Introducing What-If Analysis

Analysis of a What-If formula with applied filters is known as what-if analysis. You will have the ability to adjust or modify the values of the variables used in the What-If Formula while performing a What-If analysis. Additionally, it will let you to analyze a wider range of case scenarios by running various analysis conditions. The What-If analysis will help you to define and manage the parameters for different scenarios along with setting alerts. 

Steps to Create and Setup What-If Analysis

Access What-If Analysis

1. To create and execute a What-If analysis click on Analysis What-If Analysis .
2. To formulate a fresh analysis, click on New Analysis. The What-If dialog box will display.
3. Enter the analysis Name.

Tip

When viewing the assets in What-If Analysis, keep an eye out for the “In Production” tag. This tag indicates that at least one of the elements (Queries, Reports, Activities) is linked to a Workflow that is currently in the Production phase.

Select the What-If Formula

Identify and select the configured What-If formula, ready to be analyzed over various goal seeking scenarios.

1. Select the formula from the drop down.
2. To add dimension filter, click on Add Filter.
3. Click on Save to add the what-if formula to Infoveave. View the newly created analysis under in My What-If Analysis tab.

Execute What-If Analysis

Initiating the execution process, allows you to perform the What-If analysis with your chosen parameters and view the outcome in a table format.

1. To execute click on Execute icon on the newly created Formulae.
2. As you click on Execute Analysis, you will need to choose whether to have pagination or proceed without pagination.
3. The dialog opens up for you define the Parameters, Set Alerts, Save, Load and Export Analysis or Reanalyze when required. It also allows you to edit the formula and the analysis. 
4. Executing the analysis will deliver the table on the rows processed.

Note

• Infoveave will start processing the raw data inside the analysis engine as per the selected dimensions as filters.
• Executing the what-if analysis will deliver the calculated data based on the what-if formulas created.

Note

• For the data source “Sales”, we created a What-if formula. We also defined the measures as Factory Price (a), Shipping Cost (b), Transit Insurance percentage (c) and the expression Transit Insurance amount (d).

• We formulated the equation; Transit Insurance amount (d) = Factory Price (a) * (Shipping Cost (b) + Transit Insurance percentage (c)) or (d = a * (b + c)).

• Executing the What-If analysis on the formulas created, will deliver the value for the defined expressions (Transit Insurance amount (d)).

Group

The drag and drop functionality, allows you to easily group data by arranging the column headings within the Group-by section to achieve the desired grouping structure.

To group data, follow these steps

1. Locate the column headings that you want to use for grouping.
2. Use the drag and drop function to click and hold on a column heading.
3. Drag the column heading to the Group-by section.
4. Place the column heading in the desired position within the Group-by section.
5. Repeat the process for any additional column headings you wish to include in the grouping.

Edit Analysis

Edit Analysis allows you to edit your What-If analysis to incorporate all the required changes and reanalyze the formula. 

To modify a What-If Analysis in Infoveave, follow these steps

1. Click on the Edit icon associated with the analysis.
2. Modify Analysis components as required
   • Edit Name Enter a new name that accurately reflects the purpose or updates of the analysis.
   • Change Formula Select new formula from the list of available formulas previously created.
   • Edit/Change Filters Edit or change the filters or conditions to focus on specific data subsets.
3. Click on the Save button to save your edits.

Edit Formula

Editing the What-If formula in Infoveave allows you to bring refinements to the formula logic, expressions, or parameters. It enables you to fine-tune the formula based on changing requirements, data updates, or insights gained from previous analysis.

To modify a What-If formula in Infoveave, follow these steps

1. Find the specific What-If formula that you want to edit.
2. Click on the Edit icon associated with the formula.
3. After making the necessary modifications to the formula components, click on the Save button to save your edits.

Caution

The formula name and the datasource related cannot be edited.

Manage Parameters for Goal Seeking

Managing parameters in What-If analysis helps you explore different scenarios outcomes. By defining the key, dimension, and dimension item, you can specify the parameters for analysis. The change type options allow you to determine how the values will be modified, whether by a specific value, percentage, or based on another parameter. 

To manage parameters data, follow these steps

1. Click on Parameter icon .
2. Define Parameters Start by specifying the parameters you want to analyze. Fill in the following fields
   • Key Add the key (defined in the What-If Formula) associated with the parameter.
   • Dimension Select the dimension relevant to the selected key parameter.
   • Dimension Item Choose the specific dimension item for the selected dimension.
3. Define Change Type Determine how the values will be modified by selecting one of the following change types
   • Value by Modify the value by a specific numeric value.
   • Percent by Modify the value by a percentage.
   • Value to Set the value to a specific numeric value.
   • Keep Old Value Retain the original value without any changes.
   • In Relation to Define the change value based on another parameter.

Note

• If you select an Expression(defined in the What-If Formula) as the key, an additional field “Effect on” will appear. This allows you to specify the parameter on which the effect will occur.
• If you choose the “In relation to” option, define the key parameter in the “Based on” field. Then, you must select another dimension and dimension item that reflects the change you want to analyze.

Value by

• Key Enter a unique identifier or key for this parameter. This key helps you distinguish and manage different parameters within your analysis.
• Transit Insurance Percentage (c) Define the parameter’s name or description. In this field, provide a clear and meaningful name for the parameter to make it easily understandable.
• Dimension Select the relevant dimension for this parameter. Dimensions are the aspects of your data that you want to analyze or modify.
• Dimension Item Specify the specific item within the selected dimension that you want to focus on. This is the particular element or category you’ll be modifying.
• Value Set the initial value of the parameter. This value represents the starting point for your simulation. You can input a numeric value or use arithmetic operations like addition (+10) to establish the parameter’s baseline.

Percentage by

• Key As with the previous parameter, provide a unique identifier or key to differentiate it from others.
• Transit Insurance Percentage (c) Describe the parameter in detail. This description should convey the purpose and context of the parameter.
• Dimension Choose the dimension associated with this parameter. Different dimensions may be used to analyze various aspects of your data.
• Dimension Item Specify the dimension item. This helps you narrow down the specific element within the chosen dimension that you’re targeting.
• Percentage Define the percentage change for this parameter. It represents the adjustment you want to make, expressed as a percentage. You can input a numeric value (e.g., 10) or use arithmetic operations (e.g., +10%) to indicate the change.

Value to

• Key Assign a unique identifier to this parameter, just like the others.
• Transit Insurance Percentage (c) Provide a comprehensive description for better clarity.
• Dimension Select the relevant dimension, considering the specific aspect you want to modify.
• Dimension Item Specify the dimension item to focus on within the chosen dimension.
• Value Set the final value for the parameter. This value represents the result you want to achieve after applying changes. You can use numeric values or arithmetic operations (e.g., +10) to define the parameter’s outcome.

Keep Old Value

• Key Define a unique identifier for this parameter.
• Dimension Choose the dimension for this parameter. Dimensions allow you to categorize and organize your data for analysis.
• Dimension Item Specify the dimension item. This is the data point within the selected dimension that you intend to maintain without changes.

In Relation to

• Key Provide a unique identifier for this parameter.
• Dimension Select the dimension associated with this parameter.
• Dimension Item Specify the specific dimension item.
• Based On Dimension Choose the base dimension that will influence the parameter you’re defining.
• Based On Dimension Item Specify the specific item within the base dimension that forms the basis of your parameter.

Tip

Example Consider we wanted to see how the “Factory Price (a)” is going to get altered if the we multiply the “Transit Insurance Amount (d)” by 10 times. By analyzing the new parameter will get to know the new value for the “Factory Price (a)”. Hover the mouse over the altered rows to see the Original, Updated and Change Price.

Set Alerts

Set alerts on the data table, to easily identify and visualize specific data points that meet certain conditions. This helps in monitoring and analyzing the impact of parameter changes in the What-If Analysis.

To set alerts on the data table in What-If Analysis, follow these steps

1. Click on Alerts icon to set alerts.
2. Choose the key parameter on which you want to set the alert. This parameter will be used as the basis for evaluating the alert condition.
3. Select the operator that defines the condition for the alert. Options may include greater than, less than, equal to, or other comparison operators.
4. Enter the value against which the condition will be evaluated. The alert will be triggered when the data meets the specified condition.
5. Enable Highlight Entire Row (if required), to highlight the entire row in the data table when the alert condition is met. This helps to visually identify the affected data.
6. Click on icon to add a color to highlight the row when the alert condition is triggered.

Reanalyze Scenarios

Reanalyzing in Infoveave What-If Analysis allows you to rerun the analysis with the original parameters and data. By selecting the Reanalyze option, you can quickly refresh and update the analysis results based on any changes made to the data or parameters.

Save Analysis

Saving the analysis in Infoveave What-If Analysis allows you to preserve and store your analyzed parameters and processed data. By naming and adding the analysis to Infoveave, you can easily access and manage multiple analysis scenarios. 

1. To save the freshly analyzed parameters and the processed rows click on Save .
2. Name the new analysis.
3. Click on Add Analysis Scenario, to add the new analysis to Infoveave.

Load Analysis

Loading an analysis in Infoveave What-If Analysis enables you to retrieve and review previously saved analysis scenarios. By selecting the desired analysis from your saved list, you can quickly access and analyze the parameters, data, and insights generated during the previous analysis session.

1. To load an analysis previously saved, click on Load Analysis.
2. Select the analysis from the list and click on the icon.
3. To remove any analysis from the list of Load Analysis, click the Delete’ icon.

Export Analysis

Exporting analysis in Infoveave What-If Analysis empowers you to save and share your analysis results in different formats. By exporting the analysis, you can generate reports, create visualizations, or utilize the data for further analysis in external tools.

1. Click on Export Analysis xlsx to export/download the analysis to the local folder as a .xlsx file.
2. Download the file by clicking the Download icon.

Note

• When exporting the What-If Analysis in Infoveave, the analysis results will be downloaded in the format specified under the “Manage Exports” section of the corresponding What-If formula.
• Make sure to configure the desired export format in order to obtain the analysis output in the desired format during the download process.