Get started with stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics

I have written quite a bit about reporting in SAP^® and SAP^® SuccessFactors^®, including the recent blog Reporting in SAP HCM Payroll and SuccessFactors. There’s a heavy focus on what options you have and where you can go to learn more about each one. Today, I’m starting a new series on stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics to get you excited about the solution, and empower you to start using it.

What are stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics?

In late 2020, I published a blog that included my overview of the history of how stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics evolved over the years. For this new series, I prefer to start fresh and jump right to what is available today. Stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics is the go-to solution for SAP SuccessFactors reporting that fills the operational reporting niche so critical for HCM. Its design is based on the consolidation of many of the various legacy SAP SuccessFactors’ operational reporting tools into a single tool for reporting. Stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics come FREE with any SAP SuccessFactors license, and SAP SuccessFactors’ customers can access it via the Report Center in SAP SuccessFactors.

Report templates and the Content Store

A good place to get started in your report stories education may be to start with the existing reports that are available as ‘templates’ via the Content Store (launched in December 2020). As of February 2022, there are approximately 60 templates to choose for various functional areas in SAP SuccessFactors including including Employee Central, Compensation planning, Time tracking, Global assignments and so on. You can download the full list of SAP SuccessFactors delivered templates from the SAP SuccessFactors Community Site, see List of Available Templates (valid SAP SuccessFactors Community ID required). Sample new templates added in 2021 include:

How to download a template

A step-by-step guide (valid SAP SuccessFactors Community ID required) is available to walk you through downloading a template. You can follow the steps below:

Access the Report Center in SAP SuccessFactors by following the menu path Home -> Reporting

On the Report Center page, select the Import button highlighted below.

This page allows you to import either Local Files (a future blog) or templates from the Content Store. Select the Content Store option at the top of the screen to display a list of the templates available for you to download. You can use the search bar (top right) to find one of interest.

For this example, the user was looking for a report template related to payment and the search results were limited to this criterion. 

© Image Source EPI-USE Jeevan Sigdel

You can access information about the template using these links, including Functional and Technical Documentation, and Suggestions and Ideas. When you have reviewed the selection, select the OK button to continue.

© Image Source EPI-USE Jeevan Sigdel

Select the template of interest, followed by the Import button, to import the template into your instance. A disclaimer dialog box will appear, explaining that the template is generic and that it may require additional attention in order to make it work within your instance. Once you accept the disclaimer, you will see a message saying that the import is complete and you can select the OK button to return to the Report Center screen to locate your new template.

Note: If the imported report does not show in Report Center, please execute a ‘Sync Report Center Search’ job to refresh the Report Center listings. Details available in KBA 2353719 (valid SAP ID required).

© Image Source EPI-USE Jeevan Sigdel

From here, you can use the three dots to the right of the screen to run your report.

© Image Source EPI-USE Jeevan Sigdel

Three pieces of advice to start your education on stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics

1. Start your education on stories in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics in the SAP Help Portal SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics Directory (valid SAP IS required).
2. Review the materials in the SAP Help Portal Template Stories Section (valid SAP is required) and take a look at the templates available using the instructions above, to see which might be a good fit for your organization. Many of the templates have been based on either customers’ popular requirements (Annual Compensation Analysis) or legal and regulatory requirements (Equal Employment Opportunity Template).
3. If you want to learn more about the reporting options available to you, please download my free ebook on HCM and Payroll reporting options for SAP and SAP SuccessFactors.