Business Analytics & Planning
Data-driven transformation for your business
At cbs, we support companies on their journey to becoming data-driven organizations. From strategy and architecture to implementation, we create scalable solutions that seamlessly connect your business and IT processes. Discover how we can successfully transform your company.
Our expertise is divided into three core areas that together drive your digital transformation:
- Developing a consistent Enterprise Architecture for modern Data Management , Analytics , AI, and Automation
- Providing a holistic , vendor-independent approach that supports your transition to a data-driven enterprise
- Designing, implementing or optimizing solid yet elastic architectures and processes & aligning LoB and IT roadmaps
- Providing guidance through assured experience, best practices & hands-on expertise
- We define and implement Data Strategy, Architecture & Governance to build scalable ecosystems that align business and IT for seamless collaboration.
- We design intuitive interfaces and boost data collaboration through data product management, catalogs, and modern BI & Analytics tools.
- We build flexible Data Warehousing and Lakehouse platforms that integrate real-time and historical data for scalable insights and governance.
- We enable data-driven decisions with predictive models and AI insights integrated into business workflows.
- Strategy Consulting: We provide strategic clarity through a focused in-house workshop series — the D&A Value Journey.
- Solution Design: We deliver tailored architecture through Lakehouse and Business Data Cloud design aligned to use cases.
- Implementation & Services: We drive value fast through rapid prototyping and integration of predictive data solutions.
- Coaching & Change Management: We enable adoption through hands-on coaching and team upskilling.
The 5 pillars of our expertise
Data Strategy & Architecture
From vision to value—with a clear data strategy and architecture that connects business and IT.
Planning
Planning reimagined – integrated, AI-powered real-time control for better decisions and greater agility.
Adv. Analytics & AI
Data creates impact – with strategic analytics and AI that deliver real competitive advantages.
DWH / DLH
Flexible data architectures that build bridges—between old systems, new platforms, and tomorrow’s business goals.
Frontend
Intuitive reports, intelligent interfaces – for decisions that everyone understands and supports.
Flanking Topics
- Data Culture: The Glue That Holds Everything Together.
Data-driven decisions in a truly data-driven organization. - Modern data organization with balanced governance for control and collaboration. From traditional data management to active data enablement.
- Leveraging Data Strategically with a Data Product-led Thinking approach
- Modern Data Collaboration through Classification, Cataloging, and Sharing of Data Products
- Modern Data Management Strategies in Focus:
Data Fabric, Data Mesh, and Hybrid Models
Data Strategy Workshop
- Assessment of current data maturity
- Definition of business objectives and data-driven use cases
- Vision of the “data-driven enterprise”
- Governance models, roles, and responsibilities
Deliverable: Strategic-level action plan and target architecture
Data Architecture & Analytics Planning
- Technology & platform advisory (e.g., SAP, Microsoft, Snowflake, Databricks)
- Design of modern data architectures:
- Data Mesh, Data Lakehouse, hybrid approaches
- Integration of existing BI/Analytics tools
- Alignment of Analytics & Planning:
- Bridging strategic planning with operational data
- Scenario-based and driver-based planning concepts
Deliverable: High-level concept and technology target architecture
Governance & Operating Model
- Development of a scalable data management and governance framework
- Role models (e.g., Data Owner, Steward, Analyst)
- KPI and data quality management across the data lifecycle
Roadmap & Value Realization
- Prioritization of use cases (quick wins vs. long-term levers)
- Roadmap development with clear milestones
- Change management approaches to empower the organization
- xP&A: Cross-functional integrated planning
- Scenario planning
- Real-time planning and AI-driven forecasting
- Collaborative planning with workflow support
- Transparency and clear governance
- SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC)
- SAP Integrated Planning (IP)
- SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)
Beyond Reporting: Analytics That Powers Competitive Advantage
- Unlock faster, smarter decisions with self-service analytics that go beyond dashboards to deliver tailored
Data Product Management: Turning Data into Strategic Assets
- Managing data as a strategic product leverages modern architectures to enhance data fluency and embed analytics into everyday business workflows.
Decision Intelligence: From Data to Confident Decisions
- Combining predictive analytics with human expertise in Human-in-the-Loop frameworks transforms data into actionable foresight for context-aware decision-making.
Modern Architecture: Operational Resilience Meets Innovation Agility
- Scalable data lakehouses and big data platforms enable rapid value delivery and adapt seamlessly to changing business demands.
- Enterprise & Hybrid Architectures
- SAP Datasphere / SAP Business Data Cloud
- SAP Business Warehouse (BW on Hana, BW/4, BW PCE)
- BW Move: What’s Next?
- Technical & Functional Impact by SAP S/4
- Databricks
- Snowflake
- Microsoft Data Fabric
- Analytics Strategy & Architecture
- Analytics Governance
- AI powered analytic solutions
- Hybrid Reporting
- Visualization & UX
- Reporting Landscape Transformation
- SAP Analytics Cloud
- SAP Analysis for Office
- SAP Business Data Cloud
Facts & figures
As early adopters, cbs and Kemira established SAP Datasphere as the new enterprise data warehouse for Kemira. The initial focus was on financial data models based on the new S/4 system (e.g. margin analysis, CAPEX and OPEX) and HR data records based on SuccessFactors.
In addition to Datasphere, SAP Analytics Cloud was used to provide powerful and user-friendly reporting and planning functions.
- Industry: Mechanical and plant engineering
- Revenue: 4.7 billion euros
- Employees: 18,140
Rohde & Schwarz was faced with the challenge of migrating the existing BW system to a new version (current release BW/4HANA) for reporting and planning. The aim was to prepare the DWH system landscape for the upcoming S/4HANA conversion and the plant separation in the ERP system. The project also aimed to remove historical data models from the system and optimize the data models themselves.
- Global reporting toolbox for creating self-service reporting for the business
- Migration from BW on HANA to BW/4HANA
- Harmonized and optimized database and improvement of data quality
- Development and mapping of reporting requirements due to the plant carve-out
- Industry: electronics
- Revenue: 2.7 billion euros
- Industry: 13,800
At GEA AG, cbs was able to set up the central data warehouse based on BW on HANA over several years. SAC and AfO are used at the front end. Among other things, numerous applications were created for central financial reporting.
In addition to BCS reporting, extensive planning applications were also implemented using BPC and SAC. Extensive reporting applications based on C4C and logistics data (based on >8 SAP source systems) were also implemented.
- Industry: Mechanical and plant engineering
- Revenue: 5.1 billion euros
- Employees: 18,200
