The best practice to Planning area creation for SAP IBP

[Former Member]

Hi, experts

I would like to know about the best practices for Planning areas creation, as i can see SAP Lab has created a lot of good standard process in SAP data models for standard SAP Planning Areas.

My questions is:

Will be better try to adapt the standard Planning Areas (ie SAP2) to some customer requirements or copy this  Planning area to a ZSAP2 for example?

In the context that SAP will be updating the standard Planning areas with new features & capabilities.

Thanks!

Fabio Matias

[lingaiahvanam · Accepted solution]

SAP provided standard planning area to understand the each module capabilities. In real time it not worth to use and implement the IBP application.

Standard planning area (PA) is base to start the IBP application functionalities, consultants will copy the standard planning area and customize as per business needs.

Ex: SAP2 PA copied as ZSAP2. If any new functionality added it is applicable only for Standard planning areas later merge the SAP2 to ZSAP2 and test the new feature.

If SAP added new feature directly to ZSAP existing customized functionality may be impact, so some steps to be performed before merge the new features to ZSAP.

If any upgrade happens SAP recommended to reactivate the PA to added the new feature or apply OSS.

So consultant should be aware of which functionality SAP added and is there any impact on existing customized configuration, then copy ZSAP to another PA and merge the SAP standard PA and test accordingly.

Best Regards,

Lingaiah

[Former Member]

Hi Fabio

We are not authorized to activate SAP Standard PA. We have to copy the SAP standard sample planning area for the client.

Regarding upgrade of the PA or system, when ever it is done it is not done only for the SAP Standard PA. It is done for all the planning area created via copying SAP PA, as all the planning area sit on the same system and upgrade is not at the planning area level. It is at the system level.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Ankur

[former_member206115]

Hello Fabio,

It is better that you create a copy of the planning area i.e ZSAP2.

Regards,

Deep

[Former Member]

Hi Deep, but in the future we need to replicate all new features & capabilities to the ZSAP2, in SAP APO i will be creating a ZSAP2, but in the IBP process the mindset can be different, because IBP has the best BP business aprouch.

Thanks!

[Former Member]

Hi Fabio,

You have to do the same even if you use SAP2 directly. Please note that enhancement happens in the 'SAP Sample Model' of SAP2 (SAP Content), which user cannot modify. You only use the Active (working) version of SAP2 (User Content). So if any new feature is added, it will be added to the sample model and then you need to copy from SAP2 (SAP Content) it to SAP2 (User Content) or to ZSAP2.

Hope it helps.

Best regards

Rinju

[Former Member]

Hi Rinju,

In this context will like to ask a question.

When an upgrade is performed, only the SAP sample models are updated with changes. At this point what is the best way of replicating "only" the new additions/changes from "SAP standard sample" to "Working Planning Area"? Is it COPY/Merge or Manual replication?

Let me assume the standard PA is SAP2 and the working Area is ZSAP2 (as in Fabio's case) and that I wish to replicate only the new inclusions from SAP2 to ZSAP2 after the upgrade.

Regards,

Saabitri

[Former Member]

Hi Saabitri,

In this case, you can use 'Merge' option.

I am not sure if you already checked the details in the configuration guide. If not, i suggest you to refer the section, "Copy Options for Planning Models".

Best regards

Rinju