In the UK, a leading company has embarked on a strategic initiative to consolidate its operations by combining three business divisions-Dairy Products, Waters and Specialty Nutrition-into a single integrated system. The ambitious project was aimed at moving from three separate SAP systems to a single integrated SAP Integrated Business Planning (SAP IBP) system. The initiative was driven by the need for a harmonized data set, a flexible, cloud-based statistical tool for demand planning, and integration of new business flows with external systems.
Consolidation and innovation in the UK
Combining Three Divisions into One Using SAP IBP
About the Project
Objectives and Challenges
SAP IBP Implementation
Transition from SAP APO to SAP IBP to customize the base solution, including user authorizations, permission filters and IBP task customizations.
Business Consolidation
Merging the separate divisions: Dairy Products, Water and Specialty Nutrition into a single technical solution, thereby combining three SAP systems into one.
Harmonized Data Set and Forecasting
Establish a single, cloud-based solution, a flexible statistical tool for demand planning across all divisions.
Supply integration with Alpro
Integrate Alpro’s demand planning, previously carried out in an external system, with the customer’s system and establish a flow to transfer this forecast to Alpro’s external system for production.
Technical Integration and Customization
Adapting SAP APO BW to integrate with external systems, resolving technical issues, and setting up the APO system to receive data from SAP’s new cloud tool.
Achievements
SAP IBP Implementation
The underlying SAP IBP solution was successfully developed and adjusted, including setting up master data, loading historical data.
User Training and Support
On-site user training was conducted on the new SAP tool, including preparing presentations, conducting tasks and evaluations.
Solving Technical Problems
Numerous high-priority technical issues were managed during the launch and hypercare period, marking this as the first project of its kind.
System Integration and Business Connection
Successfully integrated the APO system to receive data from SAP IBP, merged the settings of three businesses into one, and introduced new business into the tool.
Automatic Data Integration and Processing
Automatic interfaces for loading master and transactional data, automatic issuance of forecasts from SAP IBP to SAP APO, and automatic generation of files for connections to external tools.
Applications
In the UK, the project resulted in a new SAP IBP cloud-based forecasting tool used for demand planning, successfully merging three independently operating divisions into one system. Automated interfaces for loading data and issuing forecasts have been introduced, increasing flexibility in managing products from different categories.
Contact
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