Why not just use a spreadsheet, or a consultant?
It's a fair question — and the honest answer is that every alternative here is the right choice for some situations. This page lays out the real options side by side so you can decide, rather than being told there's only one way.
| Excel / blank model | Consultant from scratch | Generic generator | SAC Templates Hub | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to a working model | Days to weeks | Weeks | Fast, but generic output | Minutes to download, configure in hours |
| Upfront cost | Free (your time) | High (day rates) | Low to medium | Free catalog; €129–149 accelerators |
| SAP-specific structure | You build it | Yes, if they know SAC | Rarely | Built for SAC: models, dimensions, aggregation |
| Regulatory upkeep | Manual, on you | Re-engagement each revision | None | Maintained at each revision (opt-in plan) |
| Best when… | One-off, throwaway analysis | Genuinely bespoke, needs delivery | Non-SAP, quick mock-up | Recurring SAC work, regulatory rigour |
Why not just build it in Excel or from a blank SAC model?
For a one-off analysis you'll never touch again, a spreadsheet is genuinely fine — it's free and entirely yours. The cost is deferred, not avoided. SAC models depend on consistent dimensions, the right aggregation type (balances over time are the classic trap), and version handling that a spreadsheet doesn't enforce. Start from a structured template and you inherit those conventions on day one instead of rediscovering them the hard way — and if you'd rather understand the conventions first, our technical articles walk through them.
Why not just hire a consultant to scope it?
Sometimes you should — and this isn't an either/or. When the work is genuinely bespoke or you need hands to deliver, a consultant is the right call. But a template and a consultant work together: a good consultant delivers faster from a working skeleton than from a blank sheet, so the template lowers the bill rather than replacing the expertise. When a project needs a person, our partner network connects you with a vetted SAC consultant.
Why not just use a generic template generator?
Generic generators produce something that looks like a dashboard quickly, which is useful for a rough mock-up. What they rarely encode is SAP-specific structure — models, dimensions, aggregation rules — or the moving target of regulatory standards. Our regulatory templates (Basel III, Solvency II, IFRS 17, IFRS 9, CSRD) are built for SAP Analytics Cloud and maintained as the standards change, which a generic tool has no reason to do. Explore them on the regulatory page.
Where SAC Templates Hub fits
In one line: it's the fastest way to a correctly structured SAC model when the work is recurring or the subject is regulated. You configure and validate — you never start from a blank sheet — and for the compliance-heavy topics, someone keeps the template current so you don't have to track every revision yourself. It doesn't replace your judgement or a consultant's hands; it removes the days of setup that come before either.
Start from a working model instead of a blank sheet.
Browse the free catalog → See regulatory templates