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Case Study Banking SAP Analytics Cloud Finance Systems

Real-Time Financial Intelligence:
Discovery Bank's Journey to Integrated Reporting

Client
Discovery Bank
Industry
Banking & Financial Services
Location
South Africa
Solution
SAP Analytics Cloud + SAP S/4HANA

The Requirement

Discovery Bank's finance processes were heavily reliant on manual Excel-based workflows, causing data silos, two-day reporting delays, and limited scenario analysis capabilities.

The Solution

Decision Inc. designed a Daily Tracker Dashboard Reporting Solution using SAP Analytics Cloud, integrating seamlessly with SAP S/4HANA to transform finance planning and reporting.

The Impact

The solution transformed Discovery Bank's finance planning, replacing manual workflows with automated driver-based budgeting and near real-time data availability.

01 · Client Overview

About Discovery Bank

Discovery Bank, launched as part of Discovery Limited in 2019, is a full-service digital retail bank headquartered in South Africa. Since its inception, the bank has positioned itself as a pioneer in behavioural banking, integrating advanced analytics with personalised financial products designed to improve customers' financial health and well-being.

Within just five years of its launch, Discovery Bank attracted over one million clients, establishing itself as a significant player in the South African banking landscape. The bank offers a comprehensive range of products - including transactional accounts, personal and home loans, savings, and credit cards - all delivered through a seamless digital platform.

Discovery Bank
02 · The Challenge

The Problem to Solve

Discovery Bank faced several critical challenges in its finance planning environment. Their existing processes were heavily reliant on manual Excel-based workflows, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies across the organisation.

  • Limited integration between financial systems causing isolated data silos
  • Latency in data reporting, resulting in delays of up to two days and backwards-looking analysis
  • Lack of driver-based planning and scenario analysis capabilities, restricting financial agility
  • High manual effort with dependency on key personnel for data validation and report preparation
  • Cumbersome data quality checks and slow calculation processes

To overcome these challenges, the bank required a real-time or near real-time reporting solution integrated with their SAP S/4HANA system - including driver-based budgeting, daily granularity for income tracking, and predictive scenario-based planning within a unified platform.

03 · The Solution

How Decision Inc. Delivered

Decision Inc. responded by designing and delivering a comprehensive Daily Tracker Dashboard Reporting Solution leveraging SAP Analytics Cloud that integrated seamlessly with SAP S/4HANA to transform the bank's finance planning and reporting landscape.

Integration

Centralised financial data into a single model supporting income statement and balance sheet reporting, seamlessly integrated with SAP S/4HANA.

Connectivity

Used SAP Cloud Connector and SAC Agent for secure, scheduled integration, ensuring data alignment and consistency across systems.

Automation

Implemented planning-enabled SAC models, replacing manual Excel sheets with automated driver-based budgeting and forecasting.

Granularity

Enabled daily disaggregation of forecast data, allowing granular, near real-time scenario analysis and performance tracking.

Accessibility

Delivered dynamic, interactive SAC Stories with flexibility to access reports directly in SAP Analytics Cloud.

Governance

Executed in phased stages - analysis, design, development, testing, UAT, training, and post-go-live support - with rigorous quality assurance.

This approach ultimately freed up finance resources to focus on strategic activities rather than time-consuming data consolidation and error correction - positioning Discovery Bank for ongoing financial excellence through data-driven decision making.

04 · The Outcome

Measurable Results

The SAP Analytics Cloud solution not only transformed Discovery Bank's finance planning but also positioned them for ongoing innovation and growth through data-driven decision making.

  • Replaced manual, error-prone Excel workflows with a robust, automated planning platform, improving efficiency and scalability
  • Increased confidence in budgeting and forecasting through integrated driver-based planning and predictive analytics
  • Reduced reliance on key personnel by automating data consolidation and validation, lowering operational risk
  • Strengthened transparency and drill-through capabilities, empowering finance teams with actionable insights
  • Enabled near real-time data availability and daily tracking of income and KPIs, enhancing decision agility
  • Accelerated financial planning cycle times, allowing rapid response to market changes and improved operational performance
Discovery Bank Outcome
"Decision Inc. proposed a clear, seamless solution that fully leveraged our existing technology stack. The implementation was effortless, with an emphasis on adding value at each stage. As a result, we now have significantly enhanced reporting and planning capabilities, with exciting opportunities to expand the scope as we advance toward the Finance of the Future."
Greg Murphy
Greg Murphy
Head of Capital and Commercial Management, Discovery Bank