Cross Topics

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to understand the innovations for Cross Topics

SAP Best Practices for SAP IBP 2411

The image showcases two screenshots from SAP, featuring user interfaces for supply planning and response and supply analytics. The left screenshot displays customer demand forecasting, while the right one highlights best practices for response and supply metrics, including forecast and sales order summaries.

Technical upgrade to product version 2411 of the SAP Integrated Business Planning solution

We've enhanced the SAPIBP1 sample planning area as follows:

  • Changed and simplified the default settings for demand sensing to make implementation easier.
  • Extended the time profile end date to 2035.
  • Created new lead time key figures for the IBP Best Practices - inventory planner analytics story.
  • Created new key figures to enhance the forecast error profile for inventory with more diagnostics outputs.

The preconfigured IBP Best Practices - Supply Chain Risk Analysis analytics story now contains a page that shows external risk data.

We've added a preconfigured OBP analytics story called IBP Best Practices - Response and Supply. This story is used in the following solution processes: IBP for response and supply - supply planning - OBP optimizer, IBP for response and supply - response planning, and IBP for response and supply - shelf life planning.

We've added a preconfigured Planner Workspace for supply planners. This Workspace is used in the following solution processes: IBP for sales and operations - supply Review - heuristic, and IBP for response and supply - supply review - TS-based supply optimizer.

We've enhanced the preconfigured IBP Best Practices - inventory planner analytics story with new charts to compare historical and actual lead times for transportation and production.

We've simplified the IBP for demand - demand sensing solution process.

The image shows a SAP interface for creating a new job titled Import Best Practice Analytics Stories. It includes a section for selecting sample analytics stories, listing specific IDs, analytics story titles, and associated business applications, with some items selected for import.

You like the preconfigured analytics stories delivered as part of the Best Practices, and you want to use them with your own planning area?

New in 2411:

  • New application job template: Import Best Practices Analytics Stories.
  • The source for the import is always a sample planning area such as SAPIBP1 or SAP7F.
  • The target planning area is your own planning area.

Restrictions:

To make sure that the copied analytics stories work as desired or only need to be adjusted slightly, the job checks several prerequisites.

The image depicts a unified planning process flow divided into Tactical, Mid-Term Operational, Short-Term Operational, and Execution stages, with specific planning activities and their relationships outlined in each stage. It includes processes related to financial, marketing, sales, demand planning, supply planning, inventory optimization, response planning, deployment, transportation, and execution, highlighting interactions between SAP IBP and external processes.
The image is an explanatory chart for SAP Best Practices in Integrated Business Planning for Supply Chain, detailing preconfigured content, best practices, and sample planning areas across various SAP scenarios like sales and operations, inventory management, and demand-driven replenishment. It includes available resources like the starter edition, planning views, test scripts, and analytics content, with hyperlinks for further details.

New Preconfigured Analytics Story: IBP Best Practices - Response and Supply

Webinars and Blogs

The image depicts an SAP Analytics Story dashboard for IBP Best Practices - Response and Supply, showing various metrics such as Forecast Constrained vs. Unconstrained, Sales Order Confirmation, and Projected Stock of Today. Charts display data on production, distribution receipts, and forecast summaries, divided by plant and location.
The image shows an SAP Analytics Story dashboard titled IBP Best Practices - Response and Supply. It includes several charts visualizing sales order confirmations, including confirmed in time versus requested, unfulfilled versus requested, and confirmed late versus requested, segmented by location, product group, and customer country/region.
The image displays a dashboard from the SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) platform, showcasing various charts related to transportation capacity. It includes bar graphs comparing capacity consumption versus available capacity for different resources and a pie chart illustrating the top capacity available from specific suppliers.
The image displays a screenshot of the SAP Planner Workspace interface for Supply Planners. Various workbooks and data visualizations of customer demand, including charts and tables, are shown, tailored to specific planning scenarios and regions.

SAP IBP Excel Add-In 2411

Enhancements for Local Members (SAP IBP Formulas): New naming and changed location

It is possible to create own formulas (local members) in a planning view in the SAP IBP, add-in for Microsoft Excel (Excel add-in).

Local members appear like key figures in a planning view, but they contain standard Microsoft Excel formulas and functions. By using local members, you can quickly add your own Microsoft Excel formulas on top of data from SAP IBP. Local members are specific to the planning view that they're created in and are saved together with the template or favorite.

With version 2411.2.0 local members are renamed SAP IBP formulas, as they appear like normal Microsoft Excel formulas in the planning view. However, there are some differences to normal Microsoft Excel formulas and how those are set up, especially when referring to specific SAP IBP objects that are included in the planning view, we recommend using SAP IBP formulas.

In previous versions, local members could be created and edited by using the Local Member tab in the Report Editor function. With version 2411.2.0, you can create and edit SAP IBP formulas (former local members) when creating new planning views on the new Formulas tab, which is included in the Create/Edit Planning View dialogs.

The image shows the Local Members tab in the Report Editor interface. It displays configurations for adding a Grand Total formula on the row axis and includes options to insert the total before or after other rows.
The image displays a software screen from an Edit Planning View interface where formulas can be created or edited. Two active formulas are listed: Time-based Total with the formula `=SUM(IBPDIMENSIONMEMBERS(PERIODID4))` attached to the Column Axis, and Grand Total with the formula `=SUM(IBPALLMEMBERS)` attached to the Row Axis.
The image shows a dialog box for editing a formula in a BI (Business Intelligence) software. The formula, named Time-based Total, calculates the sum of a specific period's dimension and is set to be attached to the column axis after existing data.

Create/Edit Formulas (2/3)

In the Create/Edit Formula dialog you can define the SAP IBP formula as you did previously in the Report Editor:

  • You can set the formula status to Active or Inactive. If it is set to inactive it won't be displayed in the planning view.
  • The ID is a technical ID and can't be changed.
  • Enter a name. The Name can be used, for example, to create a specific formatting rule for this SAP IBP formula. It is mandatory to insert a name.
  • Add a header (former Description). The Header is displayed in the header section of the planning view.

Optional: You can dynamically include the name of an outer member in the header adding a prefix or suffix to it, by selecting the respective checkbox:

For example, you can add Total of as prefix and no text as suffix to a formula that sums up the key figure values of one combination. If the attribute in the column to the left of the key figure column is Location Region, the outer member is dynamically replaced by the respective attribute value, and Total of EMEA, Total of APJ, and so on, are displayed.

The image shows a section of a user interface for creating or editing formulas, titled Create/Edit Formulas (2/3). It features a checkbox labeled Include Outer Member in the Header, along with input fields for Header, Outer Member, and Suffix, where the Header field contains the text Total of.
  • Insert the formula used to calculate the values.Optional: You can select the Use Microsoft Excel cell references checkbox. This way the Excel add-in only calculates the formula for the first cell of the SAP IBP formula in the planning view. For all other cells the formulas are replicated based on the formula in the first cell, using the Microsoft Excel relative references feature. It behaves as if you would manually click and drag the lower-right corner of a cell and move it over the other cells
  • Define the position in the planning view where the formula should be inserted:
    • You can attach it to a Member, Member Combination, Dimension, to the Column Axis or the Row Axis, or to another Formula. Use the value help to check which members, member combinations, dimensions or formulas can be selected.
    • Additionally, you can decide whether the formula should be inserted before or after the element that it's attached to or you can define a position (Insert: At Position) in the planning view instead. (Insert: At Position is only possible if the formula is attached to Dimension, Column Axis, or Row Axis.)
The image explains how to use value help to attach formulas to a specific member combination in an application. It shows the steps to select the axis where the member combination is located and then choose the values for the dimensions on the selected axis.

Restriction

It is generally possible to attach SAP IBP formulas to time totals and those will be visible when the planning view is opened. However, as soon as you log off and on again, or save the planning view as a template or favorite, then close it and open it again, the SAP IBP formulas will become invalid.

When SAP IBP formulas that are attached to time totals are created, a warning message is displayed to let the users know about this restriction.

The image shows a time settings configuration window where a user can select time periods, with options set for weekly rolling periods from CW34 M8 2024 to CW43 M10 2024. A member selection pop-up on the right lists specific weeks available for selection, such as CW34 M8 2024 through CW43 M10 2024.

When creating local members with previous versions of the Excel add-in, you could attach them to all members, member combinations and dimensions independently from which member, member combinations or dimensions are available in the active planning view.

If the selected element is not included in the planning view or if it is not located next to the data area, the local member isn't displayed.

To provide users better guidance and help them in choosing valid members, member combinations or dimensions, a value help as well as the validation of the formula settings are available when SAP IBP formulas are created or edited. This means, for example, that to be able to create a formula that is attached to a specific time level or time period, the time level or time period need to be included in the planning view or next to the data area. (This was not necessary in previous versions of the Excel add-in)

The image shows a software interface for editing planning views, specifically under the 'Formulas' section. An error message is displayed, indicating that the formula =IBPMEMBER([KEY_FIGURES].[].[STATISTICALFORECAST...] cannot be applied with the current settings, and a valid member needs to be selected.

Whenever users change relevant settings, such as time periods, attributes or key figures or if they adjust layout settings, the SAP IBP formulas are validated. If they are no longer valid, a warning icon is displayed on the Formulas tab in the Status column. Invalid formulas are not removed or cleansed, they just can't be applied to and displayed in the planning view. If the user undoes the relevant changes and the SAP IBP formulas are valid again, they will be applied and displayed again.

Please note: Those validations are only done if the formula status is set to active. If the status is set to inactive, no warning icon is displayed.

The image lists renamed functions in an Excel add-in as of version 2411.2.0. It shows a table with two columns; the left column lists the old function names (EPMMEMBER(), EPMTUPLE(), EPMSELECTEDMEMBERS(), etc.), and the right column shows their corresponding new names (IBPMEMBER(), IBPTUPLE(), IBPDIMENSIONMEMBERS(), etc.).

There are several functions (formerly called local member formulas) that can be used to define the SAP IBP formulas. Those functions are needed, for example, to reference SAP IBP members in the planning view. For more information, see SAP Help portal at SAP IBP Formulas and Attachments | SAP Help Portal.

Compatibility

Local members (SAP IBP formulas) that are included in existing planning view templates and favorites will be converted and will be available when you open them with Excel add-in version 2411.2.0 or newer

When a template or favorite that has been updated using version 2411.2.0 of the Excel add-in is opened by users who still use previous versions of the Excel add-in, the SAP IBP formulas included in the planning view template or favorite can be managed in the Report Editor, as before.

Important to know

When using New View > From Template… to open a planning view template that was last updated with a previous version, you can't directly adjust the SAP IBP formulas; the Formulas tab is grayed out. In this case, open the planning view and choose Edit View, and the tab becomes available and you can adjust the SAP IBP formulas as needed.

The Formulas tab is grayed out when the template you select to be opened, was last updated with an Excel add-in version lower than 2411.2.0. To make the Formulas tab available straight away when using New View > From Template…, please update your templates with version 2411.2.0 beforehand.

Options for formulas

The option Activate Recognition of Formulas (former Activate local member recognition) and the related option Use Position in Axis have been moved from the General tab in the Options dialog to the Formulas tab in the Create/Edit Planning View dialogs.

This has the following effects:

  • If you had these options selected in existing planning view templates or favorites, the options are also selected when you use Excel add-in version 2411.2.0 and newer, and the other way around.
  • In Options there is the possibility to select Set as Default to use the selected options as default when creating new planning views without a template. On the Formulas tab, it is no longer possible to set the options as default. By default, they are not selected when creating new planning views without a template.
  • The options are no further accessible by using the VBA APIs SetSheetOption and GetSheetOption.
  • It is no longer possible to set these options on a Microsoft Excel worksheet without creating a planning view.

The Delete Local Member function has been removed from the Options dialog. SAP IBP formulas can be deleted on the Formulas tab of the Create/Edit Planning View dialogs, if the user has the required permissions.

The image shows a spreadsheet from SAP IBP (Integrated Business Planning) with various statistical forecast quantities and their totals for specific calendar weeks. A warning dialog box from SAP IBP indicates that the user is about to update the Total formula because the setting for recognition of formulas is active, asking if they would like to continue.

When the option Activate Recognition of Formulas is set, the formulas are directly recalculated when you click into a cell in the planning view that belongs to a formula and change the value in the cell.

This means that the calculation of the formula can also be changed accidentally. To avoid unintended changes, a warning message is displayed if an existing formula is changed when formula recognition is active. Users can decide if they want to proceed with the changes

Please note: The planning view is refreshed in either case, and all changed key figure values are removed. Therefore, please make sure to use formula recognition only if you are used to the way that the function works and if you create formulas frequently.

Permissions

In previous versions of the Excel add-in, only users with Planning View Template (PV_TMPLT) permission of the restriction type Administration Functions, were able to access the Local Member tab in the Report Editor.

With this permission, the Template Admin group in the SAP IBP ribbon of the Excel add-in is enabled. This means that apart from managing local members in the Report Editor, users are also able to display and edit planning view templates. We don't recommend providing this permission to all business users.

With SAP IBP 2411, the new Formulas for Planning Views restriction type with the Formulas Operation Type restriction field is available is available in the restriction area General. The new restriction type belongs to the Basic Planning Tasks (SAP_IBP_BC_EXCEL_ADDIN_PC) business catalog. Using the new restriction type, write permissions for SAP IBP formulas can be provided to business users independently from the Planning View Template permission. You can do this by setting the value of the Formulas Operation Type restriction field to ALL or by granting Unrestricted Access.

By default, the value of the restriction field is set to ALL after the upgrade to SAP IBP 2411. If you do not want to make the Formulas tab and the related functions be available for specific users using Excel add-in version 2411.2.0 or newer, you need to change the value of the restriction field in the business role that is assigned to the specific user.

The Planning View Template permission is still used for the Template Admin group in the SAP IBP ribbon to be displayed as before.

The image shows the SAP Maintain Business Roles interface, specifically focusing on setting restrictions and values for Formulas Operation Type with options like Write, Read, and Leading Restriction. It also displays the permissions overview and access categories on the left, showing restricted write and read access for the SUPPLY role.

Enhancements for local members (SAP IBP formulas)Permissions

If the value of the Formulas Operation Type restriction field is set to ALL, the Formulas tab in the Create/Edit Planning View dialogs is displayed and SAP IBP formulas can be created, edited, deleted, activated, deactivated. In addition, formula options such as Activate Recognition of Formulas can be used.

Differently from previous versions, as of version 2411.2.0 the permission for Formulas Operation Type is needed to be able to use the automatic recognition of formulas in the planning view. If the option Activate Recognition of Formulas is selected for worksheets in a planning view template, users who open the template and do not have the respective permission, can't use the automatic recognition of formulas.

New Function to Display Product Assignments of a Combination: Details

As of version 2411.2.0, it is possible to display active product assignments for attribute combinations in your planning view directly in the SAP IBP, add-in for Microsoft Excel.

You can display product assignments for an attribute combination by right-clicking a cell of a combination in the planning view. The context menu is opened. Choose Open > Product Assignments to display the related product assignments in a Microsoft Excel side panel.

Prerequisites for using the context menu function:

  • You must have the business catalog Product Assignments Component (SAP_IBP_BC_PAS_COMP_PC) assigned.
  • Your planning view must include attributes that have been set as product assignment levels for the planning area in the Settings for Product Lifecycle app. For more information, see SAP Help Portal at Showing Product Assignments in Planning UIs.
The image illustrates a new Excel function for displaying product assignments within a combination of Statistical Forecast Quantity metrics. It features a hovering menu to select Product Assignments, leading to a detailed SAP IBP breakdown of product assignments for Headphones across various customers, including their Reference Product ID, Weight In %, and validity timeframes.

New function to display product assignments of a combination: SAP IBP panel

By default, the SAP IBP panel opens on the right side of the Microsoft Excel workbook, but you can move it to the left or to the bottom, as required.

The Excel add-in remembers where you place the SAP IBP panel; when you close the panel and open it again, the SAP IBP panel opens where it was before.

When you change the planning view settings or switch to another worksheet, the available attribute combinations might change. As a result, the panel is closed automatically and needs to be reopened, if needed.

Further SAP IBP specific functions are planned to be provided in the panel with future releases.

The image shows a Sharing dialogue box from a software application, likely Excel. It allows the user to select user groups for sharing, filtered by categories such as Demand, General, and Inventory, with a list of available groups and a section for selected groups.

As of Excel add-in version 2411.2.0, you can select user groups by their category, when sharing objects such as attribute-based filter, favorites, or scenarios.

If your user groups have been assigned to a specific category, you can use the category as a filter criterion when selecting user groups to share with.

By selecting the category (Unassigned), all user groups that do not have any category assigned are displayed.

The image shows the Create Master Data Workbook screen in a planning software, with options to select Master Data or Planning Objects under the General tab. The user has selected planning levels, version, week, and rolling options, and is informed they have permissions to edit planning objects for the chosen level.

With Excel add-in versions 2408, planning levels which contain characteristics-based planning (CBP) attributes as root attributes couldn't be selected when maintaining planning objects in master data workbooks.

This restriction has been removed as of version 2411.2.0. When you use CBP attributes as root attributes of your planning levels, you can maintain the related planning objects using the master data workbook in the Excel add-in.

The image shows a screenshot from SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) software, highlighting the selection of the EOQ and Service Level Calculation option under the Run dropdown menu. Additionally, a dialog box titled Run EOQ and Service Level Calculation Once is displayed, allowing the user to configure parameters for economic order quantity calculations and select different planning versions and scenarios.

The new EOQ and Service Level Calculation operator type is available in the Excel add-in.

For more information, see SAP Help Portal at Economic Order Quantity and Service Level Calculation

The image displays enhanced tooltips in a software interface, demonstrating various functions such as accessing help, saving data, and viewing master data types and planning levels for customer information. Key attributes and required attributes for the customer master data type and planning level are highlighted.

With version 2411.2.0, some tooltips have been enhanced, as follows:

  • The tooltip that includes information for master data types and planning levels
    • For master data types: the information of the specific type is displayed and the attributes are split into key attributes, required attributes, and others.
    • For planning levels: attributes are split into root attributes, attributes of time profile level, and others.
  • The tooltip that is displayed when you hover the cursor over the Help dropdown in the About group contains information in a more structured way.
  • Tooltips for the Save Data, Simulate and Refresh functions include information about the respective shortcuts.

Function for Updating Outdated Planning View Templates and Favorites

Planning view templates and favorites that have last been updated with a version of the Excel add-in older than 2111.2.0 can't be opened when using .NET Desktop Runtime 9 or newer. Therefore, we recommend updating them as soon as possible.

.NET 9 is planned to be released in November, 2024 and will only be supported for 18 months, so it can happen that you don't use it at all. However, when the support of .NET 8 ends in November, 2026 you will need to switch to version .NET 10 and will face the restrictions which were introduced with .NET 9.

In general, it is good practice to update your planning view templates or favorites from time to time for the following reasons:

  • To include new features that are only available with newer Excel add-in versions
  • To improve the performance when opening templates and favorites
    • Sometimes migration steps are done in the background when opening old templates with newer versions (for example the migration of old formatting settings to newer formatting settings)
    • As of version 2405.2.0 of the Excel add-in the size of the workbook is reduced when updating templates or favorites
The image shows a warning dialog box from SAP IBP, indicating that there are 76 planning view templates and 78 planning view favorites that need to be updated due to a compatibility issue with a newer version of the .NET framework. The user is given the option to update the templates and favorites now by selecting Yes or to postpone the update by selecting No.

With version 2411.2.0, a warning message is displayed when you log on, showing the number of outdated templates and favorites in your system and planning area that have last been updated with a version of the Excel add-in older than 2111.2.0.

You can decide whether you want to start the update process directly, which may take some time depending on the number of templates and favorites, or whether you start it the next time you are logging in.

It is possible to cancel the update process at any time. If you stop the process, you won't need to update the templates and favorites again for which the update was finished. You can update the remaining templates and favorites the next time you log on.

Function for updating outdated planning view templates and favorites: Permissions

To be able to use this function, you need to have write permissions for the Migration Planning View Templates and Favorites (IBP_WBMIGR) restriction type which belongs to the Basic Planning Tasks (SAP_IBP_BC_EXCEL_ADDIN_PC) business catalog.

In the restriction type, you can define the planning area and the workbook type (templates or favorites) for which the user should be able run the update process.

For administrators who have write access set to Unrestricted, the function will be available without the need to change the restrictions in the related business role.

Please note: If you only have the permission to update templates but not favorites, the message lists 0 favorites that need to updated, even if there could be favorites that need to updated in the system and planning area.

The image displays a section of the SAP interface, specifically the Migration Planning View Templates and Favorites permissions settings. The left panel lists various modules while the right panel shows options for setting restrictions and values for migration planning views.

Function for updating outdated planning view templates and favoritesImportant to know

Before updating your templates and favorites, please check if the new handling to reduce the workbook size works for all of your templates and favorites. If it doesn't, select the Keep planning view size when adding or updating templates or favorites checkbox, and update the templates and favorites manually. See the next slides for further details.

New Setting "Keep planning view size when adding or updating templates or favorites"

As of Excel add-in version 2405.2.0, the workbook size is reduced by default when templates or favorites are uploaded to the SAP IBP system. For more information, see What's New in SAP IBP 2405: Reduced Workbook Size When Adding or Updating Templates or Favorites.

However, the new way of uploading workbooks may cause reference errors if you have Microsoft Excel Formulas included in your planning view templates or favorites that reference specific cells in the planning view, or if you are using, for example, VLOOKUP() to gather information from a planning view and write it to an overview worksheet.

To mitigate this, the Keep planning view size when adding or updating templates or favorites checkbox has been added to Options under Settings in the About group.

The image displays the Options window of a software application with a General tab showing several settings. The highlighted setting is Keep planning view size when adding or updating templates or favorites, which is currently unchecked.

If you want to keep the planning view stable because you are using custom Microsoft Excel formulas that reference specific cells in the planning view, please select this checkbox for all relevant worksheets, before updating the respective templates or favorites.

This way, the planning view size is not reduced, and Microsoft Excel formulas keep working after the upload.

This setting is also available with version 2405.5.0 and version 2408.3.0 and newer.

You might consider the following options if you still want to have the advantage of the reduced workbook size:

  • Using SAP IBP formulas (formerly called local members) instead of Microsoft Excel formulas. You can convert your Microsoft Excel formulas into SAP IBP formulas, which are saved as part of the template or favorite: For more information, see SAP Help at SAP IBP Formulas.
  • Adjust your Microsoft Excel formulas to make them more robust. Instead of referencing a specific cell you could use the Microsoft Excel function INDIRECT(), or instead of VLOOKUP() you could use XLOOKUP().

New Prerequisite: NET Desktop Runtime 8

The support of .NET 6 ends November 12, 2024, see Microsoft .NET Support Policy, therefore we raise the required version of .NET Desktop Runtime for the SAP IBP, add-in for Microsoft Excel (Excel add-in).

To be able to install version 2411.2.0 or higher of the Excel add-in you need to have version 8.0.3 or higher of .NET Desktop Runtime installed. Microsoft already released .NET 8 in November 2023 and this version will further be supported until November 2026.

Older Excel add-in versions can also be used with .NET Desktop Runtime 8 (version 8.0.3 or higher), so please update the .NET Desktop Runtime version for your user base.

Additionally, Microsoft plans to release .NET 9 in November 2024. However, we do not recommend using this version of .NET Desktop Runtime yet. One reason is that templates and favorites that have been created with Excel add-in versions older than 2111.2.0 can't be opened any more if .NET Desktop Runtime 9 is used. Therefore, please make sure that you update the related templates and favorites by using the new admin function described in previous slides.

For all versions of the Excel add-in, we will adjust the prerequisites in SAP Note 2394311 - Version information for the SAP IBP, add-in for Microsoft Excel accordingly, and will let you know if they support .NET 9 Desktop Runtime.​

Please always make sure to check the version note for the Excel add-in version you are using before rolling out a new major version of .NET Desktop Runtime.

New Minimum Version for the SAP IBP, Add-In for Microsoft Excel

As part of the SAP IBP release 2411 we will raise the minimum version to 2305.2.0 (version six versions before 2411).

Please note: Since SAP IBP 2311 we are raising the minimum Excel add-in version with each release by one major version in a rolling manner. This means once SAP IBP 2502 is released the minimum required Excel add-in version will be 2308.2.0 and so on.

The image shows the minimum version compatibility table for SAP IBP add-in for Microsoft Excel, highlighting maintenance, compatible, and incompatible versions. The table indicates that versions 2211 (n-8) and 2302 (n-7) are incompatible, while versions 2305 (n-6) through 2411 (n) are compatible.

Maintenance: As before, Excel add-in versions are in maintenance and supported for 6 months after their release. This means that the current and previous versions of the Excel add-in are in active maintenance and will receive updates. In certain cases, depending on the urgency of the fix, updates will be only applied to the current version. 

Compatible: Users can use the current version or six prior versions of the Excel add-in. As a consequence, upgrading just once a year is still possible. Nevertheless, we propose a regular upgrade schedule to keep up with security, stability, performance and feature enhancements.

Incompatible: Affected versions of the Excel add-in are incompatible. The installation of a newer version is mandatory.

New minimum version for the SAP IBP, add-in for Microsoft Excel (2/2)

Mitigation:

  • If not done yet, download and roll-out a newer version of the Excel add-in to your user base.
  • Check in the Login Statistics for Excel Add-in app to see which of your users are affected and notify them to upgrade their Excel add-in in time.
The image shows a card for an add-in titled Login Statistics for Excel Add-in with icons representing statistics and user login. This suggests a tool or feature integrated with Microsoft Excel for monitoring and analyzing login statistics.

By using the global configuration parameter MINIMUM_ADDIN_VERSION you can let the system bring up a warning message each time a user logs on with a version older than the specified one. To do so, change the value of the parameter to, for example 2305.2.0. 

The image shows a configuration window titled Member Sorting and Grouping with options for enabling member sorting, setting sort order (ascending or descending), and grouping by property (ID). It includes fields for before and after group settings, creating a local member named After, and specifying a display name and formula.

With an upcoming version of the SAP IBP, add-in for Microsoft Excel, we plan to deprecate the Member Sorting and Grouping function in the Report Editor. Please make sure that you adjust your planning view templates and favorites in due time so that they use the alternatives that are already available instead of the deprecated functions. Planning views will keep working after the deprecation, but functions relying on the deprecated member sorting and grouping will no longer work.

You can use the following alternatives:

  • For member sorting, use other sorting capabilities, such as attribute-based sorting, and value-based sorting, as well as the sorting provided by Microsoft Excel.
  • For creating local members before or after groups set up local members in the new Formulas tab of the Create/Edit Planning View dialog or in the Local Member tab of the Report Editor, when using older versions of the Excel add-in.

Grouping and sorting of members based on properties is planned to be deprecated completely.

In the release in which we remove member sorting and grouping, we also plan to deliver new functionalities with which some of the existing capabilities of member sorting and grouping can be replaced more easily.

SAP IBP 2408: Changed Logic for Applying the Filter Criteria of the Advanced Filter

As of SAP IBP 2408, the advanced filter in the master data workbook returns a smaller, refined list in the following cases:

  • The master data type of the master data workbook is a simple master data type that has only one key attribute.
  • The attribute you enter as a filter belongs to a different simple master data type with only one key attribute.

When creating the filtered list, the system evaluates the compound master data types to which these simple master data types are assigned. Previously, compound master data types were not evaluated. The system just returned an unfiltered list with all records of the master data type for which you created the master data workbook. See SAP Help at Logic Used for the Advanced Filter.

Logic used for the Advanced Filter

The image shows the SAP IBP 2408 interface for creating a Master Data Workbook with an advanced filter applied. The filter is set to PRDID equals FG126, and the resulting customers (IDs 0037100001, 0037100002, 0062100001, 0062100003) are displayed with details like Channel, Country, Description, Group, and Region.

Example: In a master data workbook for the Customer master data type, you want to see only the customers to which a certain product is sold. So, you use the Product attribute as a filter.

Previously, the system would have returned all customers. As of 2408, the system evaluates the Customer Product compound master data type that is made up of the Product and Customer simple master data types and returns only the customers to which the product is sold.

Enhancements in the Planner Workspaces App 2411

The image shows the SAP Planner Workspace interface with a message: No workbooks added yet and an option to Add Workbook highlighted by a cursor. A note below explains that after creating a workspace, users can choose to add a workbook.

Adding and Replacing Content

We've streamlined the flow for adding workbooks and components to your Workspace. The following screenshots are guiding you through the changes.

You can only change the definition of the workbook in design mode. However, you can change the component definitions in plan and design mode.

The image shows a screenshot of the SAP Planner Workspace with a dialog box titled Add Workbooks / Variants overlay. The dialog box lists various workbook variants with options to select, add, or create new ones.
The image demonstrates adding and replacing content in SAP Planner Workspace, starting with a screen showing no workbooks added yet. It includes a pop-up window for creating a new workbook, where users can enter the workbook name, description, and variant name.
The image shows a SAP Planner Workspace screen with instructions to define filters before designing a workbook. It highlights selected product IDs (Headphones 110 X and Headphones 120 X) and a prompt indicating no components have been added yet.
The image shows a screenshot of the SAP Planner Workspace interface, specifically the My New Workspace section, with no components added yet. There is a prompt instructing the user to select Add Component to design the workbook.
The image shows a user interface of SAP's Planner Workspace with a pop-up window titled Select Component Type. The user is selecting Planning View from the options, which also include Analytics Chart and Master Data.
The image shows a window within SAP's Planner Workspace, specifically for adding a new planning view. The user can select or create an entity from a list of options, each showing details such as name, description, creator, change date, and write access.
The image shows an SAP Planner Workspace where the user can view and edit the Customer Demand workbook. A highlighted text box and arrow indicate that the name and description fields can be easily edited in the General settings panel.
The image displays an SAP Planner Workspace interface focused on customer demand data for different product groups and locations, highlighting various key figures over several weeks in the year 2024. A reminder to save the workspace is shown, with the Save Workspace button being pointed out for emphasis.
The image shows the SAP Planner Workspace interface with a focus on adding and replacing content in a workbook for product demand management. It highlights using the Replace Content option to exchange definitions in the Customer Demand view.
The image shows a screenshot of the SAP Planner Workspace with an overlay menu titled Replace with Planning View. A list of various planning views created by an individual is displayed, and the user is instructed to either navigate back to select another component type or choose a planning view from the list.
The image displays an SAP Planner Workspace with a dialogue box titled Select Component Type, offering options such as Planning View, Analytics Chart, and Master Data. It shows customer demand data for various headphones along with a side panel for configuring the data view.
The image shows an SAP Planner Workspace dashboard with a table detailing customer demand for various headphone products across different distribution centers and time periods. A prompt in the image instructs users to select the + button to add another component.

Previously, you could work with analytics charts that had been created in the Analytics - Advanced app in your Workspaces. Now, you can also create analytics charts directly in the Planner Workspaces app. When you add a new component to your workbook variant, select Analytics Chart and then choose Create.

There are several new options that you can choose from when you edit, and now also create, analytics charts, for example, regarding the axis or the value display.

The image demonstrates a screen from SAP's Planner Workspace where a user is instructed to select the Analytics Chart component type from a component selection menu. This selection will likely be used to create analytic charts to visualize data within the planner workspace.
The image shows a user interface for creating analytics charts in SAP Planner Workspaces. The instructions suggest selecting the Create button to generate a new analytics chart with options like Capacity Expansions and Demand Trend visible.
The image shows an SAP Planner Workspace interface where a user is creating an analytics chart for demand distribution. The user is defining the chart parameters on the right panel and is prompted to apply the changes to visualize customer demand across different segments such as Industry and Private Customers.
The image shows a screenshot of SAP's Planner Workspace, demonstrating how to customize a bar chart using the Options tab. The chart visualizes customer demand distribution across different customer group segments, with settings for axis formatting, reference lines, zoom, legend, and value labels displayed on the right side of the interface.
The image shows an SAP Planner Workspace screen with an active Create Task pop-up window overlay. The pop-up includes fields for Name, Description, Due By, Priority, and Additional Assignees, illustrating options for task creation related to reviewing the supply plan.

Enhancements for Tasks

Tasks are a powerful tool to engage with others. In the previous releases we added the possibility to access process-based tasks in the Planner Workspaces app. Your administrator can now enable the creation of tasks in the Planner Workspaces app for you, so you can create standalone tasks directly in your Workspace. Consequently, you can easily ask peers for support.

When you create a new task the current workbook including all workbook filters is then assigned to the task. If you select Additional Assignees the workbook including the filters will be shared with the receiving users. Please note that scenarios need to be shared manually. You can also choose to post a message in SAP Work Zone when creating a task. The tasks are also accessible in the collaboration tool you integrated with your SAP IBP system. Once one of the assignees sets the task to completed, the task will be displayed in the Completed section.

The image shows a workspace screenshot from an SAP software application with a task titled Review Supply Plan, which includes details like due date, priority, and assignees. Tables and figures for customer demand and receipts across different weeks and locations are displayed in the main interface.

Furthermore you can now edit group tasks that you created. You can, for example, change the name or due date and add or remove assignees.

The image showcases enhancements for tasks in an SAP workspace, featuring options to change workbook variants within the task details and assigned workbook. It also displays an interface for adding workbooks/variants, with a button to use the current workbook and filter.

When you work with process-related tasks in the Planner Workspaces app, you can now assign ad hoc filters instead of workbook variants to tasks. To do so, from the task details popup window, choose Change Workbook Variant. In the following dialog you can select Use current Workbook and Filter, instead of selecting a workbook variant. The current workbook including the filter is then assigned to the task.

The image shows a software interface with a task management popup detailing the Review Demand task within an SAP application, including information on priority, due date, assignment, and status, as well as a workbook and filters. The background displays a detailed table containing key figures related to customer demand and receipts across multiple weeks and locations.

You can now also navigate to process management from the task details to review the details of the associated process.

The image shows an SAP interface for managing tasks, specifically highlighting the Check resource capacities task with its details such as assignee, priority, due date, and linked objects. The left panel lists tasks, with various statuses and priorities, while the right panel provides detailed information about the selected task.

When using the Manage Tasks app, you can now also navigate to the Planner Workspace app to act on the appropriate task. For the navigation we consider all Workspaces, in which the Task tab is enabled. In case you marked Workspaces as favorites, we will consider those first. If there are multiple favorite Workspaces, that have the Task tab enabled, we will ask you to select the preferred Workspace from a list.

If you want users to be able to create tasks in the Planner Workspaces app, you need to enable it for their business role. To do so, in the Planner Workspaces (SAP_IBP_BC_PWSPACES_PC) business catalog, in the Planner Workspaces Functions restriction field of the General restriction area, select write access for the TASK_CUD value. Additionally you need to assign the Task (SAP_IBP_BC_TASKS_PC) business catalog to the relevant roles.

A screenshot from a software tool is shown, illustrating the creation of a formula named Deviation. The formula uses functions to handle null values and perform calculations between CONSENSUSDEMANDQTY and STATISTICALFORECASTQTY.

Additional Operators and Functions for Formulas

We've added new operators and functions for you to use while creating and editing formulas for your planning views.

Functions

Cell Reference: Previous Cell, Cell Shift

Logical: If, Is Blank, And, Or, Not

Math: Absolute Value, Modulo, Round, Round Up

Operators

+ - * / ( ) < <= > >= = <> Null

The image shows a conditional formatting rule setup for a Product Forecast key figure. It sets the font color and background for values that are not equal to 100% of those in the Product Group comparison key figure, applying these rules to both totals and detailed levels.

When you create and edit conditional formatting, you can now specify conditions to compare the values of a key figure or formula with another key figure or formula in the planning view. You can also choose to apply the conditional formatting for totals, non-totals, or both.

The image displays the SAP Planner Workspace interface on the Capacities tab, which includes a bar chart for capacity expansions and a table listing capacity supply and expansion details for various locations and time periods. The sidebar on the right shows filter options and general settings for the current view.

In the side panel for your planning views, you can now choose to highlight the key figure values that differ across the selected versions and scenarios. The highlight colors are predefined and you can't change them.

The image displays a capacity planning table for various resources in Plant Atlanta, detailing Capacity Supply and Capacity Supply Expansion percentages across different weeks in 2024. At the bottom right, it shows a count of 2, a sum of 80,000, and an average of 40,000 for the selected cells.

When you select two or more cells in a planning view, the number of selected cells, their sum, and average are now displayed in the footer of the planning view. If you select only cells that contain attribute values or the key figure name, just the count is being calculated.

Maximum Number of Totals

We've changed the default value of the MAX_SUB_TOTALS global configuration parameter from 0 to 3. This means that you can add up to three attribute-based totals to a planning view. If you prefer to keep attribute-based totals for planning views disabled, you must set the value of the parameter back to 0.

You can now export and import the following extension items in your system landscape:

  • Contextual navigations
  • Value-based sorting defined for a planning view
A screenshot shows the Edit Contextual Navigation interface for defining attribute mapping in contextual navigations. The Filter Behavior step depicts mandatory attributes and filters for the target component, with options for mapping source attributes to target attributes and navigation buttons for saving, returning to the previous step, or reviewing the setup.

Contextual navigations allow you to define attribute mappings to ensure that the navigation context filters the target component correctly. You can define the mapping for all attributes that are mandatory for the navigation, except the time period.

For example you can map the "Ship-From Location ID" to the "Location ID". By using the mapping you can ensure that the target component shows the desired data.

The image shows a four-step process for defining attribute mapping in contextual navigations, including tables with Key Figures for Consensus Demand, Transport Receipts, Capacities, and Bill of Material for a product (Headphones) across various weeks and locations. Each step analyzes different aspects of supply chain data such as customer demand, transportation receipts, resource capacity, and material requirements.

Attribute mappings allow you to navigate across your supply chain data, while hiding the complexity of the associated planning levels. Filters are being applied as part of the navigation, which impacts the usability and the performance in a positive way.

The image shows an SAP Planner Workspace interface highlighting alerts within My Workspace, with a total alert count and specific subscriptions listed. A warning pop-up indicates that the number of displayed alerts is limited to 2000.

As of this release, the alert count in the Planner Workspaces app is no longer calculated for custom alert subscriptions if the alert count is higher than the value that has been set for the MAX_ALERTS_PER_SUBSCRIPTION global configuration parameter. Instead, a warning is displayed for these alerts. The parameter got introduced because of performance considerations. Once the alert calculation exceeds the threshold, the calculation stops to free up hardware resources used to determine the alerts.

Consider adding a more restrictive filter to the custom alert subscription to reduce the number of alerts or to adjust the alert rule in the custom alert definition to reduce the number of alerts. For instance you can try another aggregation level, or aggregating the alerts across time periods.

The image displays a Planner Workspace in SAP with an alert subscription list highlighting various alerts such as Demand Disagg. Error and Demand Shortage. A warning message indicates that one of the subscriptions lacks attribute-based filters and prompts the user to add filters to the subscription.

We've introduced the new global configuration parameter FORCE_ALERTS_FILTER to restrict custom alert subscriptions that don't use any attribute-based filters in the Define and Subscribe to Custom Alerts and Planner Workspaces apps. After the upgrade, when you create or edit custom alert subscriptions in the Planner Workspaces app a warning is displayed asking you to add filters to your subscriptions. Furthermore the alert count is no longer calculated for subscriptions that don't have any attribute-based filters defined.

The global parameter works similar to FORCE_PLANNING_VIEW_FILTER. Consider to make use of those parameters to avoid long lasting backend requests.

Note that permission filters aren't considered by both parameters. If your permission filters are restrictive enough you can consider to not use this global configuration parameter.

New Global Configuration Parameter to Restrict Alert Subscriptions Without Filter

ValueEffect

MANDATORY

In the Define and Subscribe to Custom Alerts app: If you set this value, users must add filters to be able to save a subscription

In the Planner Workspaces app: If you set this value, users get an error when trying to create or work with custom alert subscriptions without attribute-based filters and can only save or resume working with such subscriptions after they've defined attribute-based filters for them.

WARNING

In the Define and Subscribe to Custom Alertsapp: If you set this value, the current behavior is retained: Users can create, edit, and display custom alert subscriptions even if they don't have attribute-based filters defined, but we recommend that users add filters for shorter response times.

In the Planner Workspaces app: If you set this value, the alert count is no longer automatically calculated for custom alert subscriptions without attribute-based filters. Users get a warning asking them to add attribute-based filters to their subscriptions, but can request the alert data when selecting the appropriate alert subscription.

NONE

In the Define and Subscribe to Custom Alerts app: If you set this value, the current behavior is retained: Users can create, edit, and display custom alert subscriptions even if they don't have attribute-based filters defined, but we recommend that users add filters for shorter response times.

In the Planner Workspacesapp: If you set this value, the current behavior is retained: Users can work with custom alert subscriptions even if they don't have attribute-based filters defined, but we recommend that users add filters for shorter response times.

The default value for the FORCE_ALERTS_FILTER global parameter is WARNING, but you can choose from three different values, depending on your specific needs. Refer to the following table for more information about the different values that are available.

The image shows the SAP Planner Workspace interface focused on statistical forecasting for headphones, including various forecast quantities and actual sales data for a specific customer and location. Additionally, a product assignments section details customer-specific reference product IDs and their respective weights in percentage.

You can now show active product assignments for attribute combinations in your planning views or analytics charts directly in the SAP IBP, add-in for Microsoft Excel and the Planner Workspaces app and no longer have to switch to the Manage Product Lifecycle app.

When you're in Plan mode, you can show active product assignments for data in your analytics charts and your planning views.

In a planning view, right-click a cell for which you want to show product assignments and from the context menu choose Show Product Assignments.

In an analytics chart, select a data point for which you want to show product assignments and in the popup window that opens, choose Show Product Assignments.

To enable this feature for users, you need to add the Product Assignments Component (SAP_IBP_BC_PAS_COMP_PC) business catalog to their business role.

The image compares the user interface changes between Release 2408 and Release 2411 of the SAP Planner Workspace, highlighting the differences in the workbook filter when expanded and collapsed. The header design and layout adjustments in Release 2411 show a more streamlined and organized look compared to Release 2408.

With release 2411 we refined the workspace header to provide more space to important controls. Below you see the impact of the changes.

A screenshot of the SAP Planner Workspace interface illustrating the scheduling of a statistical forecasting job. The window displays fields for specifying job parameters, including version, scenario, and forecast model, with options to use workspace values.

The Use Workspace Values action now allows you to pass ad-hoc filters. This is an improvement as previously only planning filters were considered. In addition you can pass the selected versions and scenarios.

The image shows a software interface with a floating side panel. The side panel is used to configure the planning view, displaying options for naming, version selection, time levels, attributes, and key figures like Customer Demand and Planned Receipts.

The Settings (side panel) allows you to adjust the definition of the selected content. The panel is now placed on top of the content instead of placing it next to the content. This has a positive effect on the performance as the content doesn't need to be re-rendered once the panel opens or closes.

Please note that there might be cases in which the side panel covers most of the component placed in the background. In this case you can make the required adjustments and close the side panel afterwards.

The image shows a user interface of a software application with a warning message highlighting the need for unique names. The user has entered the name Product Group Demand, but the system indicates that this name has already been used and suggests considering a different name.

Organization is half the battle. We want to support you keeping an overview across your content. Hence we inform you proactively when you are about to create a new entity while using a name that you already used before. Same is true when you try to rename an entity. As there may be reasons for proceeding, you can nevertheless create the entity without changing the name.

The image shows the configuration screen for managing navigation to other systems in SAP, specifically to PP/DS (Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling). It details how to specify the URL format, map dynamic and period attributes, including dynamic dates and their mapping to target dates, while highlighting features like adding source and target attributes.

The Manage Navigations to Other Systems app allows you to create navigations to other SAP IBP apps (e.g. the Projected Stock app) or to external sources (e.g. SAP GUI systems or Web-based applications). Previously, you were only able to pass the values of the selected planning combination. Now you can also pass time periods based on the selected cells.

In the period mapping, you can select the date format to use, the date that you want to send from SAP IBP to the SAP GUI system or Web-based app, the number of days the date is set back or forward, and the target date in the SAP GUI system or Web app. This allows users to select data for a specific time period, navigate to another system, and get insight into the data for the selected time period. During the navigation the start respectively end date of the selected time period are being passed. You can use any time period level from days up to years.

Process Management 2411

The image depicts a screen from the SAP software showing the Create Template Step interface for the 2411 S&OP Process EMEA. The user is creating a process-related task titled Consensus Demand Plan Creation and has the option to add multiple versions/scenarios to a workbook, with Upside Version already included and two more available.

We've updated the task creation dialog in the Manage Tasks and the Manage Process Templates apps to enable you to assign user-defined scenarios and more than one version of a workbook. You can do this either from the Planner Workspaces or the Manage Tasks app.

The image displays the Manage Tasks section of the SAP Planner Workspaces App, focusing on a Consensus Demand Plan task due in 4 days, which is not yet started. On the right side, under Linked Objects, it shows the assigned variant as Variant for Consensus Demand Plan Creation I.

If a workbook is assigned to a task, you can navigate directly to the Planner Workspaces app from the task details in the Manage Tasks app by clicking the assigned workbook variant.

The image displays a user interface for creating a standalone task in an SAP collaboration-enabled system. Key fields include task name, description, due date, priority, and assignees, with options to post to SAP Jam or SAP Build Work zone, designate a collaboration group, and link an object.

You no longer need a collaboration group to create a standalone task, even if the system is enabled for collaboration. This applies in both the Planner Workspaces and the Manage Tasks apps.

The image displays a Create Standalone Task form from SAP Jam/SAP Build Work, where users can enter details such as the task name, description, due date, priority, and assignees. A highlighted option at the bottom allows users to notify assignees of the task assignment.

The user who creates a group or shared task can now mark a new checkbox to specify that a notification is to be sent to the task assignees when a task is created. If you edit the task and add task assignees, they are also notified.

New Global Parameter to Restrict the Synchronization of Collaboration Groups

We've improved the security and performance of the collaboration tool integration with process management in SAP Integrated Business Planning for Supply Chain (SAP IBP). You can now restrict the synchronization of collaboration groups from collaboration tools (or from teams, plans, and buckets if the collaboration tool being used is Microsoft Teams) so that only certain tasks are shown in SAP IBP. You can control this behavior with a new global configuration parameter.

If you don't set this new parameter, all the collaboration groups and their tasks are synchronized back to SAP IBP. If you do set this parameter, the following applies:

  • Only tasks in the collaboration groups to which the user belongs and that are used in a process template or process instance will be synchronized back to SAP IBP.
  • Ad hoc tasks created in the collaboration tool that are not part of a process template or instance will be deleted from SAP IBP and not synchronized anymore.
  • If you have any collaboration groups that aren’t used in a process template or instance, but you want to synchronize them with SAP IBP, you can create a process template and add those collaboration group

SAP IBP1 Documentation 2411

Inventory Optimization

  • Enhancement to forecast error outputs
  • Enhancement to lead time key figures
  • New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation

Demand Planning

  • Removal of DemandSensingDailyDisagOpt forecast model
  • Removal of lag-based snapshot profile for demand sensing
  • Changes to auto-populated fields in extreme gradient boosting and demand sensing with gradient boosting algorithms
  • Changes to the default settings in demand sensing with gradient boosting algorithm
  • Add UOMTOID as root for PL DAYPRODLOCCUSTDSFULFILLUOMTO

Others

  • Change of four sample attributes to "non-negative values only"
  • Extension of time profile end date

Inventory Optimization: Enhancement to forecast error output (1/3)

Reason for Change

To enable forecast error profiles for inventory with more diagnostic outputs, include three placeholder key figures for these outputs.

For more information, see Updates to Forecast Error CalculationNew Key Figures for Forecast Error Calculation | SAP Help Portal

Steps

Refer to the sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

  1. Create new key figure IOFCSTBIASCALCULATEDIN:
The image shows a screenshot from an inventory optimization software module, detailing the IO Historical Forecast Bias Over Interval calculation. It includes settings such as aggregation mode, calculation definitions, and a version named PVSMID along with associated key figures.

Inventory Optimization: Enhancement to forecast error output (2/3)

Steps (continued)

  1. Create new key figure IOFCSTBIASUSEDINT:
The image shows a dashboard titled IO Forecast Bias Used Over Interval related to Inventory Optimization. It contains details such as base planning level, aggregation and disaggregation modes, calculation definitions, and versions with a specific calculation formula and planning version ID.

Inventory Optimization: Enhancement to forecast error output (3/3)

Steps (continued)

  1. Create new key figure OUTLIERPERIODINT :
The image shows a screenshot of an Inventory Optimization interface focusing on enhancing the forecast error output. It includes details such as characteristics, calculation definitions, and version information, with a specific formula for calculating the outlier period over interval.

Inventory Optimization: Enhancement to lead time key figures (1/4)

Reason for Change

To show more content in inventory optimization analytics, lead time key figures have been enhanced. For more information, see New Key Figures for Lead Time Analytics: | SAP Help Portal

Steps

Refer to sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

  1. Create new helper key figure HPHISTLEADTIMEUL:
The image displays a screen from SAP IBP (Integrated Business Planning) showing the lead time key figure HPHISTLEADTIMEUL with its calculation definition. The calculation uses the last value function to identify the historical lead time at a given product-location source level.

Inventory Optimization: Enhancement to lead time key figures (2/4)

Steps (continued)

  1. Add calculation PLEADTIME@CALWKPRODLOCSRC = AVG("PLEADTIME@WKPRODLOCSRC") to key figure PLEADTIME:
The image displays a section titled IO Production Lead Time from a software interface, including various configuration options like Characteristics and Calculation Definitions. It details settings such as edit permissions, aggregation mode, and specific lead-time calculations using functions like AVG and IF(ISNULL) for inventory optimization.

Inventory Optimization: Enhancement to lead time key figures (3/4)

Steps (continued)

  1. Create new key figure PLEADTIMEDELTAUL:
The image shows a configuration screen from a software application for Inventory Optimization, specifically focusing on the enhancement of lead time key figures. It includes calculation definitions, a planning version overview, and specific formulas used for production lead time input from UL Delta.

Inventory Optimization: Enhancement to lead time key figures (4/4)

Steps (continued - similar to step 1-3)

  1. Create a new helper key figure HTHISTLEADTIMEUL.
  2. Add calculation TLEADTIME@CALWKPRODLOCLOCFR = AVG("TLEADTIME@WKPRODLOCLOCFR") to key figure TLEADTIME.
  3. Create a new key figure TLEADTIMEDELTAUL.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (1/11)

Reason for Change

To be able to run the jobs to calculate the economic order quantity (EOQ) and service levels, create new key figures as input/output. In addition, create new operator profiles for the calculation of EOQ and target service levels. For more information, see Economic Order Quantity and Service Level Calculation: Economic Order Quantity and Service Level Calculation | SAP Help Portal

Steps

Refer to sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

1. Create new key figure PDEMANDRATEPERPERIOD:

The image depicts a screen from an inventory optimization software highlighting the Production Demand Rate Per Period configuration. It includes details like characteristics, calculation definitions, status, and administrative information related to key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (2/11)

Steps (continued)

2. Create new key figure PFIXEDCOSTPERORDER :

The image displays a screenshot of a software interface for inventory optimization, specifically detailing the Production Fixed Cost Per Order with various settings such as characteristics, calculation definitions, versions, and administrative information. A calculation definition is shown at the bottom, indicating how the fixed cost per order is averaged from another data source.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (3/11)

Steps (continued)

3. Create new key figure PHOLDINGCOSTRATEPERPERIOD:

The image depicts a software interface for Inventory Optimization, specifically focusing on the configuration and calculation definitions of the Production Holding Cost Rate Per Period. It includes various settings such as aggregation modes and disaggregation modes, along with a calculation formula displayed at the bottom.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (4/11)

Steps (continued)

4. Create new key figure TDEMANDRATEPERPERIOD:

Screenshot of a configuration screen from an inventory optimization system, detailing the Transportation Demand Rate Per Period. It includes characteristics like Edit Allowance, Aggregation Mode, and Calculation Definitions, which define how the transportation demand rate is averaged over the base planning level.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (5/11)

Steps (continued)

5. Create new key figure TFIXEDCOSTPERORDER:

The image displays a software interface for Transportation Fixed Cost Per Order in an inventory optimization context, showcasing characteristics, calculation definitions, and administrative information of the key figure, with fields such as aggregation mode, disaggregation mode, and proportionality. Calculation definitions include an expression for calculating the average fixed cost per order.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (6/11)

Steps (continued)

6. Create new key figure THOLDINGCOSTRATEPERPERIOD:

The image shows a data configuration screen for Transportation Holding Cost Rate Per Period used in inventory optimization, detailing characteristics, calculation definitions, and versioning information. It includes specific calculations and inputs associated with the holding cost rate using metrics like average and lead time.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (7/11)

Steps (continued)

7. Create new key figure INVENTORYUNDERAGECOST:

The image shows a screen from a software application detailing an Inventory Underage Cost parameter input for inventory optimization. It includes characteristics such as edit permissions, aggregation modes, calculation definitions, and other administrative information, with a focus on calculating the average underage cost within a specified planning group.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (8/11)

Steps (continued)

8. Create new key figure INVENTORYOVERAGECOST:

The image displays a screenshot of the Inventory Overage Cost section within a software interface, showing various settings and characteristics related to inventory optimization. The Calculation Definitions include a formula to calculate the inventory overage cost, using an average based on a specific parameter.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (9/11)

Steps (continued)

9. Create new EOQ and service level profile called "EOQ Production Sample"

The image shows a screenshot of an EOQ (Economic Order Quantity) production sample interface from an inventory optimization tool. It includes settings and input parameters for calculating the optimal production lot size, considering factors like planning level, demand rate, holding cost rate, and fixed order cost.

Inventory Optimization: New key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (10/11)

Steps (continued)

10. Create new EOQ service level profile called "EOQ Transportation Sample":

The image displays a sample screen for the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) Transportation calculation interface in an inventory optimization software. It includes parameters for calculation settings, input values such as demand rate and holding cost, and output values like the minimum transportation lot size.

Inventory Optimization: Create key figures and operator profiles for EOQ and service levels calculation (11/11)

Steps (continued)

11. Create new EOQ service level profile called "Service Level Sample":

The image shows a screenshot from an Inventory Optimization tool, specifically the Service Level Sample section under the Parameters tab. It details settings for service level calculations, including parameters like time profile level, calculation horizon, various cost key figures, and the target service level key figure.

Demand Planning: Removal of DemandSensingDailyDisagOpt forecast model (1/1)

Reason for Change

The DemandSensingDailyDisagOpt forecast model is no longer needed for the simplified demand sensing process. Now, the demand sensing with gradient boosting algorithms does both steps of the simplified demand sensing process.

Steps

Refer to sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

  1. Remove the forecast model: DemandSensingDailyDisagOpt.

Demand Planning: Removal of lag-based snapshot profile for demand sensing (1/1)

Reason for Change

Since the forecast signal is changed to "not specified" in the demand sensing with gradient boosting forecast model, the lag-based snapshot configuration for demand sensing is no longer needed in the demand sensing business process that is available as a sample.

Steps

Refer to sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

  1. Remove the FINALDEMANDPLANNINGQTYSNAP lag-based snapshot configuration.

Demand Planning: Changes to auto-populated fields in extreme gradient boosting and demand sensing with gradient boosting algorithms (1/3)

Reason for Change

To simplify and align the UI for statistical and gradient-boosting forecast models, in the Manage Forecast Model app, when you add either the extreme gradient boosting or demand sensing with gradient boosting forecast algorithms under the forecasting step, certain key figure fields no longer auto-populate.

For more information, see Changes to Auto-Populated Fields in Extreme Gradient Boosting and Demand Sensing with Gradient Boosting Algorithms: Changes to Auto-Populated Fields in Extreme Gradient Boosting and Demand Sensing with Gradient Boosting Algorithms | SAP Help Portal

Steps

Refer to sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

Steps (continued)

  1. In the Manage Forecast Model app, there are changes in the Extreme Gradient Boosting Algorithm (used in BestFit_Segment_AB and BestFit_Segment_C forecast models).
The image shows a configuration screen for Extreme Gradient Boosting in a demand planning tool, where users can set parameters like maximum number of trees, learning rate, and tree depth. It also includes sections for analyzing impacts on forecasts and setting independent variables for ordered and delivered quantities.

Demand Planning: Changes to auto-populated fields in extreme gradient boosting and demand sensing with gradient boosting algorithms (2/3)

Steps (continued)

  1. In the Manage Forecast Model app, for the Demand Sensing with Gradient Boosting Algorithm (used in DemandSensingGB forecast model), remove the key figure value for Ordered Quantity, Forecast and Forecast Snapshots. Only keep the key figure value for Delivered Quantity as highlighted below.
The image shows a screenshot of the Demand Planning interface related to changes in auto-populated fields for extreme gradient boosting and demand sensing with gradient boosting algorithms. It includes sections for algorithms, signals and impact analysis, and internal signals, highlighting the Delivered Quantity key figure.

Demand Planning: Changes to auto-populated fields in extreme gradient boosting and demand sensing with gradient boosting algorithms (3/3)

Steps (continued)

  1. In the Manage Forecast Model app, there are changes in the Demand Sensing with Gradient Boosting Algorithm (used in DemandSensingGB forecast model).
The image shows a section of a demand planning interface, specifically focusing on the Balancing and Open Order Matching configuration, with options like disabling balancing and setting baseline demand balancing periods. Additionally, it displays various key figures related to training model outputs and weekly diagnostic outputs.

Demand Planning: Changes to the default settings in demand sensing with gradient boosting algorithm (1/2)

Reason for Change

When creating forecast models that include the demand sensing with gradient boosting algorithm with the Manage Forecast Models app, some default values have been changed to better reflect the optimal settings.

For more information, see Changes to Default Values for Demand Sensing with Gradient Boosting Algorithm:

Steps

Refer to sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

Steps (continued)

  1. In the Manage Forecast Model app, there changes to the default settings in Demand Sensing with Gradient Boosting Algorithm (used in DemandSensingGB forecast model). Related changed settings are highlighted below.
  2. The image shows settings for the Demand Sensing with Gradient Boosting algorithm, highlighting changes in settings such as the Minimum Data Points set to 9 and the Outlier Multiplier set to 5. Additionally, it includes options for system-generated signals, such as considering calendar signals, change points, and trends, with some options checked and others unchecked.

Demand Planning: Change the default settings in Demand Sensing with Gradient Boosting Algorithm (2/2)

Steps (continued)

  1. In the Manage Forecast Model app, there are changes to the default settings in Demand Sensing with Gradient Boosting Algorithm (used in DemandSensingGB forecast model).
The image shows a Demand Planning settings form for changing the default settings in Demand Sensing with a Gradient Boosting Algorithm, including options for daily disaggregation and selecting workdays. It features fields for daily average calculation horizon, daily disaggregation input, and balancing and open order matching settings, along with checkboxes for selecting workdays from Monday to Sunday.

Demand Planning: Add UOMTOID as root for PL DAYPRODLOCCUSTDSFULFILLUOMTO (1/1)

Reason for Change

UOMTOID has been added as root attribute to the DAYPRODLOCCUSTDSFULFILLUOMTO planning level to enhance the UOM conversion.

Steps

Refer to sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

  1. Add UOMTOID as root for PL DAYPRODLOCCUSTDSFULFILLUOMTO:
The image displays a Demand Planning configuration screen, specifically adding UOMTOID as the root for the planning level DAYPRODLOCCUSTDSFULFILLUOMTO. It highlights attributes including XYZID, XYZLOCKED, TIMESERIESPROPERTY, UOMTODESCR, and UOMTOID, with UOMTOID marked as the selected target Unit of Measure (UoM).

Others: Change of four sample attributes to "non-negative values only" (1/1)

Reason for Change

Non-Negative Values Only has been set for the BACKWARDPERIODS, FORWARDPERIODS, BOUNDARYID, and DIRECTIONID attributes since this is required to be able to use the IBP_CONSUMPTION simplified key figure function. Activating planning areas that use the IBP_CONSUMPTION function is only possible if this condition is fulfilled.

Steps

Refer to sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

  1. Attributes BACKWARDPERIODS, FORWARDPERIODS, BOUNDARYID, DIRECTIONID are set to "non-negative values only":
The image shows an attribute configuration labeled Number of Backward Consumption P with the internal name BACKWARDPERIODS. It specifies that the data type is INTEGER and only allows non-negative values as indicated by Non-Negative Values Only: Yes.

Others: Extension of time profile end date (1/1)

Reason for Change

The end date of the time profile that is assigned to the SAPIBP1 sample planning area has been extended to the end of year 2035.

Steps

Refer to sample planning area SAPIBP1 for the changes below:

  1. Change the end date to 31.12.2035:
The image displays a time profile configuration for SAPIBP1 with various levels, including Day, Week (technical), Week, Month, Quarter, and Year. Each level specifies the base level, period type, default display horizons in the past and future, along with assigned attributes.

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