stories for user consumption. You have to narrow down on types of chart to be used for conveying a specific message.

- Conceptualise and Develop value Driver trees if required.

- Manage users and authorisations.

The list is just an indication and the actual list of activities will depend on what is BOC implemented for i.e Planning or Analytics/Predictive and also the type of model (Aquisition/ Live) and also the data sources.

I agree that the activities are not as clear as a BPC implementation in terms of dimension/model/business rules/scriptlogic etc but BOC is a tool which is improving every week and new functionality are added every release and hence objects and activities keep on increasing. Its a cloud based setup so differs slightly with an on premise system.

Regards

Nikhil

[Henry_Banks · Accepted solution]

good response, thank you

I would also add:  

1. install & configure HANA Cloud Connector (from on-premise to HCP)
2. deploy BO Cloud Agent to Tomcat, inc. Jco and JVM files  - all required to connect from Cloud to On-premise.
3. + (optionally in case of HANA remote system) setup Reverse proxy using SAP webdispatcher or Apache webserver

Cheers

H

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Nikhil:

Thanks for answering, I add some comments to your points and correct me if I am wrong (I m standing as a functional BO Cloud consultant, not as a Basis Consultant who make the installation and set-up the environments):

- Create the model (Analytic/ Planning/Predictive) as required by the Business.

**comment: since this is a SaaS, I have the duty to provide: BW queries, BPC Models or Hana views, explain to the user the fields and key-figures, so they can use this to create their models and load data, I have this idea since BO cloud is giving the final user the whole control and set-up since it is very easy. In every SAP pdf I have seen this text: "Simply create and modify calculations and planning models and on the fly"

- Create the HANA views in case the model is live model based on a HANA source.

**comment: 100% agree, since we are supposed to provide the datasources and the user creates his/her model acoording the requeritments

- Design the Master data and Transaction Data load strategies.

**comment: if a consultant make this, it could feel like the final user requeris some IT-support but again this new cloud tool is 100% focused in the user and he/she can model and use all the functions by him/herself

- Create Planning/ Analytic stories for user consumption. You have to narrow down on types of chart to be used for conveying a specific message.

**comment: stories are supposed to be created by the user and they can use any type of chart according to their needs anytime. We as consultants are supposed to train the user using this functions.

- Conceptualise and Develop value Driver trees if required.

**comment: I have not gone very deep in this section yet, but again, the user can create driver trees anytime, we have to show them how it works and how to do it.

- Manage users and authorisations.

**comment: We as consultants, create the roles, but the user manage these roles, and also using the "self-service role", it s very easy for them to admin these objects.

regards

mah

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Henry, thanks for answering, but those taks are for a basis consultant right?

regards

mah

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello,

I agree that BOC being  SaaS based, lot of activities may look very easy and simple. Even in case of BPC the business user take over after some time. It all depends on How the customer plans to implement BOC and what are the data sources we are exploring. It may happen that the BW/HANA views/queries required for BOC might not even exist. Also the standard stories can be created and handed over to customer. The customer can always play around with their adhoc reporting. Also in Planning, there are allocations which has to be designed by the consultant. Yes I agree that the amount and duration of consulting will not be same as in case of any on premise BI or BO or BPC implementation. The BOC consulting will be short and sweet and also the consulting will be more of advisory than development. I would also like to say that as BOC projects will be short and there are no installations required ,dedicated Basis consultants might not be there and those resposnibilities will fall under BOC Consulting.

Regards

Nikhil

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Nikhil, you answer is very clear and helpful.

mah

[Henry_Banks · Accepted solution]

yeah i suppose so but, I thought you should be aware of what needs to come first before you can click to acquire BPC models