Easy administration of SAP planning applications with NextTables

Modern BW IP and BPC planning solutions include many custom developments based on parameters in ADSOs or tables. The maintenance of these parameters requires individual input masks, which require development efforts. In this article we present a low-maintenance alternative.

Usually, a planning cycle is set centrally in a planning application by the administrator, which is to be planned by all planners. This is typically stored in an ADSO and read out in the planning layouts and functions via a customer exit.

Several iterations of planning can take place within a planning cycle. These different versions are usually also controlled via a combination of Customer Exit and ADSO.

Another example would be data slices that protect the plan values from changes. In order to implement this concept flexibly, data slices of the type Exit are used in practice. These read the values to be locked from an ADSO that a planning administrator has stored there.

In addition, there is also a scenario in which characteristic relationships are realized via an ADSO. The values to be derived are stored in an ADSO. These can then be read out via an SAP standard function or, in the case of complex characteristic relationships, via a customer exit.

Normally, a separate planning mask would be required for each use case so that the relevant parameters can be maintained by the business department. Which in turn requires implementation and maintenance effort. With NextTables it can be done much easier, faster and cheaper!

Learn all about easy data maintenance with NextTables

NextTables is an SAP add-on from NextLytics that allows you to edit all SAP tables and ADSOs. It does not matter whether you use SAP BW/4 HANA, SAP BW on HANA or SAP S/4HANA - NextTables supports all systems. Since it is an add-on, you do not need your own server. NextTables is seamlessly integrated into the SAP system. The software is ready to use and can be customized by the business department in no time.

The Admin ADSOs, which contain the planning-relevant parameters, can be integrated into NextTables very quickly. Maintenance can thus be carried out very easily by the user. In this scenario, individual input masks are also not required. Instead of multiple planning masks, the user has only one entry point. Thanks to a user-friendly, intuitive interface, users from the business department can maintain the parameters on all end devices.  Thanks to the built-in authorization check, the data always remains protected from unauthorized access.

Planning applications - Our Summary

Through the simplified parameter maintenance interface, NextTables allows you to shorten the project duration and thus save the costs. NextTables supports all table types, regardless of whether it is a classic DSO, Advanced DSO or an SAP table. In addition, NextTables offers a variety of editing options as well as an import service. Thanks to built-in authorization control, the data remains protected from unauthorized access at all times.

So if you are looking for a user-friendly, easy-to-use and platform-independent solution to manage your planning applications, NextTables could be an alternative for you.

Would you like to learn more about NextTables' capabilities? Download our presentation on NextTables now and learn everything about further usage scenarios and functions!