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Grow Your Vision

Grow Your Vision is a blog series designed to empower HR leaders with practical insights at the intersection of workforce data analytics and data privacy. Each post explores how to unlock the full potential of your HR data while staying compliant, ethical, and future-ready. Whether you're optimizing talent strategies or navigating complex regulations, this series will help you lead with clarity, confidence, and vision.

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Getting Started with Story Reports in SAP SuccessFactors

  • Writer: Sandra Cristovao
    Sandra Cristovao
  • Jul 6, 2025
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jul 7, 2025

Story reports in SAP SuccessFactors People Analytics are a powerful way to visualize, explore, and share workforce data in real time. Whether you're an HR analyst, report developer, or SuccessFactors admin, understanding the basics of Story report development is key to unlocking more strategic insights.


🔹 What is a Story Report?

Story reports are built using SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) technology embedded within SuccessFactors. Unlike traditional reports, Story reports offer:

  • Interactive dashboards

  • Rich data visualizations (charts, tables, tiles, filters)

  • Drill-down capabilities for deeper analysis

  • Cross-domain data joining (e.g., EC + Recruiting + LMS)


🔹 Key Concepts to Understand

  1. Datasets vs Queries

    In Story reports, your data comes from queries based on SuccessFactors schemas. You can create multiple queries from different domains to bring data together into one report.

  2. Measures and Dimensions

    • Measures are numeric values (e.g., Headcount, Salary, Turnover Rate)

    • Dimensions are categories or attributes (e.g., Department, Gender, Job Level)

  3. Components of a Story

    • Canvas Pages: Where you build dashboards

    • Charts: Bar, pie, line, scatter, and more

    • Tables: Great for detailed breakdowns

    • Input Controls: Filters that allow users to explore data dynamically

    • Calculated Columns: Add new logic using formulas

  4. Permissions Matter

    Users must have Story Report permissions, including access to schema/data models, to develop or even view reports. RBP and Report Center permissions are critical!

  5. Save and Share


    Stories can be saved in public or private folders and shared with specific users or roles. You can also schedule report deliveries or export to PDF.


🔹 Getting Started Tips

✅ Start simple: One domain, a few columns, and a basic chart

✅ Know your data model: Understand which fields are available

✅ Use filters early: To narrow down data and improve performance

✅ Validate your data: Always check your numbers match source reports

✅ Save versions: Story reports don’t have version history — make backups!

 

📌 Coming soon: A step-by-step walkthrough to build your first Story report from Employee Central.


Have a question or want help getting started? Drop a comment or connect with us — we're here to help grow the SAP SuccessFactors reporting community!



Disclaimer: This blog post and all related content are the intellectual property of Secure Metrics. Unauthorized reproduction, copying, or distribution of any part of this content without written permission is strictly prohibited.

 

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