Five Reasons Heads of People Analytics Should Attend FOPA26

SAP’s introduction of People Intelligence in SAP Business Data Cloud represents an important evolution for SuccessFactors customers. For. Heads of People Analytics, this is not simply a new reporting tool. It signals a shift in how workforce data is prepared, governed and used — particularly as AI and conversational analytics become embedded in HR systems.

At the Festival of People Analytics 2026 (#FOPA26), we will explore what this shift means in practical terms for People Analytics leaders.

To get your complimentary Festival ticket, please use 100% discount code: 3NS100 at Checkout.

1. People Intelligence Is SAP’s Next Chapter for People Analytics

People Intelligence is SAP’s dedicated People Analytics application within Business Data Cloud. It is designed to move beyond traditional reporting by delivering curated, analytics-ready HR data through managed data products.

For organisations currently running Workforce Analytics or SAP Analytics Cloud stories, the key question is how this new model fits into your People Analytics roadmap.

In the opening keynote, “The State of People Analytics in2026 – Then, Now, and Next,” we will explore how SAP’s People Intelligence strategy builds on — and may gradually reshape — existing analytics approaches.

2. People Intelligence Data Products Reduce Manual Transformation Work

Historically, SuccessFactors connectors focused on data extraction. They moved HR data into reporting tools, but they did not manage the transformation logic required to make metrics analytics-ready.

As a result, People Analytics teams often rebuilt attrition logic, movement categorisation, headcount definitions and derived calculations inside reporting tools.

People Intelligence Data Products change this model.

The transformation layer is now managed within SAP Business Data Cloud. Workforce movements are categorised consistently. Core HR metrics are derived centrally. Event reasons are structured for analysis before they reach the dashboard.

Instead of simply moving data, SAP now delivers analytics-ready HR logic as part of the product.

In the session “Moving from Workforce Analytics to People Intelligence in 2026,” we will explain what this means operationally for People Analytics teams.

3. SAP Business Data Cloud Provides the Foundation for AI in People Analytics

AI in HR depends on harmonised, governed data. SAP’s conversational assistant, Joule, allows leaders to ask workforce questions in natural language — but those answers must come from structured and consistent metrics.

People Intelligence provides that foundation.

When a CHRO asks about voluntary attrition in critical roles, skills gaps by region, or workforce cost trends, the responses rely on data products managed within Business Data Cloud.

The session “People Intelligence in Action: A Demo &Discussion with SAP” will demonstrate how this works in practice.

4. People Intelligence Expands the Scope of Workforce Insights

People Intelligence enables stronger connections between workforce composition, skills, compensation and talent flows.

This does not turn People Analytics into “enterprise IT.” It strengthens the context around the questions you are already being asked:

• What is driving attrition?

• Are internal mobility efforts working?

• Where are our capability risks?

• How is workforce cost evolving?

Ask these questions or more in the live “Ask Me Anything: People Intelligence” session, where you can better understand and envision how People Intelligence will enable your business over the long-term.

5. The Role of the Head of People Analytics Is Evolving

As transformation logic becomes productised and AI becomes embedded, the focus of the People Analytics function shifts.

Less time maintaining pipelines.

Less energy reconciling definitions.

More time shaping workforce strategy.

The final session, “Databricks and Predictive Analytics Made Simple,” will explore how predictive use cases become more accessible when the HR data foundation is structured correctly.

For Heads of People Analytics, the opportunity is clear: move from reporting what happened to influencing what happens next.

The Festival of People Analytics 2026 is designed to help you understand — and lead — that transition. We hope you will join us.

To get your complimentary Festival ticket, please use 100% discount code: 3NS100  at Checkout.