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Financial Planning & Analysis for SAP S/4HANA offers financial planning and analysis in SAP Analytics Cloud based on SAP S/4HANA financial structures.
For accelerated implementation of analytics and planning processes, SAP offers best practices and business content packages free of charge for use within the SAP Analytics Cloud. These packages can be customized or serve as role models for an implementation.
Here, we want to turn our attention to "SAP Financial Planning and Analysis for SAP S/4HANA Cloud (2EB)" and focus on the interaction between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP S/4HANA. This interaction between transaction system and planning takes place at the beginning of a planning round and, if desired, at the end of a planning.
The following questions will be answered:
This article is divided into 3 sections to answer the questions above by example.
We will look at a possible process in section 1 and further on we will look at the process of synchronization between planning and accounting system.
The blog is intended as an overview and initial explanation of the idea behind the Business Content or Best Practice. For more details and technical documentation, more material can be found under "Integrated Financial Planning for SAP S/4HANA Cloud" and "SAP Financial Planning and Analysis for SAP S/4HANA Cloud (2EB)" in the SAP Best Practices Explorer.
Before a new planning round begins, new settings, adjustments and assumptions are usually entered by a person responsible for planning.
This "initiation of the planning round" also includes the update of the structures and master data with subsequent import of the transaction data. In the process diagram in Figure 1, the synchronization steps are marked in red and are explained and illustrated below.
In the diagram we can see the possibilities of data integration between transaction system and planning. In the process flow we will first match the master data (in the diagram on the left). Then we will load the transaction data and finally write it. In the diagram as an arrow from "ACDOCA" to the SAP Analytics Cloud planning model. After the planning round is done, the agreed planning can then be written back to "ACDOCP".
Before we synchronize the master data between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP S/4HANA, let's get a picture of the situation from the perspective of the respective application. SAP S/4HANA is the leading system, so our planning application reads the master data information required for the upcoming planning round from here.
Preparatory exemplary steps of the adjustment in SAP S/4HANA before the adjustment:
The transaction data flow between SAP S/4HANA and SAP Analytics Cloud is both read and write and is started from SAP Analytics Cloud. In this process, the planning application reads actual data from SAP S/4HANA (ACDOCA) and writes back plan data to SAP S/4HANA (ACDOCP) (see diagram above).
These steps are essential in the interaction of SAP Analytics Cloud in planning and SAP S/4HANA and can take place in this way or similarly in your planning process at the beginning and at the end.
Many thanks for your interest in the topic and I hope you like it. Please share your feedback in the comments and let me know if you have any questions.
Stay tuned and stay healthy,
Dirk
For accelerated implementation of analytics and planning processes, SAP offers best practices and business content packages free of charge for use within the SAP Analytics Cloud. These packages can be customized or serve as role models for an implementation.
Here, we want to turn our attention to "SAP Financial Planning and Analysis for SAP S/4HANA Cloud (2EB)" and focus on the interaction between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP S/4HANA. This interaction between transaction system and planning takes place at the beginning of a planning round and, if desired, at the end of a planning.
The following questions will be answered:
- How can the process be designed if I use SAP Analytics Cloud for planning with SAP S/4HANA?
- How is the master data reconciliation between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP S/4HANA performed, for example, how are cost centers and cost center structures synchronized?
- How is transaction data handled?
This article is divided into 3 sections to answer the questions above by example.
We will look at a possible process in section 1 and further on we will look at the process of synchronization between planning and accounting system.
The blog is intended as an overview and initial explanation of the idea behind the Business Content or Best Practice. For more details and technical documentation, more material can be found under "Integrated Financial Planning for SAP S/4HANA Cloud" and "SAP Financial Planning and Analysis for SAP S/4HANA Cloud (2EB)" in the SAP Best Practices Explorer.
1 - On the basic process and application of SAP Analytics Cloud for planning with SAP S/4HANA
Before a new planning round begins, new settings, adjustments and assumptions are usually entered by a person responsible for planning.
This "initiation of the planning round" also includes the update of the structures and master data with subsequent import of the transaction data. In the process diagram in Figure 1, the synchronization steps are marked in red and are explained and illustrated below.
Figure 1: SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP S/4 HANA Integration and Process Example (see also 2EB reference)
In the diagram we can see the possibilities of data integration between transaction system and planning. In the process flow we will first match the master data (in the diagram on the left). Then we will load the transaction data and finally write it. In the diagram as an arrow from "ACDOCA" to the SAP Analytics Cloud planning model. After the planning round is done, the agreed planning can then be written back to "ACDOCP".
Figure 2: Overview of the integration of SAP Analytics Cloud (planning model) and SAP S/4HANA
2 – Master Data Synchronization between SAP Analytics Cloud Models and SAP A/4 HANA
Before we synchronize the master data between SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP S/4HANA, let's get a picture of the situation from the perspective of the respective application. SAP S/4HANA is the leading system, so our planning application reads the master data information required for the upcoming planning round from here.
Figure 3: SAP Analytics Cloud view of dimension hierarchy for cost centers (SAP__FI_BPL_IM_COSTCENTER) in Modeler and SAP S/4 HANA app Manage Cost Center Group.
Preparatory exemplary steps of the adjustment in SAP S/4HANA before the adjustment:
Chart 4: Launching the Manage Cost Center Groups App from SAP S/4HANA Launchpad
Figure 5: Editing the hierarchy, for example reassigning cost centers in Manage Cost Center Groups
Figure 6: Announcing or exposing the new hierarchy with the Replicate Runtime Hierarchy app for later access through the SAP Analytics Cloud Connection.
Figure 7: Starting the import process in SAP Analytics Cloud
3 – Transaction data synchronization between SAP Analytics Cloud models and SAP A/4 HANA
The transaction data flow between SAP S/4HANA and SAP Analytics Cloud is both read and write and is started from SAP Analytics Cloud. In this process, the planning application reads actual data from SAP S/4HANA (ACDOCA) and writes back plan data to SAP S/4HANA (ACDOCP) (see diagram above).
Figure 8: Comparison of transactional data: Left side Story in Analytics Cloud and right side Financial Plan Data analysis in SAP S/4 HANA.
Figure 9: Adjustment of plan figures in the planning table of SAP Analytics Cloud (Story)
Figure 10: Writing planning in SAP S/4HANA. Left side shows the start of the transfer from SAP Analytics Cloud Data Management.
Figure 8: Comparison of transaction data after synchronization: Left side story in Analytics Cloud and right side Financial Plan Data analysis in SAP S/4 HANA. (The rounding error snuck in due to my not quite correct setup).
These steps are essential in the interaction of SAP Analytics Cloud in planning and SAP S/4HANA and can take place in this way or similarly in your planning process at the beginning and at the end.
Many thanks for your interest in the topic and I hope you like it. Please share your feedback in the comments and let me know if you have any questions.
Stay tuned and stay healthy,
Dirk
