AfO vs. AfO for SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC): Similarities, Differences, and Which One to Choose
With Analysis for Office for SAC, an exciting new possibility opens up: accessing data from the SAP Analytics Cloud directly in Excel and working with it flexibly. But where exactly are the differences compared to the well-established and similarly named Analysis for Office? And, most importantly for Controlling teams, IT departments, and BI decision-makers: which users benefit most from each tool, and can unlock their full potential?
Core Concept
Analysis for Office (AfO) and Analysis for Office for SAC are Excel add-ins that enable users to access data from the data warehouse or the SAP Analytics Cloud directly within Microsoft Excel. This makes reporting and planning tasks simple, flexible, and user-friendly in a familiar environment.
Integration
While Analysis for Office (AfO) establishes a direct live connection to SAP BW and SAP S/4HANA as an on-premise solution, Analysis for Office for SAC provides direct integration with the SAP Analytics Cloud and the SAP Business Technology Platform. Only AfO supports offline use, whereas AfO for SAC is designed as a fully cloud-based solution.
Functionality
Due to their different integrations, Analysis for Office (AfO) and Analysis for Office for SAC offer distinct functionalities. AfO provides advanced planning features, including integrated cell locking and the ability to execute planning functions directly. While AfO for SAC similarly supports Planning, it does not yet offers the same variety of features but can instead leverage Data Actions through its integration with the SAP Analytics Cloud to access extensive capabilities.
For a deeper look into Planning with AfO for SAC I recommend the article by my colleague Alexander Maislinger: „The Future of Planning in Excel: The SAP Analytics Cloud Add-in as a Strategic Frontend – Part 1: Introduction“ (https://www.zpartner.eu/the-future-of-planning-in-excel-the-sap-analytics-cloud-add-in-as-a-strategic-frontend-part-1-3-introduction/). Both tools fully support Excel functionalities such as VBA, charts, and formulas.
Visualization
Both solutions share strong similarities in visualization, as they operate within the classic Excel environment and use a “designer” to control the layout, including columns, rows, filters, and formatting. However, a closer look reveals the significant visual and structural influence of the SAP Analytics Cloud on Analysis for Office for SAC, impacting both the current user experience and the tool’s future development.
User Perspective
The suitability of each product strongly depends on the setup within your organization — especially the setup in your Controlling, IT department, or overall BI. Fundamentally, both tools aim to meet the same need: providing straightforward reporting and planning for end users in the familiar Excel environment with minimal training effort. Which tool should be preferred therefore depends largely on your current system landscape. In general, the more established SAP Analytics Cloud is within your department or company, the more it makes sense to use Analysis for Office for SAC. On the other hand, if a large part of your data and planning structures are not yet available in SAC, Analysis for Office (AfO) may be the better choice for now.
Since the main goal is to offer an easy, effective, and familiar user experience, another key factor is whether AfO is already widely used in your organization, or whether both tools would be new for your end users. In the medium to long term SAP’s strategic focus clearly lies with SAC and, by extension, with AfO for SAC, which can be seen as the next generation of Analysis for Office.
| SAP AfO | SAP AfO for SAC | |
| Deployment | On-Premises (Client-Installation) | Cloud Add-in (Excel Web & Desktop) |
| Data Source | SAP BW, SAP BW/4HANA, SAP HANA, S/4HANA | SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) => includes all data sources connected to SAC |
| Connection | Direkt (live connection) | Via SAC -> access to models/Stories |
| VBA/Automation | Fully supported | Not available |
| Installation | MSI installation on the client | Add-in via Microsoft 365 / Excel Add-ins |
| Offline Usage | Possible | Not possible (requires SaaS connection) |
| Technical Focus | SAP backend systeme | SAC Cloud Plattform |
| Licensing | Included in other licenses | Included in SAC license |
Key Differences Between AfO and AfO for SAC
| SAP AfO | SAP AfO for SAC | |
| Planning | Yes, via SAP BW/4HANA & BPC | Yes, via SAC Planning |
| Interface | Excel Table & Designer | Excel Table & Designer (SAC-style) |
| Cell Locking | Yes | No |
| Data Publishing | One-step process („Save Data“) | Two-step process („Process Data“ & „Publish Data“) |
| AfO Functions | Planning functions (via triggers) | Data Actions (via trigger) |
| Excel Capabilities | Full functionality (including VBA, charts etc.) | Full functionality (including VBA, charts etc.) |
Key Differences Between AfO and AfO for SAC in Planning
Quellen:
- Creating and Working with Microsoft Excel Workbooks Using the SAP Analytics Cloud, Add-in for Microsoft Excel
- SAP Analysis für Microsoft Office
- Introducing SAP Business Data Cloud
- Analysis Plug-in User Guide > Was ist SAP Analysis für Microsoft Office?
- SAP Analytics Cloud Help > Microsoft Office Integration
- (https://help.sap.com/docs/SAP_ANALYTICS_CLOUD/00f68c2e08b941f081002fd3691d86a7/c55d7d7f66414304aa40598ecb23b87d.html?locale=en-US)
Author: Adrian Karl
Adrian is an experienced Business Intelligence Consultant with a strong focus on reporting and data visualization, particularly within the SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC). He specializes in designing and conceptualizing intuitive, business-aligned reporting solutions that drive transparency, enable informed decision-making, and support strategic objectives across departments. Adrian bridges the gap between business requirements and technical implementation, ensuring reporting architectures are scalable, user-centric, and aligned with governance standards.