Human behavior, technology, and processes. These are the three pillars that drive organizational growth. Claus Jensen, Director of SAP Global COE Digital Supply Chain, discussed this during the SAP Innovation Day for Supply Chain on November 7 in ’s-Hertogenbosch. He also explained how SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) can help achieve this. This blog shares his insights.
By Claus Jensen
“Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with planning,” Thomas Edison once said. In other words: luck or success is not a coincidence. It is usually the result of thorough preparation.
This may sound simple, but it’s not. Especially when it comes to managing your supply chain, where challenges abound—from geopolitical instability and rapidly changing customer expectations to cybersecurity threats and volatile raw material prices. Nothing is certain, except that there is a lot of uncertainty. Preparing your organization for what lies ahead is challenging but essential. Tomorrow’s winners will be those who can quickly make the right decisions when it matters most.
Effective planning is crucial for organizations to respond swiftly to changes. Planning goes beyond just looking ahead; it’s a strategic tool that helps your organization navigate the challenges that come your way efficiently. Here’s how:
- Quickly anticipating disruptions
To respond to changing situations effectively, you need agility. Supply chains must not only be faster, but also smarter. For example, you can detect risks early and swiftly turn unexpected disruptions into opportunities. - Ensuring real-time data and insights
Decisions are often only as strong as the data they rely on. Therefore, it’s essential to equip your organization with real-time data and a ‘single version of the truth’. By seamlessly integrating your data across systems and departments, you work with the most up-to-date and reliable information. - Improving collaboration and synchronization
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result,” Albert Einstein supposedly said. For an organization to progress, it must embrace new ways of working, including cooperation. You can digitally connect your entire supply chain, from suppliers to logistics partners, to align planning, production and logistics optimally.
The benefits of SAP Integrated Business Planning
SAP Integrated Business Planning helps organizations plan proactively, responsively, and with a future-oriented approach. It’s an end-to-end solution designed to make your supply chain resilient, efficient, and connected, focusing on your people, technology, and processes. Here are the four main advantages of SAP IBP for your organization:
- A data-driven supply chain
With SAP IBP, you base your planning on data across the entire supply chain, including external factors like weather conditions, market trends, and risks. Thanks to advanced technologies like probabilistic planning, you’re prepared for the unexpected and can adjust your strategy in time. - Efficiency through automation
SAP IBP leverages innovative technology, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to automate tasks like inventory management and capacity planning. This boosts planner productivity, reduces errors, and shortens response times. - Increased Planner Productivity
SAP IBP’s personalized interfaces guide planners efficiently through critical processes, from identifying anomalies to resolving them. By automating repetitive tasks, planners can focus on strategic, value-added decisions. - Digital connections with all your supply chain partners
With SAP IBP, you collaborate seamlessly within your entire ecosystem. You have digital connections with your supply chain partners, from suppliers to customers. This results in a more robust supply chain and enables you to respond quickly to changes, whether it’s a sudden surge in demand or a disruption in the supply of raw materials.
Never let a good crisis go to waste
SAP Integrated Business Planning empowers your organization to seize strategic growth opportunities proactively and respond better to disruptions. In these turbulent times, that’s where the greatest value lies. As Winston Churchill once said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”
Would you like to know more about the possibilities of SAP Integrated Business Planning for your organization? Please contact SAP or your account manager.
The SAP Innovation Day for Supply Chain 2025 is scheduled for June 19. Pre-register now to stay informed with the latest updates.
