The SAP EPM portfolio is constantly evolving. The different names and versions of SAP Business Planning & Consolidation (BPC) sometimes make you dizzy. Optimized for S/4 HANA, Embedded, BPC 11; many people can no longer see the wood for the trees. Therefore, we briefly list them and show which version is the most logical option for which situation.
SAP BPC 10.1 Microsoft
SAP BPC version for the Microsoft platform. Version 10.1 is the most recent release.
This is the successor to BPC 10.0 and earlier versions going back to when the product was called Outlooksoft.
It makes sense to use this version when you:
- Want to upgrade the current Microsoft version of BPC (10.0 or earlier)
- Want to implement a reliable total solution for Business Planning and Consolidation where end users can continue to work with a familiar Excel front-end
- Want to be able to access multiple source systems in a mixed IT landscape
- Does not aspire to further SAP integration within the organization
SAP BPC 10.1 NetWeaver - Standard
SAP BPC version for the SAP NetWeaver platform, the Standard variant.
This is the most recent release of the NetWeaver variant and therefore successor to BPC 10.0 NW and earlier versions. With the arrival of 'Embedded' (see below), this version received the addition 'Standard'. So this is the further developed Netweaver version that has been on the market for years. This version is almost identical to the Microsoft version in terms of functionality. The difference is mainly in the administrator side, which is completely web-based here, and the integration with SAP Netweaver (BW).
It makes sense to use this version when you:
- SAP BPC 10.0 Netweaver (or earlier) and want to upgrade
- SAP BCS wants to replace with a proven SAP consolidation solution
- SAP used as ERP system (ECC R/3) and SAP BW as data warehouse
- Have an 'SAP unless' IT strategy and want to replace another vendor's solution
SAP BPC 10.1 Netweaver - Embedded
SAP BPC version for the SAP NetWeaver platform - Embedded variant.
This version, which works exclusively on the HANA platform, cleverly combines the well-known BW Integrated Planning (BW-IP) functionality with the flexibility and business content of BPC Classic. In this version, BPC and BW are extensively integrated. Master data is no longer managed in BPC, ensuring 'one version of the truth'. In addition, this version offers major performance improvements.
It makes sense to use this version when you:
- Already using SAP BW-IP and want to upgrade or replace it
- Want to add more flexibility to SAP BW-IP
- Using or wanting to use SAP HANA as a platform
- Have complex business planning requirements and use large data volumes.
- SAP ERP (ECC R/3) used as source systems.
SAP BPC 10.1 - Optimized
SAP BPC, Optimized for S4/HANA.
As with the Embedded variant, Optimized involves extensive integration with BW that provides the same benefits. However, this very new version of BPC that has been around since 2016 can only be used in conjunction with S/4HANA - SAP's new ERP suite that succeeds ECC R3. BPC Optimized offers capabilities for "continuous accounting" is able to plan and consolidate in real time.
It makes sense to use this version when you:
- S/4HANA used
- If organization wants to get started with continuous accounting
- Want to be able to plan and consolidate real time based on transaction data
SAP BPC 11
SAP BPC version 11 on BW/4HANA.
This is the very latest version of BPC that has been around since 2017. It no longer uses the Netweaver platform. BW/4HANA is required to use this version. This database platform can handle very large amounts of data even better but cannot (yet) be integrated with SAP ERP modules.
It makes sense to use this version when you:
- BW/4HANA used
- Have very large data sets that you want to plan and/or consolidate with
- Do not require integration with SAP ERP
- Want to be at the forefront of the latest technology as an organization
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