SAC Planning and Group Reporting: Plan to Reap Rewards!

Combining data from various sources, adjust data to the same level, consolidate data to get meaningful figures at the group level... Not to mention unwanted or incomplete adjustments during the process. Let's be honest: planning takes time. A lot of time. However, research shows that companies that make a financial plan perform better. That's why it's important to get your planning in order!

Planning leads to better performance

Planning leads to success. Making a plan forces you to think about objectives, budget allocation, cash management and investments. By monitoring these things, any deviations from the goal become visible in time. And suitable measures can be taken. A case of "measuring is knowing". And you do that smartly in SAP!

Planning in SAP

With SAP Group Reporting and SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP helps in making and monitoring financial plans. Both top-down and bottom-up. Plan and realized data from SAP and non-SAP systems complement each other and provide insight, control, and action.

Bottom-up planning in SAP

• Step 1: Planning in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC)

Step 1 in bottom-up planning is setting up a planning model in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC). This planning model is flexible to create, and therefore perfectly matches the goals of your business. A standard connection between SAC and SAP S/4HANA transfers the realized financial data to SAC. In addition, showing plan data alongside realized data provides insight. The result? Better choices, and more focused steering!

SAC also offers features such as workflow, data locking, and commenting. This makes the planning process easy and reduces risks during the process.

• Step 2: Consolidation in Group Reporting

Group Reporting helpt bij het consolideren van de data. Door het (automatisch) doorlopen van vooraf gedefinieerde stappen, wordt de financiële data geconsolideerd tot de juiste consolidatiegroep. Deze stappen kunnen zowel op gerealiseerde als op geplande data uitgevoerd wordt.

You can easily set up the steps in the consolidation process with the help of SAP's best practice. You can also easily customize this best practice to your company's situation by removing or adding standard actions.

Top-down planning in SAP

Top-down planning is also possible with SAC and Group Reporting. In this case, the financial data from S/4 is first consolidated in Group Reporting, and then loaded into SAC planning. SAC planning then creates a planning model optimized for the consolidated objectives.

Group Reporting and SAC, the perfect combination

All in all, Group Reporting and SAP Analytics Cloud form the perfect combination for your financial planning. Standardized, easy, integrated, and agile: those who plan in SAP will reap good rewards.

Do you want to know more about Group Reporting or planning in SAP Analytics Cloud? Then watch this video about Group Reporting, or this webinar about Business Planning. Or do you want to discuss what SAP can mean for your financial planning together? Then Email Luc Janssen or Katrin van Boxtel.