Where to go – Part 2

In the first part of this series I illustrated SAP’s planning application roadmap and how SAP Business Objects Planning and Consolidation (BPC) and SAP Integrated Planning (BW-IP) have come together in the latest release SAP BPC 10.1. This latest release offers the ability to develop planning solutions utilizing different functionality and approaches:

• BPC 10.1 “Standard” – follows the classic BPC design approach of prior BPC versions
• BPC 10.1 “Embedded” – Unifies the solid back-end of BW-IP with the BPC Excel user experience

Let’s assume your organization has made the decision to implement or upgrade to BPC 10.1. The next decision point is to decide if the current models should be rebuild in embedded, and if new models should be built in standard or embedded. Even though I’m personally biased towards embedded, there are cases where standard might be a better choice. So in the remainder of this article I will make a case for Embedded and for Standard, followed by a detailed comparison table to assist you in the decision making process.

The case for Embedded

Embedded is HANA optimized and leverages proven IP technology. One could argue that the flexibility to utilize Account based or Key Figure Modeling makes it a superior modeling tool. The tight integration with BW Objects and ETL capabilities creates opportunities to eliminate master data duplication and unnecessary data flows between planning models. In addition it currently appears to be more closely aligned with SAP’s development roadmap e.g. Simple Finance uses Embedded.
The table below summarizes some of major benefits of Embedded over Standard:
[table class=”styled_table table_red”]

Feature	Benefit
Modeling	Key Figure and Account Based Modeling is available in Embedded, Standard only supports Account Based Modelling.
Integration with SAP BW	Completely Integrated with BW, direct access to Master data and InfoCubes. Rather than using InfoProviders in a separate BW namespace, Embedded uses regular real-time InfoProviders and Aggregation levels
Leverage NetWeaver Integrated Planning (IP) planning functions and FOX formulas	FOX has been around considerably longer than Script Logic. FOX formulas run directly on the HANA engine, replacing Script logic that primarily runs on the Application Server. In addition Embedded leverages pre-defined IP formulas (planning functions)
Reports and Input Forms based on BW Queries	More flexibility and supports BEx Query Structures and the use of variables defined in the BW query. On the flip side, this could be used as an argument against embedded as it requires potentially more IT involvement because a BW Query must be available.
Data changes without commit	Allows the user to simulate and review results of formulas before committing data
Inverse Formulas	Ability to plan on Calculated Key Figures that are input enabled
Dimension Combinations	Validation Rules that control characteristic combinations and the derivation of characteristic values

[/table]

The case for Standard

Many clients are sold on the belief that Standard empowers Finance, reducing the reliance on IT for master data management, data loads, schedule creation etc. Not only is this is a major obstacle to overcome when making the case for Embedded, but there’salso functionality in Standard that does not currently exist in Embedded.   In addition some functionality in Embedded could be considered less user friendly by existing BPC users.

The table below summarizes some of major benefits of Standard over Embedded:
[table class=”styled_table table_red”]

Feature	Benefit
Uploading Files from PC	When switching to Embedded, business Users’ ability to change transformation and conversion files is impaired and the functions are effectively moved to IT. Whereas it remains possible for users to load files and review loaded data using IP functionality, loading may potentially take longer (for large files) and it is typically recommended to use standard data staging functionality of SAP Netweaver BW for optimal performance.
Offline Planning	The ability to take input schedules offline is not currently supported by Embedded.
Ad-hoc Reporting	The underlying BW Queries must be available to enable users to create ad-hoc reporting
Comments	In-cell Excel look and feel “pop up” comments are not available in Embedded, however cell based comments are supported

[/table]

Detailed Feature Comparison between Embedded and Standard

Feature Category	Feature	Benefit	Embedded	Standard
EDW BW Integration	BW Namespace	Share planning with reporting objects
		Reduced data redundancy
	Multiple key figures	Use either a key figure and/or account based models
	Time dependent attributes & text	Use different attributes by day
	Time dependent hierarchies	Use different parent assignments by day
	Compounding	Easy management of composite keys
	Stream real time granular data	Access transactional data real time
	Data loading	Use both BW and HANA ETL
	Transports	Same tool as BW therefore low cost of maintenance
	Data Manager	Perform ETL work from Excel
	Drill Through	Drill through to detail for related data
Modeling Options	MultiProviders	Ability to merge data from a variety of sources
	Local Providers	Ad hoc planning and reporting HANA tables
		No BW development required
	Composite Providers	Union data from HANA
	Plannable DSOs	Price planning functionality
	HANA Views	Mix and match data from multiple sources
	HANA Analytic Views	DSOs and InfoCubes can be consumed as views in HANA
Planning functionality	Characteristic Relationships	Control characteristic combinations
		Derive characteristic values
		Block invalid combinations
	Planning functions	Off the shelf standard functions
		Off the shelf advanced functions
		Develop FOX/Script formulas without ABAP
		Flexibility to build your own function types
		Access to SAP HANA SQL if needed
	Planning sequences	Bundle planning functions together
		Parallel processing
		Data blocking available to speed up data writing
		Ad hoc data input for testing
		Trace mode available for debugging
		Run in real time, on demand, or schedule
	Planning sessions	Provide ad hoc testing and simulation
	OLAP Variables	Flexibility via prompts
		Automatic time determination
		Member determination via authorization variables
		User exits for formulas based on attributes
	BEx Query Structures	Complex combinations
		Build input forms with fixed rows/columns
	Calculated Key Figures	Provide metrics on the fly
		Built in periodic vs YTD reporting
	Restricted Key Figures	Restrict a key figure by member
	Planning Key Figures	Allow input and locking of transaction data
	Disaggregation	Allow input on parent members
	Lock cells	Hold cells constant when messaging planning data
	Inverse formulas	Allow user input on calculated key figures
	Work Status	Limit data upon process completion
	Business Process Flows	Status tracking
		Guided navigation
		Report trees with hyperlinks
	Data Audit	Track transaction data changes in the fact table
	BPC Data Access Profiles	Provide LOB management of security
	Matrix security	Control access to data intersections
	Comments	Provide free form text for planning assumptions
	Data Collection	Offline Excel Uploads
User Interfaces	HTML5	Fast, intuitive web screens
	Mobility	Plan and report anytime anywhere
	EPM add-in	Provide intuitive reporting & planning in Excel
		Read mode in word and PowerPoint
		Integrated with work status, data audit and data profiles
		Local member formulas
		Central comment storage
		EPM functions
		Access to planning functions and sequences
		Formatting
	Analysis for Office	Provide intuitive reporting & planning tool		N/A
		Read mode in PowerPoint		N/A
		Integrated with work status, data audit and data profiles		N/A
		Local member formulas		N/A
		Central comment storage		N/A
		SAP Analysis functions		N/A
		Access to planning functions and sequences		N/A
		Formatting		N/A
	BW Workspaces	Provides business user ETL UI
		Access to local and composite providers
	SAP Dashboards	Intuitive executive board UI
		Read and write access
	Design Studio	Complex web template designer
	BEx Broadcaster	Publish and print