Elevate your supply chain: Transition from SAP APO to SAP IBP

Introduction

Good morning everyone, and welcome to our webinar today. I'm Sues Maa, and I'm delighted to welcome you to our session titled "Elevate Your Supply Chain: Transition from SAP APO to SAP IBP." In today's session, we will explore the exciting journey of transitioning from SAP Advanced Planning Optimization (APO) to SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP). We will dive into real customer use cases, the role of AI in supply chain processes, and best practices for managing this transition.

We are joined by Achel Su, the Director of Global Center of Excellence for Digital Supply Chain at SAP, along with two experts from West Naka, Selin J and Srijit Rabindran, who have extensive experience in SAP solutions and supply chain planning. We encourage you to ask questions throughout the session via the chat, and we will have a dedicated Q&A session towards the end.

Introduction of Western ARA

Western ARA is a globally leading SAP consulting organization with over 1,100 experts and a revenue of approximately $ 125 million per year. With a legacy of 55 years of innovation and a commitment to sustainability as a carbon-neutral company since 2021, Western ARA differentiates itself as a 100% employee-owned organization. As a trusted SAP partner for over three decades, we are pioneers in transformative technologies such as S/4HANA, finance, enterprise warehouse management, and transportation management.

With recognized proficiency extending to analytics, planning, and manufacturing cloud solutions, we hold expert competency level recognition in ERP and supply chain management domains. Established in 1969, our headquarters is in Heidelberg, with offices in 32 cities across 25 countries. Our vision is focused on non-stop innovation to ensure stability, efficiency, and continuity of business processes even after system implementations, which is supported by our global presence across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East.

Transitioning from APO to IBP

Achel Su highlighted that, in today's interconnected and complex global supply chains, decision-making relies heavily on accurate and timely information. The need to quickly develop alternative plans in the face of disruptions–whether local or global–is paramount. With SAP IBP, organizations can benefit from a digital business planning platform that consists of different modules catering to sales and operations planning, demand planning, and more, all of which are integrated tightly with the execution processes of S/4HANA.

Srijit Rabindran discussed the extensive functionalities of SAP IBP, emphasizing its user-friendly nature and the inherent support for scenario planning and machine learning capabilities. Features include demand sensing, inventory optimization, synchronized planning, and more. The advantages of transitioning to IBP from APO include improved forecast accuracy, enhanced service levels, and greater productivity for planners through advanced technologies.

System Demo

The webinar featured a live demo showcasing a planner's day-to-day interactions within the IBP system. The demonstration highlighted how planners could manage exceptions, automate their planning runs, and utilize analytical tools to derive insights. The system's flexibility, user experience improvements, and cloud-based nature provide seamless integration, whether through Excel interfaces or web applications.

Conclusion

We wrapped up the session by opening the floor to questions, addressing concerns about training and support available for users migrating from APO to IBP, the potential for direct transfers of configurations, and the feasibility of implementing IBP in organizations that do not currently use APO.

For further information or assistance with your transition to SAP IBP, attendees were encouraged to reach out to our experts at West Naka.

Thank you for joining us in this insightful session, and we look forward to seeing you at our next webinar!

Keywords

• SAP APO
• SAP IBP
• Supply Chain Planning
• Digital Transformation
• Advanced Planning Optimization
• AI in Supply Chain
• Cloud Solutions

FAQ

Q1: What training and support are available for users migrating from APO to IBP?
A1: SAP provides various help documents and resources for migration support. As an implementation partner, we can also guide you through the migration process and assist with the transition.

Q2: Can existing APO configurations be directly transferred to SAP IBP?
A2: No, it is not a direct copy-paste process due to the different underlying technologies. However, some enhancements and developments may be leveraged during migration.

Q3: Is it possible to implement SAP IBP without using APO?
A3: Yes, even if you are not using APO, it is possible to implement IBP, and we can integrate it with non-SAP systems.

Q4: Is SAP IBP available as both cloud and on-premise solutions?
A4: SAP IBP is solely a cloud-based solution and does not have an on-premise option.

Q5: Have there been implementations of SAP IBP for the distillery industry?
A5: Yes, we have experience implementing IBP in various industries, including beverage and distillery sectors. Customer references can be provided upon request.