Sales Planning with SAP SAC

Sales planning is an essential part of running a successful business, and SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) is a vital tool in streamlining that process. By creating sales forecasts, for example, sales planning can help organizations set achievable targets and allocate resources effectively. While SAP’s Sales and Distribution (SD) module has been the go-to solution for sales planning for many years, SAP SAC offers a modern and more efficient approach.  

Understanding SAP SAC

SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) is a cloud-based analytics solution that integrates data from various sources and presents a unified view of an organization’s data. SAC offers a comprehensive suite of tools for planning, reporting, and predictive analytics, making it easy for sales planners to create and manage their plans. 

The Sales Planning Process with SAP SAC

Curate the Plan

Sales planning with SAP SAC begins with curating a sales plan model that will be the foundation of the process with all the data needed. The sales plan model can be created by importing data from various sources, such as SAP ERP or Salesforce. Once the data is imported, the user can organize it into categories, such as product lines or sales channels. 

Create the Forecast

The next step is to create a sales forecast, and luckily, SAC provides various forecasting methods like exponential smoothing, moving averages, linear regression, and more. Users can choose the forecasting method that best suits their business needs or adjust the forecast manually. 

Set Targets

Once the forecast is created, the sales planner can use it to set sales targets at assorted levels, such as product lines or sales regions. SAC provides a simple interface to set targets and allows users to adjust targets based on market conditions or business priorities. 

Develop Strategies

The next step is to develop sales strategies to meet the previously set targets, and SAC is equipped with analytical tools to help users identify the key drivers of sales performance. Users also have the ability to slice and dice data in several ways, like by sales channel or product line, allowing users to identify the areas that need improvement and develop strategies to address those areas. 

Additional SAP SAC Features

Another key feature of SAP SAC is the ability to create what-if scenarios. This possibility allows users to test different strategies and assess the impact on performance. Additionally, SAC provides a comprehensive variety of reports and dashboards with real-time insights and high-level data to monitor performance and identify the areas that need improvement. This helps sales planners make informed decisions and develop strategies that are most likely to achieve the targets. 

Leveraging SAP SAC for Your Sales Planning

Ultimately, SAP SAC gives users a unique and proactive approach to sales planning. With its intuitive interface, sales planners can tackle their tasks with ease and efficiency. From creating the plan and forecast to developing targets and strategies, sales planning with SAP SAC is a process tailor-made for sales planners. To learn more about SAP SAC and other SAP solutions, contact the BCTG team.