Source-to-Pay Workspace Analytics Center

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Source-to-Pay Workspace Analytics Center

    The Source-to-Pay Workspace Analytics Center enables ServiceNow customers to query and analyze their procurement data efficiently. It leverages Natural Language Query (NLQ) technology to convert user questions into database queries, providing current performance insights and trend analysis over time. This tool simplifies data exploration by using configurable synonyms and semantic shortcuts to improve the relevance and accuracy of search results.

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    Key Features

    • Natural Language Query (NLQ): Allows users to ask questions in natural language, which are translated into precise database queries.
    • Configurable Synonyms: Enhances search flexibility by mapping common terms (e.g., “vendor” for Supplier column) to database fields, enabling more intuitive queries.
    • Semantic Shortcuts: Uses conditions linked to synonyms to refine results, such as defining “closed” contracts with the condition active=false.
    • Predefined Supported Questions: Provides ready-to-use queries across various procurement areas including purchase requisitions, sourcing requests, negotiations, purchase lines, purchase orders, milestones, receipt tasks, and procurement cases, categorized by attributes like order type, product type, and active status.
    • Graphical Display of Results: Search results may be visualized graphically based on the criteria, enhancing data comprehension.
    • Search Improvement Guidance: If queries do not yield expected results, users can access tips to refine their search inputs.

    Practical Guidance for Customers

    • When formulating queries, specify exact table names as used in the database along with relevant keywords such as state or type for accurate results.
    • Leverage synonyms and semantic conditions to optimize search outcomes without needing detailed database knowledge.
    • Use predefined question examples as templates to build customized queries for procurement analytics.
    • Utilize the “How can I improve my results?” option to troubleshoot and enhance query precision.

    Key Outcomes

    Customers can expect to gain actionable insights into procurement operations by querying real-time and historical data effortlessly. This facilitates informed decision-making, streamlines procurement workflows, and improves visibility into key metrics like requisition status, contract activity, order types, and milestone tracking.

    With Source-to-Pay Workspace Analytics Center, you can ask a question about your data, and see how things are performing now and trends over time.

    This Analytics Center is modeled using Natural Language Query (NLQ) which is helpful in converting natural language into database queries, thus fetching relevant data from the respective database tables. In this case, NLQ is developed with the help of configurable synonyms and semantic shortcuts. In synonyms, for example, to fetch data from the Supplier column in the Purchase Line table, a synonym "vendor" is added. Similarly, multiple synonyms can be configured to further improve search results. In semantics, conditions can be configured for the synonym such that search results can be further optimized. For example, to render appropriate search results for closed contracts, a condition "active=false" is configured against the synonym "closed" for the Contract Task table.

    Figure 1. Source-to-Pay Workspace Analytics Center
    Source-to-Pay Workspace Analytics Center
    Based on these synonyms and semantic conditions, some of the predefined supported questions are listed here.
    • Purchase requisition
      • Order type
        • Show me purchase requisitions of type standard
        • Show me purchase requisitions of type blanket
        • Show me standard purchase requisitions
        • Show me blanket purchase requisitions
      • Requisition type
        • Show me net new purchase requisitions
        • Show me revised purchase requisitions
      • Active
        • Show me all open purchase requisitions
        • Show me all closed purchase requisitions
    • Sourcing request: Active
      • Show me all open sourcing requests
      • Show me all closed sourcing requests
    • Negotiation: Active
      • Show me all open negotiations
      • Show me all closed negotiations
    • Purchase line: Product type
      • Show me all purchase lines of type good
      • Show me all purchase lines of type goods
      • Show me all purchase lines of type service
    • Purchasing tasks and all extensions of purchasing tasks: Active
      • Show me all open <task type>
      • Show me all closed <task type>
    • Purchase order: Order type
      • Show me purchase orders of type standard
      • Show me purchase orders of type blanket
    • Purchase order line: Product type
      • Show me all purchase order lines of type good
      • Show me all purchase order lines of type goods
      • Show me all purchase order lines of type service
    • Milestones
      • Completion date
        • Show me upcoming milestones
        • Show me today's milestones
        • Show me past milestones
        • Show me historical milestones
      • Active
        • Show me all open milestones
        • Show me all closed milestones
    • Receipt tasks: Active
      • Show me all open receipt tasks
      • Show me all closed receipt tasks
    • Procurement cases: Active
      • Show me all open procurement cases
      • Show me all closed procurement cases
    Note:
    For any questions that you may want to ask about your data, ensure that you specify the table name as it appears in the database, along with other keywords as required, such as the state or type, for example. Search results are sometimes displayed graphically, based on the search criteria used.

    If you do not get the desired search results, select How can I improve my results? to view tips and suggestions on improving your search.