SAP BPC on SAP BW/4HANA and SAP BPC on SAP S/4HANA

SAP customers have multiple options when it comes to planning with the latest release of SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) 11.0, version for SAP BW/4HANA and the availability of SAP BPC 10.1 optimized for SAP S/4HANA. Attend this Q&A for answers to your most pressing questions on the key features functionality of the two deployment options.

Reporting & Analytics 2017 speaker Scott Cairncross answered questions on SAP BPC solutions for SAP BW/4HANA and SAP S/4HANA.  Specific questions about features, functionality, and migration included:

• Are there any tools to migrate classic SAP BPC and SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW) functionality such as InfoCubes to SAP BW/4HANA and SAP BPC 11.0?
• Could you comment on Business Add-In (BAdI) use and performance comparisons?
• Is SAP BPC 11.0 again an embedded version?
• How will SAP BPC 11.0 be integrated with SAP HANA?
• What is the difference between SAP BPC 10.0/10.1, versions for NetWeaver standard version and SAP BPC 11.0?
• What is available with SAP BPC if we go to SAP HANA only for the database?

Scott will be speaking at Reporting & Analytics 2017 INTERACTIVE, November 29-December 1 in Las Vegas.

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Matthew Shea:

Welcome to today’s Q&A on the latest features and functionality of SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (SAP BPC) on SAP BW/4HANA and SAP BPC on SAP S/4HANA. I am excited to be joined by TruQua’s Scott Cairncross, who will be answering your questions today.

Muhammad Javed:

Is there any training course code released by SAP for SAP BPC 11.0?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Muhammad,

Surely, there is an early knowledge training (EKT) course delivered by SAP at EKT_BPC4H00CONS. This course is available on the learning hub and essentially covers the newer features of SAP BPC 11.0.

The SAP  help site has a great deal of good information as well. However, the EKT course is the only formal one from SAP thus far.

Cheers, Scott

Selva:

Are there any tools to migrate classic SAP BPC and SAP Business Warehouse (SAP BW) functionality such as InfoCubes to SAP BW/4HANA and SAP BPC 11.0?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Selva,

Thanks for your question. So, yes, there is a conversion program delivered to migrate SAP BPC standard models into SAP BPC for SAP BW/4HANA.

First, you begin with the UJBR tool and back up your SAP BPC 10.1 AppSet and restore it into your SAP BPC 11.0 system. Next, you would run this program, UJT_MIGRATE_101_TO_BPC4.

For migrating classic SAP BW to SAP BW/4HANA, there are a number of tools that help facilitate the conversion of traditional InfoProviders to the newer ones supported within SAP BW/4HANA (ADSOs and CompositeProviders).

The Database Migration Option (DMO) tools will assist with the database migration, and the migration tools inside SAP BW 7.5 will assist with getting everything set up for an in-place migration of SAP BW.

Unfortunately (as of now), there is no migration tool for the SAP BPC embedded version.

For more information, go to https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2531382 (Login is required).

Cheers, Scott

Warren:

Could you comment on Business Add-In (BAdI) use and performance comparisons?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Warren,

Just as in most SAP implementations — whether they are for  ERP, SAP BW, or SAP BPC — there are a great deal of extensibility options. The fact that as of SAP BPC 10.1 on SAP HANA, you have the ABAP-Managed Database Procedures (AMDP) framework to push down the data-intensive operations into the SAP HANA layer, performance is greatly improved.

With SAP BPC 11.0 and the conversion of InfoCubes to planning ADSOs for both the embedded and standard models, there is a big performance boost surrounding reading and writing data to the database. In addition, SAP BW/4HANA is a much leaner server than a traditional SAP NetWeaver server.

Cheers, Scott

Ashwin Kulkarni:

Is SAP BPC 11.0 again an embedded version?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Ashwin,

Thanks for the question.

SAP BPC 11.0 supports both the embedded and standard models of the product. In fact, SAP BPC 11.0 has some fantastic enhancements of the embedded model specifically around embedded consolidations.

So, yes, the SAP BPC embedded model is supported in SAP BPC 11.0 and so is the SAP BPC standard model.

Cheers, Scott

Ashwin Kulkarni:

How will SAP BPC 11.0 be integrated with SAP HANA?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Ashwin,

SAP BPC 11.0 is more integrated now with SAP HANA because it is leveraging SAP HANA objects. The SAP HANA integration has been redefined a bit on the SAP BPC standard side. Specifically, as of Support Package 01, there are a number of SAP HANA optimization parameters, such as ENABLE_ACCELERATOR, ENABLE_DISAGGREGATION and ENABLE_NATIVE_HAHA_MODEL, all of which are enabled by default.

On the SAP BPC embedded side, the integration with SAP HANA was already very deep (via the Planning Application Kit [PAK]), and the Planning Processor and more and more functionality are pushed to the database.

Cheers, Scott

Ashwin Kulkarni:

What is difference between SAP BPC 10.0/10.1, versions for NetWeaver standard version and SAP BPC 11.0?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Ash,

The key features are:

• A new SAP Fiori-esque front end
• New consolidations features for the embedded model
• Strict use of SAP HANA/SAP BW objects (ADSOs, CompProviders). SAP BW/4HANA supports only these objects;, there are no more InfoCubes.
• Integration with SAP Analytics Cloud. This is huge for hybrid implementation scenarios
• Better (and faster) integration options with the SAP BW/4HANA acquisition layer using Operational Data Providers (ODPs)

Cheers, Scott

Guest:

What is available with SAP BPC if we go to SAP HANA only for the database?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi,

If you are using SAP BPC and move to SAP HANA for just the database, but don’t upgrade to SAP BW/4HANA, you are then most likely using either SAP BPC 10.0 or 10.1.

You would simply continue using those versions of the product. If you were on a prior version, such as 7.5, you should seriously upgrade as soon as possible as this product is going out of maintenance.

So, in summary, if you are just performing a database upgrade, you should be just fine. Ensure that your version of SAP BPC is supported on the SAP BW version you are moving to (if you are updating SAP BW as well); otherwise, this is a database migration that you would use the DMO tool for.

Cheers, Scott

Muhammad Javed:

What are the deployment options for the existing customer from SAP BPC 10.1 standard to SAP BPC 11.0?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Muhammad,

The deployment options are to use either the standard or the embedded model. As you are already on the standard version, you could simply update this or you could reimplement on the embedded version if you have a valid business case to do so.

There is also the hybrid scenario with SAP Analytics Cloud that I mentioned in a previous post. Using SAP BPC standard and SAP Analytics Cloud together is a great way of rolling out planning to a broader audience beyond finance.

Cheers, Scott

Raheez:

Can we take a backup of SAP BPC 7.5 and 10.x versions and restore them in this version?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Raheez,

Yes, you can. This is detailed in the following SAP Note.

https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2531382 (Login is required)

Cheers, Scott

Angie:

What about old SAP BW Integrated Planning (BW-IP) planning applications? Is it possible to migrate them? Can the migration be completed without additional effort? Is it necessary to implement specific “on-top development” on the old applications?

Scott Cairncross:

Hello Angie,

Yes, this is possible and many folks are doing this. Specifically, we are seeing a lot of companies with SAP BW-IP upgrading to the SAP BPC embedded model and broadening the use beyond just planning to financial consolidation as well. With the great features in SAP BPC 11.0, specifically in the embedded model, this is a good version to target for those interested.

As with any implementation, however, there is an effort required. So there would be a project. You would want anyway to enable some of the newer features and ensure you updated your reporting front ends as well.

Cheers, Scott

harryfun77:

Would SAP BPC on SAP BW/4HANA have support for both the standard and embedded versions of SAP BPC?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Harry,

Yes. Both the embedded and the standard versions are supported.

Cheers, Scott

Mauricio:

I understand how these two products are different versions and the platforms they run on top of, but from a features and functions point of view, how are SAP BPC on SAP BW/4HANA and SAP BPC on SAP S/4HANA different?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Mauricio,

SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA is a combination of three things:

• The SAP BPC embedded model and content
• Predelivered SAP HANA models and content
• Predelivered SAP BW models and content

SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA does not have a standard model, so that is one key difference. SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA is using predelivered models that are connected directly (for the supported scenarios [i.e., cost center planning to the underlying Universal Ledger (ACDOCA).

SAP BPC for SAP BW/4HANA is a sidecar or standalone planning and consolidation system.

So from a features and functions perspective, there is no standalone model, and therefore, none of that functionality unique to that model type is available in SAP S/4HANA. However, you have the full features and capabilities for the SAP BPC embedded model with predelivered data models and planning content to facilitate an implementation.

The biggest draw customers are compelled by is real-time actuals in their plans and the RTC (Real Time Consolidations) functionality that  comes with SAP S/4HANA 1610.

Cheers, Scott

Andreas Lecke:

When will version 11.0 be available for SAP S/4HANA Enterprise Management, or is this not intended (and this version stays a pure SAP BW/4HANA product)?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Andreas,

This is not intended. My understanding is that SAP (at least currently) does not intend to have SAP BW/4HANA as the underlying SAP NetWeaver platform for SAP S/4HANA. Therefore, SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA will continue to have more and more content for scenarios that SAP sees demand for, and SAP BPC for SAP BW/4HANA will be the generic planning platform for other scenarios.

Cheers, Scott

Chandu:

Could you share the latest cloud options, along with any licensing information on SAP S/4HANA overall, for various components?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Chandu,

Yes, SAP BPC for SAP BW4/HANA is available in private cloud instances by Amazon and Azure, among others. There are supported scenarios listed on the Amazon Web Services and Azure sites.

Managed application services would obviously be a separate thing altogether, and you would want to speak with either an SAP representative or your partner regarding this issue.

Cheers, Scott

Guest:

Are both SAP BPC on SAP BW/4HANA and SAP BPC on SAP S/4HANA backwards compatible with earlier versions of SAP BPC and tools built to work with those earlier versions? I asssume this compatibility is not 100 percent, so what limitations or issues should be expected?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi,

There is an SAP Note on limitations with SAP BPC 11.0:

https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2472541 (Login required)

This doesn’t really answer your entire question, though. If you have an SAP BPC embedded (BW-IP) or SAP BPC standard implementation and are live and happy, you can upgrade and use SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA (embedded only) or SAP BPC 10.1, respectively, if you wanted to use one of these solutions as the data object types are the same.

There are always potential hiccups, but those are very implementation specific.

Cheers, Scott

Gabriel:

Hello, regarding SAP BPC on SAP BW/4HANA, do you know if the retraction to SAP ERP Central Component (ECC) is still supported ? Or do you anticipate any new feature regarding write back to ECC? Thank you.

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Gabriel,

The retraction framework is still supported.

I don’t foresee that many changes with retraction; however, SAP could do something here, but I wouldn’t imagine so. For customers wanting tighter ERP integration, the thought is really to move to SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA.

With the introduction of ACDOCP, planning data is meant to be read by traditional ERP transactions or their new SAP Fiori counterparts. So, in essence, there would be no need to move data around.

Cheers, Scott

Ravi Kumar Garre:

I’m curious to know SAP’s strategy on planning ? Will SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (SAP APO) continue? With SAP Integrated Business Planning on SAP S/4HANA as a future flagship ERP product, how is SAP envisioning a plan to rationalize SAP APO, SAP BPC and SAP Integrated Business Planning?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Ravi,

SAP is launching a new Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) roadmap at SAP TechEd; however, I am sure that there will be a big emphasis on SAP Analytics Cloud and the planning capabilities there with SAP BPC 11.0 for standalone scenarios and SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA for folks who want deep ERP integration.

Regarding SAP APO, I don’t think that’s going away any time soon. I talk about the flow of planning data through an organization’s process that touches on these different applications: SAP APO, SAP Integrated Business Planning for supply chain management (SCM), and SAP BPC in conjunction with SAP Analytics Cloud.

Cheers, Scott

harryfun77:

I understand that SAP BPC optimized for SAP S/4HANA gets real-time actuals. Will SAP BPC for SAP BW/4HANA be able to replicate this?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Harry,

SAP’s technology is very extensible for sure. So you could replicate real-time actuals in SAP BW/4HANA with SAP Landscape Transformation Replication Server (SLT) replicating the relevant actuals into SAP BPC for SAP S4/HANA. However, this is all your own development work that you would have to do. The SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud licensing would be needed as well to make use of SLT.

Is it doable? Yes, but you get so much already out of the box with SAP BPC for SAP S4/HANA, so unless you simply aren’t moving to SAP S4/HANA any time soon, I am not sure how much sense that would make.

Cheers, Scott

Muhammad Javed:

If a customer is running SAP BPC 10.1, standard, and the customer is  going to adopt the SAP BW/4HANA model, will the SAP BPC existing solution (SAP BPC 10.1, standard) be migrated or rebuilt?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Muhammad,

https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2531382 (Login required)

The above SAP Note outlines this process; however, the short answer is you would use UJBR and the migration program UJT_MIGRATE_101_TO_BPC4 to achieve this.

Cheers, Scott

Jeevan:

Hi, Are SAP BPC modelling and reporting the same as SAP Integrated Business Planning or are any changes necessary?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Jeevan,

The trend as you know has been that many of the SAP BW functions are moving into Eclipse. This has not changed, so for the SAP BPC embedded model, many of the modeling activities would continue to be performed in Eclipse.

For the SAP BPC standard model, the modeling environment is still very similar to SAP BPC 10.1. The key difference is that the user interface has gotten an overhaul and update to make it more SAP Fiori-esque. The SAP_BELIZE theme is leveraged to give it the same feel you would have in SAP S/4HANA.

Cheers, Scott

bsp.co.usa:

With SAP BPC 11.0, can we now use standard analytical cubes of SAP BW4/HANA?

Scott Cairncross:

Hello,

You will no longer use InfoCubes in SAP BW/4HANA.

Thanks, Scott

Anitha Peddu:

I am trying to upgrade SAP BPC. Do you have any recommendations?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Anitha,

I would start by reading the Master /Upgrade and Installation guides on the help.sap.com site for the version you are upgrading to. If your target version is, in fact, SAP BPC 11.0, here is the link to that splash page:

https://help.sap.com/viewer/product/SAP_BPC_VERSION_BW4HANA/11.0.1.0/en-US

Cheers, Scott

Christoph:

Hi Scott, do you think there is still a use case for SAP BPC standard configuration on SAP BW4/HANA (compared with the embedded model)?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Christoph,

Thanks so much for your question. It is a good one. I believe that there is a use case for both versions still. My benchmark is whether or not SAP is still developing new releases. SAP BPC standard and embedded models both have SAP BPC 11.0. So there is a future with new functions.

In addition, there are features for both the standard and embedded models. The standard model has some of the key integration with SAP Analytics Cloud right now, such as bidirectional delta integration. SAP Analytics Cloud is hugely strategic for SAP, so this shows us that there are legs still.

In addition, the SAP BPC embedded model is the platform for SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA, so this tells us they are simply two viable versions with different use cases.

Hope that helps.

Cheers, Scott

Travis Lehn:

What are the biggest challenges you are seeing right now with implementing SAP BPC optimized for the SAP S/4HANA version compared with the standalone SAP BPC version?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Travis,

The biggest challenge is just having completed SAP S/4HANA. You can implement SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA and SAP S/4HANA at the same time, but this just makes things a bit more challenging.

Otherwise, from a pragmatic perspective, there is usually a great deal of rigor put on projects existing in an ERP system versus in SAP BW. So the challenge there is just to build in more project time for the extra “red tape” that will most certainly exist.

Hope this helps.

Scott

Sylvia:

In the SAP S/4HANA release, it is correct to say that planning is only based on the embedded model? Does that then imply that consolidation functions would be based on the classic model?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Sylvia,

In fact, no, there is consolidations functionality in both the embedded and standard versions of the product. In addition, with the SAP BPC 11.0 release, there are a number of new features related to the Consolidation Monitor and embedded model integration with it.

Within SAP BPC for SAP S/4HANA the RTC, or Real Time Consolidation, functionality is based on the SAP BPC embedded model as well.

Cheers, Scott

Christoph:

Is the standard configuration still included in SAP BPC 11.0, and if so, would you recommend to use it at all (is there a valid use case for moving to the SAP HANA database, but you cannot fully benefit from SAP HANA performance in standard configuration)?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Christoph,

Yes, it is still included, and in fact, there are new features specific to that model type.

Regarding whether I would recommend it. I would, yes, in the instances where that model makes more sense. For example, if there is a customer wanting to expand the use of SAP Analytics Cloud, the integration currently is much stronger with the standard model.

Cheers, Scott

Guest:

Are there any documents or best practices for SAP BPC 10.0 to SAP BPC 11.0 migration?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi,

The SAP Note and help documentation on conversion and migration are best.

https://help.sap.com/viewer/product/SAP_BPC_VERSION_BW4HANA/11.0.1.0/en-US

https://launchpad.support.sap.com/#/notes/2531382 (Login required)

Cheers, Scott

Mel Calucin:

Is there a way to upgrade from SAP BPC 10.0 to SAP BPC 11.0?

Scott Cairncross:

Hi Mel,

Yes, absolutely. You can use the backup and restore tool for the standard model in conjunction with the migration program, UJT_MIGRATE_101_TO_BPC4.

Cheers, Scott

Scott Cairncross

Hi all,

Thanks so much for participating today.

I wish you all the best on your planning, reporting and consolidation journeys.

Cheers, Scott