Efficient financial planning with SAP Analytics Cloud
GG Group, a leading company in manufacturing cables and wiring harnesses, especially for the automotive industry, was faced with the challenge of improving its existing planning solution.
Initial Situation & Solutions
Until now, financial planning and reporting was done using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint as well as SAP-BW downloads. This led to complex linked documents and tables that had to be created with high effort and a risk of error. At the same time, it made it difficult to be flexible for monthly management reporting, for example when creating different scenarios or analysing during the planning phase. To counteract these challenges, the decision was made to implement a new planning solution.
The goal was to become more flexible, improve user-friendliness and ensure seamless integration with the SAP R/3 system. In order to achieve the set goals, GG Group opted for the SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC). The decision was based on a deep-dive pre-project in which a fit-gap analysis of the processes and requirements was carried out.
It turned out that the Business Content developed by SAP and delivered free of charge was already highly compatible with the GG Group‘s requirements in many areas. In those areas where adaptations were required, SAC offered the necessary flexibility to meet individual needs.
Challenges
During the implementation, there were some minor challenges. The business content for financial planning provided by SAP was prepared for S/4HANA as the base system, while GG Group had not yet switched to S/4HANA at that time. As a data hub for master and transaction data, the existing SAP BW system could be used more easily than expected. The integration of the cloud tool into the existing IT landscape could be realised just as easily.
Solution
The implementation of SAC was performed in three phases and was based on a roadmap that emerged from the results of the Deep Dive project. A clear advantage was that the consultants from msg Plaut were involved from the earliest phase of the deep dive project and their knowledge of the SAP Business Content enabled a rapid and efficient implementation.
In the first implementation phase, the financial statement planning of the legal units including the consolidation at group level was implemented. In parallel, management reporting was set up and made productive in SAC. In the current project phase (2023), revenue and sales planning as well as OPEX planning with rule-based project and intercompany accounting will be realised. The final project phase provides product cost planning, investment planning and HR planning based on SAP Success Factors and completes the integrated corporate planning.
Benefits
One significant advantage is the integration of SAC into the existing SAP ERP system as well as the seamless linking of planning, forecasting, actual reporting, and presentation. With SAC, an efficient and consistent database was created. The flexibility of SAC proved to be a major plus point, as the tool was both easy to administer by the specialist department and easy for users to learn. Training requirements were manageable for both standard and power users. The successful implementation of SAC has optimised planning and reporting processes, provided accurate forecasts, and put GG Group‘s decision-making on a solid footing.