Implementer’s Guide to Rapid S4-based Financial Planning & Analysis for SAP S/4HANA using SAP Analytics Cloud

Blog updated: January 17, 2023

The audience for this blog:  Partners, Consultants, and Customers interested in implementing SAP Analytics Cloud on top of SAP S/4HANA for Corporate FP&A scenarios (updated August 2022 with SAC’s New Model Type)

• To download the free suite from SAP Analytics Cloud, follow this generic Business Content download guide HERE (search the word “Rapid” in Business Content Network)
  • SAP internal staff can use demo 18508 in SAP Demostore
• Join our LinkedIn Rapid FP&A group, where we share additional insights
• Register NOW for the rollout of the “What’s New in Rapid FP&A” live demo, taking place on February 21, 2023
  • For a full schedule of Demos and Training, please see the new Demo & Training Blog
• Email Rapid_FPA@sap.com if any questions or if you want a custom demo and/or advisory session

See the quick VIDEO for this introduction to an exciting FREE business content offering from SAP.

Did you know? 

• The Rapid Financial Planning & Analysis for SAP S/4HANA suite of three models…
  • Positioned for Corporate FP&A role under the CFO Office – a focused Finance solution for the top of your organization
  • Best Practices in SAC’s New Model Type
  • Built by SAP Services in North America
  • Endorsed by both S/4HANA and SAC Product Management
  • Featured with SAC’s original classic account model at Sapphire 2018 and re-released in August 2022 leveraging SAC’s New Model Type – per Demand from Customers, Partners, and SAP Services

Upgraded to New Model Type in August 2022 & a new release (November 2022) is Available now, with a new major upgrade due on February 18, 2023.

Register HERE for the rollout of the “What’s New in Rapid FP&A” live demo, taking place on February 21, 2023. Join our LinkedIn Rapid FP&A group, where we share additional insights, too.

SAC New Model Checklist:

• The Rapid FP&A Suite is made up of:
  • Rapid Financial Planning & Analysis for SAP S/4HANA (2EB)
  • Rapid Sales Planning & Analysis for SAP S/4HANA (4DP)
  • Rapid Workforce Planning & Analysis for SAP S/4HANA (3DJ)

Note:  Click on the hyperlinks above to tap into “Best Practice Explorer,” where you will find a Test Script (“user guide”) and implementation-friendly guides, including integration guides.

Business content is FREE to customers of SAP Analytics Cloud.

How to Import/Download the Rapid FP&A Content to your SAC tenant?

When in SAP Analytics Cloud:

• Follow this generic Business Content download guide HERE (search the word “Rapid” in Business Content Network), or
• The links in the section above include a specific guide on how to import this content into your own customer tenant – follow the 2JX Import Model configuration guide

Here is the user interface for the Business Content Network in SAP Analytics Cloud:

What is new in November 2022?

The #1 ask we have had in the Best Practice team is a conversion to the New Model Type, with releases in August 2022 (v1) and November 2022 (v2), with a BIG release 3 planned for February 18, 2023.

• Rapid FP&A deploys a Model Structure Priority of “Accounts over Measures“, which allows important flexibility with calculations and labeling values in stories
• On the currency front, stored values for Actuals in both local and global currency provide 100% tie out to your SAP S/4HANA sources across all three models
• Leveraging the New Model Type capabilities, the Flow concept has been migrated from a generic “Dimension” to three “Measures”, which provides more accurate quarter-end and year-end aggregation of balance sheet figures.  SAC documentation recommends Measures for flows.
• Read about the New Model HERE

What about this video series?

• You can watch these videos when you want and in any order you want
• Each video is accompanied by a PDF attachment with the slides
• We will update (or add new vides) videos for the New Model Type soon

What is the message to YOU from this blog?

Best Practice Rapid Financial Planning & Analysis for SAP S/4HANA Content is FREE.

The Suite is Rapid. Simple. Standard.

The video series is FREE!

Follow-up questions to the the author are also FREE!

You now have the FREE-dom  to implement Best Practices for Rapid Financial Planning & Analysis  for SAP S/4HANA at your customer.

Review the SAP Analytics Cloud roadmap HERE

Request a feature in SAP Analytics Cloud HERE

To participate in the training –

(Note: The content referenced above is now on SAC’s New Model Type, but the videos below are still on SAC’s Classic Account Model as we await new videos!)

Step 1:  Watch this Video – which is an introduction to The Suite:

Financial Planning & Analysis Suite for SAP S/4HANA using SAP Analytics Cloud (Best Practices – Jan 2021)

Step 2: Watch the Videos below in any order and at any time

If you want to train on the entire suite, we suggest you watch FP&A videos top to bottom and then complete Sales and then Workforce top to bottom.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can Best Practice financial planning solutions for SAP S/4HANA Cloud be implemented with SAP S/4HANA On-Premise?

• Yes!   The planning models would be the same, and implementing the cloud connector will allow SAP Analytics Cloud to integrate with SAP S/4HANA on-premise.

Do the Rapid FP&A solutions come with sample data, so I can explore the solutions before any integration to my own data?

• Yes!   Rapid FP&A, Sales, and Workforce planning all come with sample data.  Actuals from January 2022 to September 2023, and a Planning horizon from October 2023 to December 2024.

How do I learn more about support options for SAP S4HANA in the public cloud?

• See HERE

Enjoy the video series!

Thank you,

Mark P. Burke
SAP S/4HANA Cloud – Product Manager
Financial Planning & Analysis
Palo Alto, CA

Thank you to our referenced Blog contributors:  Viswanathan Ramakrishnan, Dirk Pelz, Linda Peruzzi, Maximilian Paul Gander, Thomas Haeusel , Alecsandra Dimofte