Real-Time Data in BPC

Real-Time data is required for some organizations for tactical Sales & Operational Planning, a good example is FMCG industry.

I have seen requirements in these scenarios,
- New customers added in source system, need to update daily or weekly sales plan NOW in BPC
- Competitive Analysis, need to update this to my sales force NOW
- Month-end, Quarter-end top-end adjustment entered, I have to finalize forecast NOW

There are two issues
1. How to get the data in BPC, and
2. How to collaborate-Real-Time

How to get the data in BPC

If you use SAP BW, you can achieve it with some effort. It's called 'Real-Time Data Acquisition'. This was available in BW 3.5 with restrictions, in BW 7.0 and later versions it got better. You can get Real-Time data from source system using this technology. This is not out of the box solution, customization's and development effort are required.

I am not aware if this can be achieved with BPC Microsoft version, would like to know if you have experienced with this.

How to collaborate-Real-Time

The limitation of BPC is, one has to refresh the report to see the Real-Time data.  In collaborative planning when a team member is updating plan data, others have to wait for their turn to update. When planning portfolio of products and customers, collaboration is slow.

I see a great potential if everyone can see the same data and collaborate Real-Time, just like this Google Drive Real-Time API

Do you have a requirement for Real-Time Planning in BPC?

SAP BPC NW Consolidations Movements in Flow or Account Dimension?

Whats the advantage of flow dimension over accounts?

In my experience is Flow makes things application complex, Account is relatively easier to report and manage.

Account movements are required for many Balance Sheet accounts- e.g. Cash, Fixed Assets. These movements are reported in financial statements in cash flow and disclosure sections.

I believe capturing movements in accounts is much efficient because

1. Reporting is much simpler, no need to remember which flows are valid for which accounts.e.g. Cash account do not need retirements, additions flows dimensions. 
2. If you have flow dimension, then users have to be careful ion which flow they enter data. Overload on Business User.

What's your take?

Profitability Analysis Using SAP BPC

Can I make my Profitability Analysis (COPA) Planning in SAP as simpler as my Cost center or Revenue Planning in SAP BPC?

Agile Answer: Yes, you can.

SAP BPC's design is based on an Amount (Keyfigure), whereas SAP COPA can have multiple value fields (Keyfigure's). 

How do you load the COPA multi-Keyfigure in BPC? The key word to use in your transformation file is MVAL.

Dimension =*MVAL(keyfiguretype1|dim_mem1||keyfiguretype2|dim_mem2||keyfiguretype3|dim_mem3)

For reporting, you need to expand this Dimension on same axis as your key figure.

Challenges with COPA data in BPC

1. I like COPA, but the only limitation for business users in planning scenarios is 'inflexible' layouts. Unlike BPC reports/input schedules, COPA reports/planning layouts have to be configured. Which means a IT resource is required.
2. Users can plan quantities (or revenue) and COPA  can derive the revenue(or quantity) based on standard price or other measures. To achieve similar results enhancements are required in BPC.
3. If you get past #2, now some users would like to copy BPC data to COPA. How do we do it? It’s a complex development with a BAdI.  

We have helped clients to clear all the above barriers to create COPA like scenario in BPC. Do contact us and we will be glad to help you.