Customer Forecast

[Former Member]

Dear Experts,

I wish to know ABCD's of Customer Forecast Management in APO DP in particular and solutions realization alternatives for making customer a part of demand forecasting process using other applications within SAP ecosystem and non-SAP systems too!

Esp in DP I am keen to know the relevant config, principles of solution design, implementation considerations, support and such...possible pitfalls, system use, abuse, experiences etc.

Also let me know is it "fashionable" to implement Customer Forecast Management in APO DP, given everything now is cloud based.

Please presume my ignorance of "techno" speak. I have a vague idea of what I am asking. Purpose is clear. I am pleading my customers to enter forecast live on the internet. Some have obliged. Some are bigger than us in size and bank balance. There can be several ways of doing that. I am looking for cheapest and hassle free way of realizing it with a 5 year vision (the likes they run Govt. in socialist republics)

Assume a company selling colas and chips of myriad kinds to 1000 customers... some buying once in a blue moon. some stocking it for eternity.. some penalizing us for being wrong by a case or an hour.

Thanks

Borat

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

BS,

Principles of Solution design for the standard SAP DP solution are found here:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_scm700_ehp02/helpdata/EN/a8/11536bbfc94f12b01621c78445dc0b/frameset.htm

If you are using ECC SD, another path is to enter customer forecast info and/or customer forecast release info into ECC as Sales Scheduling agreements:

http://help.sap.com/erp2005_ehp_06/helpdata/EN/33/4361299d7a11d194e200a0c9306794/content.htm?framese...

or

http://help.sap.com/erp2005_ehp_06/helpdata/EN/93/743962546011d1a7020000e829fd11/frameset.htm

Best Regards,

DB49

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks DB49,

Thanks for the links.

Schedule Agreements sounds like a clean option. I can extract this to a DP key figure.

Is there a mechanism where Customers are given access to a data view on the internet ?. I see clicking on Customer forecast calls the internet that isn't set up yet in my system.

Also SNC?. Is this also an option worth considering ?. or would it be needless expense (licenses et al) for a poor client.

Many Thanks

BS.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Also the licensing costs.

Data Views on the internet Vs SNC.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

BS,

Is there a mechanism where Customers are given access to a data view on the Internet ?. I see clicking on Customer forecast calls the Internet that isn't set up yet in my system.

There are many.  For instance, in SCM, there is collaborative planning:

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_SCM700_ehp02/helpdata/en/57/43ae391243d326e10000000a11402f/content.htm?f...

or more specifically

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_SCM700_ehp02/helpdata/en/3e/99ad39e4692453e10000000a114084/content.htm?f...

Also SNC?. Is this also an option worth considering ?. or would it be needless expense (licenses et al) for a poor client.

SAP licensing models and licensing fees vary dramatically for each installation.  I couldn't possibly advise you what any required additional licensing would cost.  For instance, if you already have APO/DP, you may already own the license for SNC.  For such information, contact your local SAP account manager, he can advise you.

To me, collaboration is not a 'nice-to-have' feature; it is a big project with a big effort and cost, even ignoring the licensing costs.  Personally, I don't think I would begin such a project unless my company had customers that were demanding such a solution.

If you are really serious about implementing some type of collaborative effort, and you are not experienced with such matters, the normal first step is to engage a consulting company with expertise in these areas, to perform an analysis for you.

Best Regards,

DB49

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Zuper.

Let me convince the leadership to hire an external consulting firm specializing in collaborative planning.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

One last question.. before we post an advertisement tomorrow.

Given that the end objective in my case is to let customer submit his version of the forecast (that I have the right to modify), what is (could be) the "Functional" Difference between choice of Customer Forecast Management and Collaborative Demand Planning ? What is it that latter does that former doesn't and vice versa ? Reading the documentation and sub-sub links, first time, I cant comprehend any functional difference.

To emphasize my understanding. Please correct me if I am wrong.

if I give an access to a data view to my customers on the internet, they can load a selection id and key in a forecast in the only key figure they see in the data view. Call it customer forecast. He/she can enter this at what ever level fancied

Second scenario: I don't give my customer any access to data views because they are too big and busy to be doing this all the time. They send a file by an email in a desired format. I load it to BI. In this case I wait for every customer to submit his forecast before I can go to the next step. . so I will spend more time on follow ups on phones and emails because history says over 20% of the customers don't respond to anything unless you pull out your gun.

A third scenario is customer doesn't send anything. Instead I develop an interface to read customer time series from their systems, extract it, transform it and load data to my BI.

Then there is collaborative sales forecasting in SNC that I am yet to read re its use cases for the end objectives.

Thanks

BS  

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

BS,

what is (could be) the "Functional" Difference between choice of Customer Forecast Management and Collaborative Demand Planning ?

The functional differences at a high level are spelled out in the help docs previously cited.  Please don't expect me to do your homework for you.  Alternatively, you could log onto SAP Service Marketplace and look through the many documents posted there on the subject.

In any case, I think you are asking the wrong question.  A better question would be "what best meets the business requirements of my business."  This is the question you pay your experienced consultants to answer.  If you take it upon yourself to pre-decide the solution, you are missing out on the benefits of the expertise of the consulting resource. 

if I give an access to a data view to my customers on the internet, they can load a selection id and key in a forecast .....

This is possible

Second scenario: I don't give my customer any access to data views because they are too big and busy to be doing this all the time. They send a file by an email....

This is possible

A third scenario is customer doesn't send anything. Instead I develop an interface to read customer time series ....

This is possible.

Then there is collaborative sales forecasting in SNC that I am yet to read re its use cases for the end objectives.

The right consulting company will have a library of previous engagements they will share with you on this subject.  If you want to get started sooner, you can also log onto SAP Service Marketplace, and download some of their 'executive level' presentation documents, or customer experience documents. 

Best Regards,

DB49

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks DB49,

As always I love your crisp responses.  🙂

Service Market Place is a good idea. Let me find the one I got as a gift.

Many Thanks

Borat

[former_member205751 · Accepted solution]

This message was moderated.

[former_member205751 · Accepted solution]

Man...Guess you have just stepped into CFM .Borat if you  come across customer forecast management config. guide please let me know the link ......may be i require that in future

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Rahul,

I have no idea what is deep inside CFM. I don't have any config guide and the academy class on demand planning that I attended in 2009 after paying 5000 US dollars, didn't even talk about this. It is not a part of syllabus of what a consultant is supposed to know. So I never bothered to use or recommend it to any one.

Thanks

Borat.