Sunday, 21 April 2013

SAP BA implementation Experiences - Time to revise the implementation approach


  • SAP BA implementation require a lot of technical expertise (BW/BI -advance level expertise on BW workbench, TOOL BI, ETL,LSMW, PI Interface communication (flat file, XML, BAPI or direct PSO or consuming real time front office operative data) so that reconciliation or any mismatches can be identified or ensured that implementation / design  with exception / error testing is fit for the purpose
  • Integration architect role- critical as like any ERP implementation from technical aspects of the solution implementation

Collaborative approach that includes Architecture, Finance, IT and operational experts, agreed – this is case of any solution in the ERP landscape –


  • Foremost & important role” in SAP BA implementation is the Finance Accountants (SMEs) who understand IFRS –IAS disclosure / reporting reqs -  not a high level but as low as individual transaction level, expert can review blueprints, input to testing, develop sample data cases/ strategy (which I believe is the heart (back bone of the SAP BA testing)  

  • Data management itself is critical for successful implementation and for ROI, that’s why SAP BA has archiving concepts in BA – this facilitate correct – predictable analytics -   I don’t think need for  quality data can be ignored for pre-implementation  -  correct  raw data mining & controlling thought-out the testing life cycle for recognition, registration, valuation & classification  and again derecognition, imbrutement  from existing posting,


  • We do understand a single distinction of the data (FT, BT)  from its life cycle can change the expected accounting behaviors / results  - You will agree – IFRS is changing e.g. recent changes in the IAS 36 for “Impairment of Assets” made industry  more vigilant with solutions such as  SAP BA

I also observed some time necessary resource / talent lack on the implementation (technical or functional) as SAP BA is bit new in industry compare to FICO - Some time SAP BA creates a very large number of “account combinations” and journal lines from the transaction on the given period end (KDV- EoD)- Number of values in each segment, composition of the extended accounting etc-  idea is to ensure accounts covered in the transaction do not relate to the same sub ledger - otherwise the transaction becomes an intra-ledger transfer – this is a good feature of solution like SAP BA, but as someone like SME not being available on the project, this good feature was modified  in one small implementation  then reverted after almost 4 months discussion …


In many organizations, BA had become not only the system for financials AFI and regulatory reporting, but also a system for operational management, planning tool and reporting to internal performance with SAP BPC etc . Hence, if any of the SAP BA project oriented organization lacked a strong talent for project accounting and management – It must be looked a resource rather SAP BA solution..


Compiling  daily data for  profit and loss or balance sheet reporting, determine appropriate accounting treatment (eg under IAS39) - Period end related analyses / procedure from accounting perspective -

projects must been ready for surprises and new lessons learnt. As my career in QA and testing, I believe SAP implementation scenarios is the easiest one provided right recourses are doing right job…


#Individual must be strong in both accounting for financial instruments (IFRS -GAPP) and the mechanics in Bank Analyzer/BW required to address the client’s reporting and disclosure requirements


Data sourcing and reporting teams to ensure a cohesive end-to-end solution. Be a Package Solution Consultant SAP BA project. One must not just solving IT problems but understands and works with finance …

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SAP S/4HANA -Financial Services for Intelligent Enterprise - IFRS

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