SAP BPC - SAP® BusinessObjects™ Planning and Consolidation

 
SAP BPC - SAP® BusinessObjects™ Planning and Consolidation (formery OutlookSoft) is the leading enterprise performance management solution for businesses of all sizes.
 
 
 

 
It is the first and only unified planning and consolidation application that that is designed to be owned and maintained by business users and directly leverages your investment in SAP and other applications.
 
Familiar and easy to use
Increase user adoption and reduce reliance on IT with a solution that is designed to be owned and maintained by business users.
 
Process-centric
Rapidly adapt to changing market conditions with an application that allows you to quickly model different scenarios and reforecast
 
Unified
Save time and reduce errors with a single, integrated solution for planning and consolidation
 

SAP BPC Value

Reduce cycle time in creating and approving plans, budgets and forecasts by enabling business managers to collaborate.
 
System automated tasks:
Data Collection: system automates all data collection to central database reducing effort in managing process
Aggregation/Consolidation: data is automatically aggregated through multiple alternate dimensions and hierarchies reducing effort in summarising data
Process Management: users are systematically guided through processes which provides guidance on activities to complete; automated validation of data prior to submission; and control of submission of, approval and locking of approved data.
 
In a typical spreadsheet based data collection process, the vast majority of management time is consumed performing zero-value physical collection activities.
 
 
Improve planning and forecasting accuracy via a unified, agile solution that supports rapid reforecasting and standard business processes.
 
System Controls:
Data Management: plan / forecast data is input directly to the system by the owners of that data resulting in elimination of risk in transcription which results in reduced ability to manage effectively.
Integration: data is automatically loaded to the system for standing data (e.g. standing information on existing employees) actual historic data relating to them (e.g. salary and benefit data) eliminating data transcription errors.
 
In a typical spreadsheet based data collection process, data is manually reproduced multiple times resulting in incremental loss of accuracy as errors are introduced.
Agile Solution:
Comparative Analysis: multiple versions and unlimited comparability ensures users can establish plans etc. from a properly informed starting point
Iterative modelling: by facilitating multiple user controlled versions it is possible for users to evaluate best case, worst case, most likely outcomes and choose appropriate version for submission
Top Down Modelling: targets, alternate scenarios and plans can all be easily evaluated using top down models which are able to cascade information throughout the business
 
In a typical spreadsheet based system, users are unable to create scenarios, compare alternate outcomes and evaluate best options.
 
 
Empower business users to own and modify common business processes without IT assistance via a solution they can maintain themselves.
 
Application Management:
 
Business Models: facilitates centrally controlled models which the business owns and manages without the need for large manual efforts to align models across the business

Standard Logic: business rules, organisation structures and central assumptions are all updated once, centrally and automatically impact relevant users without the need for re-planning
In a typical spreadsheet based system, users are unable to flexibly develop or adjust their models without a very significant investment in management time.
 
 
Increase business user productivity with native access to familiar tools such as Microsoft Office.
 
Skills and Knowledge:
User Interface: capitalising on Microsoft Office as one of the standard interface options, business users are able to use the applications with very little training
Microsoft Excel: typically the first thing people do with data from reports and other systems is to paste it into Excel for manipulation.  By using Excel as a standard interface, users are able to manipulate their data for presentation purposes while benefitting from access to live data, dynamic control of structures and security provided by the application
In a typical spreadsheet or proprietary system, users struggle to learn all of the different option or to be able to see data the way they want it and so, typically take data offline to be able to analyse and present it the way they want.
 
 
Minimise business and compliance risk by enabling transparent reporting with a unified data model
 
Data and Metadata Control:
Security: a comprehensive security model ensures only authorised users can access the system, can perform specific tasks and can access data, all of which is manageable at a highly granular level
Data Integrity: System controls prevent users from corrupting data which they should not be able to update and can provide validation ensuring submissions are valid at the point of submission
In a typical spreadsheet or proprietary system, users often change sheet structures, enter invalid data resulting in additional management issues for reconciliation and control.

 
Additionally, evidence from many analyses of spreadsheets indicates that 100% contain systemic errors which compromise their integrity.
 
 
 
SAP BPC is available in versions for Microsoft and for NetWeaver.  For further information call us on +44(0)20 7117 8501 or email info@opalwave.com.