The SAP Profitability and Performance Management 3.0 will release its 1st support Package (SP17) for the year 2022. March 22, 2022, will be the date so mark your calendars.
If you are excited to discover the latest features and enhancements on what SP17 has to offer, I suggest that you continue reading to learn what it has in store for you.
Let us begin with the General Features!
The application now lets you export the full configuration of an environment version into a zipped JSON file which can then be placed in a local directory, the downloaded file can be used for convenient analyses or for subsequent processing. Use the transaction code /NXI/P1_FW_EXP_ENV on your SAP GUI to export the environment. Once the environment has been exported, users can now import this on their respective Cloud Tenants via Content Network. Just a little note, please make sure that the authorization to execute the transaction has been configured on the user role via the transaction code /NXI/P1_ADMIN_USER_ALL. It is important that the environment to be exported is in a consistent state, meaning all functions which can be activated have to be successfully activated, and additional consistency requirements must be fulfilled.
In case of inconsistencies, the system will cancel the export and provides an error message containing information about the root cause.
The Modeling History Application introduced the following enhancements for SP17:
Note:
SAP Profitability and Performance Management SP17 offers performance improvements on the following functions:
Since the field FS_PER_FORMULA contains non-crucial information regarding the formulas, implementing the notes below will reduce the memory consumption of the system during the execution of the function as it will stop the functions from filling this field.
I recommend that you read my colleague's blog posts where he explained these Visual Modeler features and enhancements in great detail and with clarity.
SAP Profitability and Performance Management 3.0: What’s inside Visual Modeler SP17 SAP note 3127975
Additionally, when dealing with special currencies maintained in the TCURX table, the values between the Visualize Screen and Analyze screen are now the same.
Next, let's discuss the exciting new features and enhancements for the MODELING specific update!
Model Join is a type of data model function, the same as Join, entails possible complex selections and enrichment of one or more data sources.
For detailed information on the Model Join functionality, please see my colleague's blog post.
SAP PaPM Cloud is introducing a new information Function called Model Join
Model RDL is a model function that allows you to access SAP HANA-optimized Results Data types of the Financial Products subledger. A new validation for multiple usages of the same field in sync dialog is now performed for excluded fields and all fields are saved in configuration tables and multiple usages are allowed.
Before SP17, when using the Remote Function Adapter Type “Replicate CO Master Data” the user can copy all the material or customer master data and/or hierarchies into an environment field but for SP17 the Remote Function Adapter Type “Replicate CO Master Data” was enhanced to have the capability to select data that is to be replicated to an environment field by either assigning a field or maintain a formula for the component “co_area” from the rules tab.
The Remote Function Adapter Type “Finance General Ledger” now allows posting of more than two amounts and more than one criteria per document.
In the Machine Learning function, a new Rule Type was introduced called Forecast Method. This allows users to choose a different forecast method than the default Automated Analytics algorithm. The user can select between Default, Linear Regression, and Exponential Smoothing.
The new support package will include a new standalone sample content and enhancements were done on the sample content listed in the table below which can be expected after patching to SP17 and applying the proper piece list mentioned in the administration guide.
This is what the upcoming Support Package offers in terms of new features, enhancements, and content.
Now, are you ready to discover these new features, enhancements and contents? Prepare yourself and plan ahead.
Hopefully, you found this blog post interesting and stay tuned for more details about the upcoming Support Packages!
If you are excited to discover the latest features and enhancements on what SP17 has to offer, I suggest that you continue reading to learn what it has in store for you.
Let us begin with the General Features!
Exporting the full configuration of an environment
The application now lets you export the full configuration of an environment version into a zipped JSON file which can then be placed in a local directory, the downloaded file can be used for convenient analyses or for subsequent processing. Use the transaction code /NXI/P1_FW_EXP_ENV on your SAP GUI to export the environment. Once the environment has been exported, users can now import this on their respective Cloud Tenants via Content Network. Just a little note, please make sure that the authorization to execute the transaction has been configured on the user role via the transaction code /NXI/P1_ADMIN_USER_ALL. It is important that the environment to be exported is in a consistent state, meaning all functions which can be activated have to be successfully activated, and additional consistency requirements must be fulfilled.
Figure 1. Zip File containing the .json files
In case of inconsistencies, the system will cancel the export and provides an error message containing information about the root cause.
My Activities/Processes
- On the My Activities application, in the case of Dual Workflow, we now have an email notification that is being sent to a Performer group member after the deployment of Process Instance, this issue is addressed with SP17 release.
- When you exclude authority for display in the authorization object /NXI/P1F for REVIEWER role, the Fiori tile count for the "Current Activities" of “My Activities” is zero.
Figure 3. My Activities Fiori tiles show the correct figure for the current activities
- In Process Management (Checks), a new feature allows the user to assign checks from the Environment-Checks section to an activity in the Process Template. Upon creation of Process Instance, the activity data (I/O activities only) is checked according to the check condition as one of the criteria for an activity to be set to “To Complete” or “Submit”.
Modeling History
The Modeling History Application introduced the following enhancements for SP17:
- Before SP17, deleted environments were not stored in the system. For SP17, a new “Deleted Environments” tab will be introduced which displays all the deleted Modeling environments.
Figure 4. Deleted Environments Tab
- When retrieving a function from the Modeling History Application,
- In the Selection pop-up, a new search button is now available for searching the environment and version in which the user may assign new details for the Environment ID, Version ID, Parent, Function ID, and Description. A warning message is displayed when a user chooses to retrieve a function.
Figure 5. New Search button and Warning message
- Just like in our modeling environment, the user may only assign a parent to the selected environment when it is a Description, Calculation Unit, or Condition Function. A validation message would appear if the user had selected an invalid parent.
In my example below, I am trying to assign a model table as the parent of a retrieved function, as this is not allowed by the system it will render a validation message.
- Just like in our modeling environment, the user may only assign a parent to the selected environment when it is a Description, Calculation Unit, or Condition Function. A validation message would appear if the user had selected an invalid parent.
Figure 6. A model table function is assigned as a parent
Figure 7. Validation message
- For a successfully retrieved function, the changes are going to be reflected on the retrieved functions when the Environment/Version/Parent ID/Description was changed. When the retrieved function is to be assigned to an environment different from the source modeling history, there will be no record of retrieval from the source modeling history application, instead, the record will be reflected in the target modeling history application.
Figure 8. Source Modeling History application
Figure 9. Target Modeling History application
- When copying an existing Environment, Function or Field from My Environments, the copied Environments, Function or Field when checked on the Modeling History will be logged as a new entry with History Type 'CREATE'.
Figure 10. Copied Environment
Note:
- For SP16 and below please implement SAP Note 3133662 to enjoy this feature.
- As a prerequisite for the Modeling History enhancement implementation of SAP Note 3136757 - FS-PER-OP Rel 3.0 SP17 - Deleted Environments are not visible in the Modeling His... before implementing the above SAP Note.
Performance Improvements
SAP Profitability and Performance Management SP17 offers performance improvements on the following functions:
- Allocation Function
- Join Function
- View Function
Since the field FS_PER_FORMULA contains non-crucial information regarding the formulas, implementing the notes below will reduce the memory consumption of the system during the execution of the function as it will stop the functions from filling this field.
- 3142105 - FS-PER-OP Rel 3.0 SP17 - Remove technical formula field from Allocation function
- 3133691 - FS-PER-OP Rel 3.0 SP17 - Remove technical formula field from View and Join
Modeling Environments
- A column was added to the Environment Checks tab called Category. The categories are as follows:
- Custom Check – if a dataset entry meets the selection criteria, it triggers a message to be sent to the application log
- Master Data Check - By adding this check to a function that has one or more fields, the check determines if the values of those fields are within the master data range.
- Master Data or Initial Value Check - is used to check if the values of the function fields belong to the range of master data values; initial entries are allowed and will not be validated, so no messages will be displayed for them.
- Excluding Check - checks whether the criteria defined in the Selection field appear at least once in the field values.
Figure 11. Checks tab and the new Category column
Visual Modeler
I recommend that you read my colleague's blog posts where he explained these Visual Modeler features and enhancements in great detail and with clarity.
SAP Profitability and Performance Management 3.0: What’s inside Visual Modeler SP17 SAP note 3127975
Additionally, when dealing with special currencies maintained in the TCURX table, the values between the Visualize Screen and Analyze screen are now the same.
Next, let's discuss the exciting new features and enhancements for the MODELING specific update!
Model Join
Model Join is a type of data model function, the same as Join, entails possible complex selections and enrichment of one or more data sources.
For detailed information on the Model Join functionality, please see my colleague's blog post.
SAP PaPM Cloud is introducing a new information Function called Model Join
Model RDL
Model RDL is a model function that allows you to access SAP HANA-optimized Results Data types of the Financial Products subledger. A new validation for multiple usages of the same field in sync dialog is now performed for excluded fields and all fields are saved in configuration tables and multiple usages are allowed.
Remote Function Adapter
Before SP17, when using the Remote Function Adapter Type “Replicate CO Master Data” the user can copy all the material or customer master data and/or hierarchies into an environment field but for SP17 the Remote Function Adapter Type “Replicate CO Master Data” was enhanced to have the capability to select data that is to be replicated to an environment field by either assigning a field or maintain a formula for the component “co_area” from the rules tab.
Figure 12. The field column has to be maintained
Remote Function Adapter FI-GL
The Remote Function Adapter Type “Finance General Ledger” now allows posting of more than two amounts and more than one criteria per document.
Machine Learning
In the Machine Learning function, a new Rule Type was introduced called Forecast Method. This allows users to choose a different forecast method than the default Automated Analytics algorithm. The user can select between Default, Linear Regression, and Exponential Smoothing.
Figure 13. Forecast Method Rule Type
Sample Contents
The new support package will include a new standalone sample content and enhancements were done on the sample content listed in the table below which can be expected after patching to SP17 and applying the proper piece list mentioned in the administration guide.
New
Sample Content | ID | Version |
| Production Quality and Sustainability Management | SDP | 1 |
Enhanced
Sample Content | ID | Version |
| Sample Content Value Chain Sustainability Management | SXC | 15 |
| Sample Content Corporate Sustainability Management | SXD | 2 |
| Sample Content Financing and Investment Sustainability Management | SXV | 7 |
| Sample Content Process Mining on S/4 HANA - Accounts Payable | SXM | AP07 |
| Sample Content Process Mining on S/4 HANA - Accounts Receivable | SXM | AR06 |
| Sample Content Process Mining on S/4 HANA - Credit Application | SXM | CA02 |
| Sample Content Process Mining on S/4 HANA - Claims Management | SXM | CM05 |
| Sample Content Process Mining on S/4 HANA - Order to Cash | SXM | OC06 |
| Sample Content Process Mining on S/4 HANA - Purchase to Pay | SXM | PP07 |
| Sample Content Process Mining on S/4 HANA - Production Planning | SXM | PR06 |
| Sample Content Process Mining on S/4 HANA - Utilities | SXM | UT03 |
| Sample Content Process Mining on S/4 HANA - Warehouse Management | SXM | WM05 |
| Fashion Profitability and Cost Management | SCF | 8 |
| Life Sciences Profitability and Cost Management | SCL | 9 |
| Consumer Products Profitability and Cost Management | SCP | 9 |
| Retail Profitability and Cost Management | SCR | 9 |
| Automotive Profitability and Cost Management | SDA | 8 |
| High Tech Profitability and Cost Management | SDH | 9 |
| Industrial Machinery and Components Profitability and Cost Management | SDI | 8 |
| Aerospace & Defense Profitability and Cost Management | SDS | 6 |
| Chemicals Profitability and Cost Management | SEC | 9 |
| Mill Products Profitability and Cost Management | SEI | 6 |
| Mining Profitability and Cost Management | SEM | 8 |
| Oil and Gas Profitability and Cost Management | SEO | 9 |
| Utilities Profitability and Cost Management | SEU | 8 |
| Banking Profitability and Cost Management | SFB | 9 |
| Telecommunication Profitability and Cost Management | SST | 10 |
This is what the upcoming Support Package offers in terms of new features, enhancements, and content.
Now, are you ready to discover these new features, enhancements and contents? Prepare yourself and plan ahead.
Hopefully, you found this blog post interesting and stay tuned for more details about the upcoming Support Packages!
- SAP Managed Tags:
