SAP BPC v7.0: Roadmap for Business Planning & Consolidation and CPM
With SAP BPC v7.0 in ramp up since July 2008 more and more companies are wondering about the definitive roadmap for BPC. Although no official announcements have yet been made, a number of things are clear.
First of all, SAP BPC will be available in two different versions. The first version will leverage SAP's Netweaver technology, allowing users direct access to R/3 and BW directly from BPC. This version is expected to be launched in the first half of 2009, probably in the second quarter.
The second version is basically SAP BPC v5.3 and continues to use the Microsoft SQL Server platform. It will contain some minor bug fixes and enhancements, but will not be very different from the current version. This version is also expected to be launched in the first half of 2009, a little bit earlier than the Netweaver version (probably Q1).
The next diagram gives an overview of the new architecture.
A more detailed overview of the difference between the two versions, and how they relate to the existing BPC product, may be found at SAP Business Planning and Consolidation: Hands-On Exercises.
SAP's roadmap for performance management and business intelligence and the integration issues related to SAP's original BI platform (i.e. BW, BI, SEM, BCS etc.) with BusinessObjects and OutlookSoft products are still under discussion. Apparently, SAP's wish to move into the office of the CFO may make a strong case for BPC. BPC's ability to really be ‘owned' by the Finance department instead of IT, may make it very appealing for SAP to put more investment into SAP BPC as the major front-end tool.
We will keep you posted on any developments. For more information please read the postings on Whypad: Deciding about SAP BPC and the SAP Developers Network.
