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Connected data ​

SPACE AI can work with more than one configured data source in the same conversation. This allows users to analyze IBM Planning Analytics data together with supported external data sources and to work across multiple Planning Analytics environments without moving between separate applications or AI assistants.

SPACE supports IBM Planning Analytics and native Google BigQuery connections. The connections available to a conversation depend on the SPACE configuration and the user's access.

Google BigQuery ​

Google BigQuery can be configured as a native SPACE connection and used directly by SPACE AI for data questions and analysis.

The assistant can inspect the available BigQuery structure and query relevant data based on the user's request. This allows users to ask business questions in natural language without first locating the required tables or writing the query themselves.

For example:

  • Show revenue by region from BigQuery for the last six months.
  • Which products had the largest change this quarter?
  • Find the data related to customer churn and summarize the main trends.

BigQuery connections support user-based Google authentication through SSO, allowing users to connect with their own identity and access BigQuery according to their existing permissions without providing their Google credentials to SPACE. Service-account authentication is also available for scenarios that require a shared non-interactive identity.

Connection availability and access are controlled through SPACE configuration.

Working with multiple connections ​

A conversation can use multiple configured connections when a task requires information from more than one source. Connections can include multiple IBM Planning Analytics environments, BigQuery, or a combination of supported connection types.

For example:

  • Compare these results between the Production and Development TM1 environments.
  • Compare the forecast in TM1 with the actual data in BigQuery.
  • Use the BigQuery results to help explain this variance in Planning Analytics.

SPACE AI can query the relevant connections and use the returned information together in its analysis. The sources remain separate connections; the assistant gathers the required information from each source and compares or analyzes the results as part of the conversation.

Users can add connections to the current conversation as additional sources or replace the current connection context when moving to a different environment or task.

Combining TM1 and external data ​

Connected data is particularly useful when Planning Analytics contains planning, forecast, or aggregated information while supporting operational or detailed data is stored elsewhere.

A user can begin with a TM1 result and then ask SPACE AI to investigate related information in BigQuery, or start with external data and compare it with a Planning Analytics plan or forecast.

This allows the same conversation to move between model context, TM1 data, and external data while keeping the business question and previous analysis in context.

For TM1-specific querying and analysis, see TM1 data.

Comparing Planning Analytics environments ​

Multiple TM1 connections can also be used when investigating differences between Planning Analytics environments. SPACE AI can inspect information from the relevant connections and help compare model objects, logic, or data where supported by the available tools.

For lifecycle workflows designed specifically to compare environments and manage changes between them, see Releases and deployments.

Access and security ​

Each connected source retains its own authentication and access requirements. SPACE connection access determines which configured connections a user can use, while the permissions of the underlying system continue to apply when data is accessed.

IBM Planning Analytics and Google BigQuery connections can use SSO so users access connected data with their own identity and source-system permissions without providing their credentials to SPACE. For Planning Analytics, TM1 object and data security continue to govern what the user can retrieve. For BigQuery, the user's Google permissions continue to govern access when user-based authentication is used.

Service-account authentication can also be configured for supported non-interactive scenarios.

See Connections for connection administration and Access for SPACE access controls.