Automatic Planning 

Use

Automatic planning allows you to use existing plan or actual data from one version or time period as a template for plan data for another version or time period. The advantage is that you can easily edit larger amounts of data in this way, for example, if your plan data is based on the actual data of the previous year. You can also make certain changes to the data.

Integration

With the exception of top-down planning, the plan data can be updated with the tools of the component data transfer.

Features

Function

What you should know

Copy plan data

You use this function if you wish to copy plan or actual data from one version or time period to another version or time period. You can take reference data from more than one year (for example, 010.1997 to 004.1998), and also copy to more than one year. The number of reference periods however, must equal the number of plan periods.

Change plan data

You use this function if you wish to copy plan data and simultaneously change it using a seasonal distribution and/or a revaluation. You can take reference data from more than one year (for example, 010.1997 to 004.1998), and also copy to more than one year. The number of reference periods however, must equal the number of plan periods.

The seasonal distribution of the reference data remains intact when copying, meaning that period values are copied. If the seasonality of the reference data is not to be adopted due to special circumstances, then you can enter a new seasonal distribution for the planning run. The reference data for all periods of the selected reference time frame is accumulated and distributed to the periods of the planning time frame according to the seasonal distribution key (see Seasonal Distribution). You can use certain SAP-delivered distribution keys for this or create your own (see Maintaining Distribution Keys). In the planning session you can either set a seasonal distribution for all data records, or (using a planning aid access) you can select a distribution for a specific characteristic combination.

If you want to use existing plan or actual data (with a percentage increase or decrease) as a basis for new plan data, you can select a revaluation factor. The reference data will then be amended to take account of this increase/decrease (see Revaluation). You can either set the revaluation for all data records, or (using a planning aid access) you can select a revaluation for a specific characteristic combination (see Determining the Revaluation Factor).

Forecast plan data

You use this function when you wish to automatically forecast plan data (see Forecast). You can take reference data from more than one year (for example, 010.1997 to 004.1998), and also copy to more than one year. With the forecast function, the number of periods in the reference and plan areas may be different.

Using a forecast profile, you can generate plan data based on already existing reference data (see Forecast Profile).

You can either set the forecast for all data records, or (using a planning aid access) you can select a forecast for a specific characteristic combination. In addition, you can select a different forecast profile for each key figure.

Top-down planning

You use this function when you wish to automatically distribute plan data top-down within an aspect. Plan data is distributed from a higher level to lower levels, for example, from customer group level to customer level (see Top-Down Planning). You can take reference data from more than one year (for example, 010.1997 to 004.1998), and also plan for more than one year. The number of reference periods however, must equal the number of plan periods.

Updating the plan data

You can either update the plan data directly, or you can update with the functions of data transfer, using a sender structure and transfer rules.

The direct update (that is without transfer rules) is suitable for planning sessions in which you copy values into the same fields of a second version and, possibly a second time frame (or copy and revaluate, or distribute anew). You determine whether existing plan data is to be overwritten, or if the values are to added to existing records on the database. You do not have to carry out any activities in Customizing for the direct update of the data.

Note that:

If you wish to carry out one or more of the following functions while copying, you must update the data using a sender structure and with transfer rules:

The prerequisite for this is the maintenance of the sender structures and transfer rules in Customizing. When maintaining the transfer rules you determine whether existing plan data is to be overwritten or if the values are to added.

Authorizations

To protect the plan/actual indicator and the version in automatic planning, you use the authorization object K_KC_DB_VS. You can use data slices to protect the fiscal year and the period. If you wish to protect other characteristics use the general characteristic authorization for EC-EIS and EC-BP.