SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) Copy Operator Overview

In the SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) platform, one of the powerful tools for improving data management and planning processes is the Copy Operator. This tool allows businesses to copy operational data quickly and accurately, enabling them to optimize planning and analysis processes. It is particularly used in processes such as planning scenarios, time periods, and data integration.

In this blog post, we will explore in detail how the Copy Operator works and how it adds value to business processes.

SAP IBP Copy Operator Usage

1. The Copy Operator is typed into the search field and selected.

2. Once you are in the Copy Operator field, the following options are available:

• 1st: To create a new copy operator.
• 2nd: To copy an existing field and create a new copy operator.
• 3rd: To delete an operator.

In this blog, we will be focusing on recreating an operator

3. After clicking ‘Create’, the fields that need to be filled in are marked with a star, indicating they are mandatory. The ‘General Settings’ section defines the basic configurations and parameters of the Copy Operator function. This section allows you to set the necessary configurations for data to be copied correctly. The settings here determine which data is transferred and how during the copy process.

ID, Name, Description: These fields are filled with names and descriptions.
Planning Area: The planning area in which the work is being done must be selected.
User Filter: This is used for user-defined filters.

• If Mandatory is selected, the operator cannot be scheduled in Application Jobs, SAP IBP Excel Add-In, or an external scheduler without a filter.
• If Mandatory with Predefined Attributes is selected, the user is forced to enter mandatory filter attributes before scheduling the Copy Operator.
• If Not Allowed is selected, the filter option is disabled for scheduling.

4. The next step is to create the ‘Key Figure’. This field determines which Key Figures will be transferred to the target model during the copy process. Key Figures are typically used in planning processes and are important for data analysis and reporting. These figures can represent different planning elements such as demand, supply, inventory, and sales. Below are the relevant fields and their explanations:

Source Key Figure: This defines which Key Figure from the source will be used during the copy process.
Target Key Figure: This defines which data set the copied data will be transferred to in the target model.
Copy Level – Attributes: This specifies which attributes will be considered during the copy process.
Copy Level – Time: This defines the time level at which the copying will occur. It specifies how data will be transferred and copied according to time periods.
Generate Missing Period: This option ensures that missing data for a certain time period is automatically created.

The next step is the ‘Selection’ section, which allows you to define the data filtering between the source and the target.

Time Settings: This defines how time-related data will be managed and copied during the operation.
Selection Type: This determines which data will be copied and the criteria by which it will be selected, making the data transfer process more flexible and targeted.
Rolling Time Selection: This option allows you to dynamically select time periods for the copying process, making it especially useful for data copy scenarios based on constantly changing time periods.
Then, a date range is selected.

6. The final section, ‘Processing Options’, contains various settings used to customize the data copy process. This section controls aspects such as performance, accuracy, and data processing during the copy operation. The reason for selecting ‘Generate Missing Planning Objects’ is to ensure that missing Planning Objects are automatically created during the copying process.

After filling in all these fields, click ‘Create’ to complete the creation process.

Running the Copy Operator (Excel)

1. First, log in to the IBP Excel Add-In with your current username and password. Then, click on the ‘SAP IBP’ section at the top of the page. After that, select Copy Operator from the options below and click ‘Run’.

2. In the window that opens, the following fields should be selected:

• Planning Operator: Select the copy operator created in the previous step.
• Day: Choose the desired date range (e.g., 3.11.2024 / Year-End).
• Version: Select the version to work with, such as Base Version.

Then click Run.

Conclusion

The SAP IBP Copy Operator automates the data copying process, saving time and resources, enabling businesses to perform data transitions between planning scenarios quickly and accurately. This tool helps ensure that the correct data is used in the correct time periods and scenarios, leading to more efficient and reliable planning. As a result, the SAP IBP Copy Operator enhances operational efficiency, simplifies data management, and speeds up strategic decision- making processes.

Ayşenur AKPINAR
aysenur.akpinar@s4c.com.tr