Driver-based scenario planning and analysis

Scenario planning solution in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC)

Windesheim has been using SAP Business Planning & Consolidation (BPC) for budgeting, forecasting and reporting since 2011. Next to this, Windesheim used Excel to perform high-level scenario planning. That Excel-model worked, but it was not flexible and it limited Windesheim, so:

• Windesheim needed a solution to calculate multiple what-if scenarios using the available data to better substantiate decisions.
• Windesheim needed insights on the impact of decisions on exploitation, solvability and liquidity.
• Windesheim wanted to improve quality and flexibility of the scenario planning process while lowering the maintenance effort.

First, Windesheim asked cpmview to do a Proof of Concept of their scenario planning solution in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) because SAC is known for its flexibility with regards to driver-based scenario planning. After cpmview presented the PoC containing all needed functionalities and business logic, Windesheim and cpmview started the actual implementation of SAC.

The implementation of SAP Analytics Cloud

The actual implementation of SAC was done using an agile project approach. From the beginning of the project all relevant stakeholders were included in the project making sure the developments were aligned with business requirements. The multiple go-live moments of different functionalities enabled Windesheim to start working with SAC really quickly. The total implementation took about three months.

In the current solution, SAP BPC master- and transaction data is automatically loaded into SAC before these are included in the base scenario calculations. When the base scenario is complete, business controllers use this base to make their own scenario, adjust internal- and/or external business drivers and analyze the impact of decisions on exploitation, solvability and liquidity.