What Is An Attribute Transformation?
SAP IBP supports a powerful type of transformation that allows you to change the value of an attribute based on a calculation expression. This capability helps to reduce the number of stored key figures, when there is a use case to view the same key figure with some of the attributes transformed or offset at a planning level .
For example: A user may want to see the
actuals quantity for the same month in current year and previous year simultaneously. Rather than using two different stored key figures, attribute transformation allows you to use one stored key figure for the
actuals quantity over time and a second calculated key figure that offsets the
actuals quantity by a year. Period-based attribute transformations are easier to understand and examples are available in SAP
Help and in SAP
Blog. Non-period based attribute transformations are also supported but less examples are documented.
Use Cases For Non-Period Attribute Transformation
A user may want to transform key figures on transportation lanes (ex: planning level
WKPRODLOCLOCFR) from target location to ship-from location.
Image 1 below shows a 2-stage network for a single product where the cutomer-facing distribution center (
DCBin) sources from two plants
SourceBin1 and
SourceBin2 with some quotas. One of the outputs from inventory optimization is the optimal internal service level (aka
internal non-stockout probability) key figure calculated at the
WKPRODLOCLOCFR planning level (that is on a transportation lane). Similar key figures are dependent demand key figures, etc.
Image 1: Visualization of an example 2-stage network for a finished good
A user may want to view this output key figure
internal non-stockout probability in conjunction with
recommended safety stock key figure in an excel planning view using the Product and Location (representing the target location) attribute combination. Without attribute transformation, the two options to achieve this is shown in
Image 2 below.
Image 2: Viewing at Product, Location level or Product, Location, Ship From Location Level without attribute transformation
Image 2 shows, that in both views, the
internal non-stockout probability is displayed at the target location (
DCBin). With attribute transformation, we can display the value of this key figure at the ship-from locations (
SourceBin1 and
SourceBin2). Such a view is shown in
Image 3. The configuration setup is discussed below
Image 3.
Image 3: Viewing at Product, Location level with attribute transformation
How Is This Setup?
1. Copy planning level
WKPRODLOCLOFR to a new planning level
WKPRODLOCLOCFR2 (duplicate)
2. Configuration for the existing
internal non-stockout probability key figure is shown below
Image 4: Configuration of internal non-stockout probability key figure
3. Copy this key figure and make the following edits:
- Choose the ID, name and description. (Ex: NSPDISTRIBUTION, Non-Stockout Probability at Source)
- Switch it to a calculated key figure
- Define the calculation at the WKPRODLOCLOCFR base planning level to equal the above key figure (INTERNALAVAILABLEINFULL)
- Set the request level aggregation using the new planning level (WKPRODLOCLOCFR2)
Image 5: Configuration of non-stockout probability at source key figure
4. Create a new key figure and select “Attribute Transformation” option. Set attribute ID to
LOCID and planning level to
WKPRODLOCLOCFR2
Image 6: Attribute transformation configuration
5. Define the calculation as shown below by setting it to
LOCFR and select
NSPDISTRIBUTION@WKPRODLOCLOCFR as an input key figure. This calculation then transforms the
LOCID vaue to the
LOCFR value for this key figure.
Image 7: Attribute transformation configuration step 2
6. Activate the planning area
Summary
Attribute transformation is a powerful feature available in SAP IBP. It supports both period transformations (such as time offsets) as well as non-period attribute transformations (changing from target to source or vice versa, changing from component to output product or vice versa, changing from product to substitute product, etc).