Sales Forecast in SAP-APO-SPP

[sap_2605]

Dear SAP experts,

We are assesing the usage of SAP-APO-SPP (Service Parts Planning). When reviewing the documentation in SAP help, it seems to me that the forecast that can be done is using the demand history (history-based forecast). However we do have scenario where we have sales forecast in other application. We know that in usual SAP-APO, we can load the sales forecast and it will become requirement during planning. Is this same functionality also exist in SPP? Because I cannot see anywhere in the SAP library for SPP that we can actually upload sales forecast to SPP.

Best regards,

John

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi John,

Can you explain Sales Forecast in detail with an example.

If i take it as confirmed sales order in future then SPP can handle it, you've to configure it specifically.

You've to activate the FDO- Future dated orders Demand Category in configuration.

FDO works based on either with Sales Order Types or Horizons or Both SO types & Horizon.

Regards

Vinoth

[sap_2605 · Accepted solution]

Hi Vinoth,

What I mean is like the Planned Independent Requirements (PIR) in module SD. In which I can input quantity I plan to be sold in each month. This will act as requirement that can be calculated against during the planning run, but it is not the SO itself. When the actual SO is created then it will consumed the PIR so it will not create double requirement

Eg.

I forecast that I will sell material A, 9 pcs, 10 pcs, 15 pcs on month 01, 02, 03 respectively

Currently my stock is 0.

During planning run, i expect that a requirement is created

9 pcs for month 01

10 pcs for month 02

15 pcs for month 03

Later on I create actual SO for 3 pcs for month 01, and my stock is still zero, during planning run, the expected requirement is

9 pcs for month 01 (3 for SO, and 6 for PIR)

10 pcs for month 02

15 pcs for month 03

I hope my examples has clearly explaining the difference between PIR/Sales Order forecast and actual SO.

Best regards,

John

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

John,

Answer for your Qn is "NO"

SPP will not consume forecast (PIR) when a SO created on the same time period bucket.

SPP will not consider future (delivery date in future) SO unless you configure and ask SPP to consider it.

SPP just forecasts to find out the optimal future demand based on your past sales histories and to find the forecast error (std deviation) so that it will be an input for further planning in SPP.

SPP plans proactively and will ask you to keep enough stock in advance so that you can serve the moment you get SO. its always procure to stock --> sell from Stock. it will not consume SO against forecast as Make to stock type of planning (Forecast consumption by SO will not work for procure to stock).

In SPP

Today -----------------Forecast Qty - 100

Tomorrow------------ Yesterday forecast (100) will be vanished and its not considered as requirement anymore..

Just my thoughts

Regards

Vinoth

[sap_2605 · Accepted solution]

Hi Vinoth,

The one that you mention is what we call historical-based forecast, in which we forecast based on historical data. In ECC, we can have what we call Planned Independent Requirement, where we can create forecast result manually, and based on that the system will calculate net requirement and create procurement proposal if necessary.

Are you saying that in APO-SPP we cannot create forecast result manually?

Best regards,

John

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi John,

Sorry - there was a typo in my last comment .. its "Make to Order" and not "Make to Stock". Pls replace it.

What i mean is Forecast will never get consumed by SO in SPP.

Yes, SPP relies on Historical data and calculate forecast based on the histories.

You can create forecast manually for a product location in SPP.

In ECC- SOP you'll create PIR manually, in SPP/APO DP system does the same for you (just an automation).

Regards

Vinoth