SAP Purchase Incentives for Migrating from APO to IBP
No Better Time than Now to Make the Switch
By Matt Campbell, Founder SCMO2
For every company there exists an optimal time to begin the migration from APO to IBP. Are you ready for it? For your organization, that time may be now.
Consulting firms that specialize in SAP IBP have greatly developed their internal capabilities and most have consultants with multiple IBP migration projects under their belts. Best practice models and accelerators are now well developed and can be leveraged in ongoing implementations. SAP has done a great job over the last few years bringing the IBP tool capability up to current standards and have worked substantially with customers to ensure that tool maturity and development is going to continue meeting their ever-evolving requirements.
With a significant user base in the tool and a proven model for generating a positive return on investment, SAP is turning its attention to the entire APO and EIS/SmartOps customer base to encourage them to begin their IBP migration now. Given the usual, multi-phase implementation approach and a realization that the 2025 sunset date is fast approaching, large global customers especially need to expedite plans if they have not yet done so.
Given the amount of time we spend with SAP’s supply chain group, we are aware of some tantalizing incentives being offered in 2019 to create momentum and convince this significant base to retire their APO and EIS/SmartOps licenses, and transition to two (or more) of the available IBP modules (Demand, Inventory, S&OP, R&S and CT).
For details on these incentives, we encourage you to talk more specifically with your SAP account exec and determine how you can best leverage this offer. And of course, you should talk with us to help you plan and execute your transition to the latest and best supply chain planning tool for your SAP landscape.
Starting the journey now can drive significant value for your business as IBP offers dramatically improved features and functionality over APO. The improved UI, scenario planning capabilities, and a user self-serve design drives lower total cost of ownership and creates better user adoption.
In one of my January blog posts titled “Modernizing Your SAP Business Suite Products” I offer more details about how best to plan your conversion to IBP.
Like all good offers, this one will not be around for long. If you are considering a transition from APO to IBP this year, let SCMO2 help you develop a roadmap to start driving value for your business with IBP now.
