The future of Planning & Consolidation: Standard, Embedded and SAP Analytics Cloud Planning
If your planning and consolidation rely on SAP Business Planning and Consolidation, now is a good time to review versions, support dates and the move towards SAP Analytics Cloud.
SAP Business Planning and Consolidation remains the tool of choice for many finance departments to budget, forecast and consolidate. But the landscape is changing, and it is worth reviewing where your system stands.
Standard and Embedded: two different models
- Standard (Classic) model: models are largely managed by the business, using the tool’s own logic. It is very flexible and well known to finance teams.
- Embedded model: it relies directly on SAP BW objects and their planning engine. It integrates better with the rest of your analytics, at the cost of greater dependence on IT.
Both models are valid. The choice depends on how much autonomy the finance function wants and on your data architecture.
Check your support dates
Older versions have already passed the end of mainstream maintenance. For example, SAP Business Planning and Consolidation 11.1 for BW/4HANA reached the end of mainstream maintenance at the end of 2024. Version 2021 for BW/4HANA is planned to be supported until 2027. Before planning any investment, check SAP’s Product Availability Matrix (PAM) for your exact version.
What about SAP Analytics Cloud Planning?
SAP is focusing planning innovation on SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) Planning, as part of its cloud data strategy. For many companies, the path is not an abrupt switch but coexistence:
- The current solution keeps handling consolidation and the most established processes.
- SAC takes on new planning processes (sales, operational, workforce) with a more modern user experience.
- Over time, you decide which processes to move and when.
Our recommendation
- Take an inventory of models, processes and users of your planning and consolidation solution.
- Identify which processes add the most value and which are candidates for simplification.
- Define a phased roadmap that does not put period-end closing or the annual budget at risk.
At Responsive we implement and support Planning & Consolidation solutions in both Standard and Embedded models, and we guide you on the journey to SAP Analytics Cloud.
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This article is for information purposes only. SAP dates and conditions may change; always check official SAP information or contact us to review your specific case.