What it’s SAP CPM? & Which it’s the difference with SAP PPM?

I have been present in a conference call with a SAP employee about SAP CPM, and some kind of click passed into my mind on that moment. The future it’s in our hand and I will give you some details about this.

At every project that I participated, always asked me myself –> Which is the best way to implement this solution?

In past just with implement SAP PS in a company was a real solution, but in present this implementation of SAP PS solution it’s not enough.

User experience has improved the use of software and new technologies of web or cloud solution. This user experience was translated to the rest of SAP solution in SAP World as this strategy:

• Renew
• New
• Enable

This kind of UX strategy are builded it from this instance, that help to users to identify the best way of manage and use of new technologies with a global vision.

So comparing SAP PS with new Project Management technologies, it’s not enough and SAP have been developed SAP CPM for the Commercial Project Management.

This new strategy came with SAP CPM, and now we will view all detail of this solution:

1) What it’s SAP CPM?

SAP Commercial Project Management is a tool to manage business projects oriented to clients or sell project to clients. Provides solutions that address the core business process requirements of companies that offer project-based services to their customers. Covers multiple processes in an end-to-end scenario spanning the selling, planning, executing, monitoring, and controlling of projects. Companies that sell projects (for example, in the professional services or the engineering, construction, and operations industries) can use these solutions to further professionalize their core business processes and expand beyond back office capabilities.

SAP CPM it’s usually uses in Engineering, construction and operation (in SAP this is not an Solution Industry, just business process). You can see it in https://solutionexplorer.sap.com/solexp/ui/#/search?facets=IND-I_ECO

There are 3 three important packages into SAP CPM:

• Project Workspace: Highly user-friendly and flexible work enviroment that provides an overview about all relevant information across systems and applications.
• Project Financial Planning: Unified planning and controlling of quantities, costs and revenues throughout the complete project lifecycle (bid, plan, forecasting, execution).
• Issue and Change Management: Recording and tracking of project issues and change requests and their cost revenue impact.

2) Which it’s the difference with SAP PPM?

SAP Portfolio & Project Management & SAP CPM are two differents solutions with an integration at process Asset Management –> Real Estate Lifecycle Management –> Investment and Construction for investment projects. They are in the same solution landscape of Enterprise Portfolio and Project Management.

SAP CPM helps companies analyze investment alternatives and details; track project budgets, milestones, and delivery; and communicate electronically on bids. Our software also helps companies manage process steps; automate payments and deadline reminders; and track architectural, usage, and land data. Management, monitoring, and collaboration functionality help managers keep projects on track, communicate with suppliers, meet deadlines, and provide consistent data to support better decision making. Companies can get a clear view into investments and property portfolios, gain project insights and budget control, reduce project risk, save time in supplier collaboration, and improve the bidding process.

The SAP Portfolio and Project Management application gives high-level visibility over the entire project portfolio, portfolio analytics, and resources. Portfolio management involves five basic areas: strategic planning, resource and schedule planning, cost management and control, information transparency, and improved management oversight. This allows the alignment of portfolios with corporate objectives, including portfolios of projects, programs, and services within R & D, professional services, for capital investment projects, and IT.

Key Capabilities:

• Portfolio and bucket hierarchy management
• Decision flow management
• Financial and capacity planning
• Resource management
• Portfolio monitoring
• Reporting cockpit

One company would have different project types, one oriented to clients (Commercial or Opex) and others oriented to investment (assets), so it’s possible that this tools will work together.

Soon I will write more details.

Best regards,

Mariano Sabiche