Financial Services Firm Embeds Analytics into Core Processes

How a wealth management company integrated SAP Analytics into S/4HANA Fiori apps, empowering advisors with client insights at point of decision

The Challenge

A wealth management firm serving high-net-worth clients across the U.S. was struggling with disconnected analytics. Financial advisors had to switch between multiple applications - S/4HANA for client portfolios, separate BI tools for performance analytics, and Excel for what-if scenarios. This context-switching reduced productivity and risked errors during client meetings.

Key Pain Points

  • Application Hopping: Advisors toggled between 4-5 different systems during a single client interaction
  • Lost Context: Switching applications meant losing client context and having to re-enter identifiers
  • Delayed Insights: Analytics dashboards were separate from transactional workflows
  • Training Burden: New advisors required 3-4 weeks to learn all systems
  • Client Experience: Meetings interrupted by advisors searching for information

Our Solution

We embedded SAP Analytics directly into S/4HANA Fiori applications using custom CDS views and embedded analytics framework, providing advisors with contextual insights within their existing workflows.

Implementation Approach

Phase 1: Use Case Discovery (3 weeks)

  • Shadowed 10 financial advisors during client meetings
  • Mapped common workflows and information needs
  • Identified 15 high-impact scenarios for embedded analytics
  • Prioritized use cases based on frequency and business value

Phase 2: CDS View Development (8 weeks)

  • Built 35+ custom CDS views for portfolio analytics
  • Created client profitability calculations with multi-currency support
  • Developed year-over-year performance comparisons
  • Implemented risk-adjusted return metrics (Sharpe ratio, alpha, beta)

Phase 3: Fiori App Enhancement (10 weeks)

  • Extended standard Fiori apps with embedded analytics tiles
  • Added interactive charts to client master data screens
  • Built drill-down capabilities from summary to transaction detail
  • Implemented real-time portfolio valuation updates

Phase 4: Smart Business Services (5 weeks)

  • Created KPI tiles for advisor dashboard (AUM, new clients, retention rate)
  • Built exception reports highlighting clients with declining balances
  • Developed trend analysis for asset allocation shifts
  • Implemented predictive alerts for rebalancing opportunities

Phase 5: Mobile Enablement & UAT (4 weeks)

  • Optimized embedded analytics for tablet and mobile devices
  • Enabled offline access to key client metrics
  • Built responsive charts that adapted to screen sizes
  • Tested across iOS and Android devices
  • User acceptance testing with advisor focus groups

Key Embedded Analytics Features

Client 360 View

  • Embedded charts showing portfolio performance directly in client master record
  • Asset allocation pie chart with drill-down to individual holdings
  • Risk profile gauge with historical changes
  • Net worth trend line over 5 years

Portfolio Management App

  • Real-time valuation embedded in transaction screens
  • What-if analysis for rebalancing scenarios
  • Tax loss harvesting opportunities highlighted in context
  • Benchmark comparison embedded in position details

Advisor Dashboard

  • KPI tiles for book of business metrics (embedded in Fiori launchpad)
  • Client retention heatmap by advisor and region
  • Revenue trend analysis with year-over-year comparisons
  • Exception alerts for clients requiring attention

Technical Architecture

S/4HANA Core        Analytics Layer         User Interface
• Client Master → • Custom CDS Views   → • Fiori Apps (Enhanced)
• Portfolio Data→ • Analytical Queries → • Embedded Charts/Tables
• Transactions  → • Smart Business KPIs→ • Mobile-Optimized Views
• Market Data   → • Calculation Views  → • Real-Time Updates

The Results

Adoption & Productivity

  • 95% Advisor Adoption: Within 2 months of go-live (vs. 40% for previous BI tool)
  • Zero Training Required: Analytics embedded in familiar Fiori apps required no new training
  • 30% Time Savings: Advisors spent 30% less time searching for information
  • Fewer Application Switches: Reduced from 4-5 apps to 1-2 for most workflows

Business Impact

  • 30% Increase in client engagement scores (quarterly survey)
  • 20% More Cross-Selling: Advisors identified upsell opportunities faster
  • Improved Client Retention: 5% improvement in client retention rate
  • Faster Onboarding: New advisor ramp-up time reduced from 4 weeks to 10 days

Client Experience

  • Seamless Meetings: No interruptions while advisors searched for data
  • Better Recommendations: Data-driven insights led to more personalized advice
  • Real-Time Answers: Clients’ questions answered immediately during meetings
  • Mobile Access: Advisors reviewed client portfolios before meetings using tablets

Technologies Used

  • SAP S/4HANA (On-Premise Edition)
  • SAP Fiori Elements
  • Custom CDS Views (ABAP CDS)
  • Embedded Analytics Framework
  • SAP Smart Business Services
  • SAP HANA Live
  • Fiori Launchpad

Client Testimonial

“Embedding analytics directly into our Fiori apps was brilliant. Our advisors now have everything they need in one place - client data, portfolio analytics, and transaction capabilities. It’s transformed how we serve our clients, and adoption was instantaneous because it just works within their existing workflows.”

— Chief Technology Officer, Wealth Management Firm

Key Takeaways

  1. Context is King: Embedding analytics where users already work eliminates friction and drives adoption
  2. CDS Views are Powerful: Custom analytical queries provided exactly the metrics advisors needed
  3. Zero Training Wins: When analytics are intuitive and contextual, training burden disappears
  4. Mobile Matters: Tablet-optimized views enabled advisors to prepare for meetings on-the-go
  5. Start with Workflows: Understanding user journeys was more important than technical capabilities

Design Principles

  • Non-Intrusive: Analytics enhanced existing screens without cluttering the interface
  • Performance First: All embedded charts loaded in under 2 seconds
  • Drill-Down Enabled: Users could explore from summary to detail without leaving the app
  • Role-Based: Analytics content adapted based on user role (advisor vs. manager vs. compliance)

Lessons Learned

  • Shadow Users First: Observing actual workflows revealed use cases we wouldn’t have identified through interviews alone.
  • Performance Testing Critical: Embedded analytics must be lightning-fast or users will ignore them.
  • Mobile is Not Desktop: Charts that worked perfectly on desktop needed redesign for tablets.
  • Governance Matters: Clear rules for who could see what client data were essential for compliance.

Want to embed analytics into your Fiori apps? Contact us to explore how we can bring insights directly into your users’ workflows.