SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)
What is SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)?
Integrated solution for planning and group consolidation based on SAP BW/4HANA as the technical basis with web and Excel front-ends.
Customer Satisfaction
3.4
★★★★★★★★★★ Rated 3.4 out of 10
User Experience
3.1
★★★★★★★★★★ Rated 3.1 out of 10
Functionality
3.8
★★★★★★★★★★ Rated 3.8 out of 10
Business Value
3.5
★★★★★★★★★★ Rated 3.5 out of 10
About SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)
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SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) BARC Review & Rating
Provider and product description
SAP was founded in 1972 as a business applications company. Today, with revenues of over €34 billion and more than 110,000 employees, SAP is one of the world’s largest providers of business software.
SAP’s data and analytics solution is now Business Data Cloud (BDC), a fully managed SaaS platform launched in 2025. SAP BDC is SAP’s new end-to-end data platform for SAP and non-SAP data. It forms the central hub and data management platform for all SAP business applications and includes data management services such as SAP Datasphere, SAP BW, the planning and analytics front end SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), the AI assistant Joule, and prebuilt content as well as intelligent applications. SAP BDC plays a crucial role in SAP’s strategy by building the foundation for AI usage and providing an integrated view of data across the SAP Business Suite.
SAP’s data, analytics, and EPM solutions are spread across several product lines. While SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) is the core offering for planning and budgeting, SAP S/4HANA Finance for Group Reporting is the strategic product for financial consolidation and close. SAP BDC, including SAP Datasphere, forms the foundation of SAP’s strategic data management offerings. The company’s EPM strategy focuses on planning, managing, and monitoring business performance across the enterprise. This strategy spans three core integrated processes: planning and forecasting, intercompany close and consolidation, and execution and monitoring, ensuring continuous alignment between group strategy and operations.
SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) is SAP’s recommended product for those requiring an integrated on-premises planning and financial consolidation solution. The product was originally developed by OutlookSoft and based on Microsoft SQL Server as a database platform. Since its acquisition by SAP, a second version for BW has been developed. Capabilities from BW Integrated Planning (SAP’s own former BW-based planning product) were introduced into SAP BPC in release 10.1. The product is an integrated Microsoft Excel and web-based solution for planning and financial consolidation that can be used to develop individual, workflow-based applications for various kinds of planning topics (e.g., sales, financials etc.) as well as financial consolidation. The latest version uses BW/4HANA as its basis. As an additional front-end option, SAP BPC customers can combine SAP Analytics Cloud with the product’s planning engine. SAP Analytics Cloud can access SAP BPC’s Embedded model (data and structures) using a ‘BPC Live Connection’ without replicating data, thus providing write-back options for planning data directly into SAP BPC’s planning model in BW through write-back enabled queries.
Strengths and challenges of SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)
BARC’s viewpoint on the product’s strengths and challenges.
Strengths
- Highly scalable on-premises planning and financial consolidation capabilities for web and workflow-based scenarios in SAP BPC based on SAP BW/4HANA.
- Flexible configuration of the consolidation solution via rules. Starter kits with predefined standard functions available.
- Integration with SAP Analytics Cloud as an additional front-end option to access SAP BPC’s Embedded model (data and structures) using a ‘BPC Live Connection’ without replicating data, thus providing write-back options for planning data directly into SAP BPC’s planning model in BW through write-back enabled queries.
- Exclusive connectivity (e.g., live access and direct write-back) and prebuilt content available for SAP’s own data sources and applications (e.g., SAP BPC with SAP BW/4HANA).
Challenges
- The strong focus on cloud products, such as SAP Analytics Cloud, leads to reduced investment in the on-premises EPM and analytics product portfolio (e.g., SAP BPC).
- SAP BPC Embedded Model: Back end in SAP BW focuses on IT staff for building database (cubes) and queries and is not very business-user-friendly. IT-focused creation of input-ready queries via query designer in Eclipse-based environment.
- Depending on the model variant, different web and Excel-based front-end options (Standard Model vs. Embedded Model).
- BARC’s customer feedback surveys reveal year after year that many customers are dissatisfied with various aspects of SAP BPC. Quotes from some customers indicate that their use of SAP BPC is born out of necessity rather than love for the product.
SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) User Reviews & Experiences
The information contained in this section is based on user feedback and actual experience with SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC).
The information and figures are largely drawn from BARC’s The BI & Analytics Survey, The Planning Survey, The Financial Consolidation Survey and The Data Management Survey. You can find out more about these surveys by clicking on the relevant links.
Why users buy SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) and what problems they have using it
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Full user reviews and KPI results for SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)
All key figures for SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) at a glance.
Premium content. Unlock with BARC+.
For just €79 per month (€948 per year) you can access all the paid content on www.barc.com.
Your benefits:
- Get independent information on software solutions, market developments and trends in data, analytics, business intelligence, data science and corporate performance management.
- Make data & analytics decisions based on numbers, data, facts and expert knowledge
- Access to all premium articles and all our research, including all software comparison studies, scores and surveys.
- Unlimited access to the BARC media library
- Consume unlimited content anywhere
Individual user reviews for SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)
Role
Consultant
Number of employees
100 - 2.500
Industry
Telecommunications
Source
BARC Panel, The Planning Survey 25, 02/2025
What do you like best?
Eine integrierte Lösung für Unternehmensplanung und Konsolidierung reduziert Fehlerquellen und spart Zeit.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Die Einführung und der Betrieb von SAP BPC kann komplex und zeitaufwendig sein, die Benutzeroberfläche von SAP BPC ist nicht intuitiv.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Gründliche Planung und schrittweise Einführung.
How would you sum up your experience?
Zufrieden.
Role
Consultant
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Consulting
Source
BARC Panel, The Planning Survey 25, 01/2025
What do you like best?
It provides a single platform to manage all aspects of our financial planning activities, from budgeting and forecasting to legal entity and requirements consolidation. This helps streamline our processes and improve data integrity.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Cost could be lower, and support could be better.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Potential customers should carefully assess their requirements and consider the learning curve, which may be significant, associated with its implementation, along with potential migration options to newer SAP analytics solutions.
How would you sum up your experience?
We continue to use it, so that reflects our opinion. It is the best option for us.
Role
Project manager for planning from business department
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Retail
Source
BARC Panel, The Planning Survey 25, 01/2025
What do you like best?
SAP BPC integrates seamlessly with other SAP solutions we already have in place, such as SAP S/4HANA. It also provides powerful reporting capabilities.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
In some cases, we experienced performance issues, particularly when dealing with large datasets. The interface could also benefit from a more intuitive design and UX.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Consider a skilled implementation team, including both your internal IT team and external system integrators. Invest in the training of business users, and define user roles and governance. Plan an integration roadmap with existing systems, including both SAP and non-SAP data sources.
How would you sum up your experience?
SAP BPC is a robust and reliable tool for financial planning and consolidation, particularly for organizations already invested in the SAP ecosystem. However, potential users should be aware of the complexity and challenges associated with its implementation and customization.
Role
Project manager for consolidation from business department
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Banking and finance
Source
BARC Panel, Financial Consolidation and Group Accounting Survey 25, 10/2024
What do you like best?
Solides und schnelles Tool - breites Anwendungsspektrum.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Die Frontendschnittstelle kommt langsam in die Jahre.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Ausgiebig mit den Liefersystemen testen.
How would you sum up your experience?
Insgesamt gutes Zusammenspiel mit allen anderen Systemen.
Role
Consultant
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Telecommunications
Source
BARC Panel, Financial Consolidation and Group Accounting Survey 25, 10/2024
What do you like best?
Integration mit SAP S/4HANA. Einheitliche Planung und Konsolidierung.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Benutzeroberfläche.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Starke Vorbereitung und eine gründliche Bestandsaufnahme.
How would you sum up your experience?
Umfassendes und leistungsstarkes Tool für Finanzplanung und Konsolidierung.
Role
Consultant
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Transportation and logistics
Source
BARC Panel, Financial Consolidation and Group Accounting Survey 25, 10/2024
What do you like best?
Teil des SAP Universums, alles aus einer Hand.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Teil des SAP Universums. Gebundenheit an SAP Lösungen.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Bestes Ergebnis in Verbindung mit anderen SAP Produkten.
How would you sum up your experience?
Gute Ergebnisse, aber etwas kostspielig.
Role
Member of a cross-departmental BI team
Number of employees
100 - 2.500
Industry
Manufacturing
Source
BARC Marketing, The Planning Survey 24, 04/2024
What do you like best?
Sehr fachbereichsbezogen, bei uns ist keine Involvierung der IT notwendig.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Für hohe Automatisierung insbesondere in der Datenbereitstellung (via BW) hohes IT Knowhow notwendig, um Daten aus ERP ins BPC zu bekommen (Customizing).
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Einheitliche Logik / Prozesse im Unternehmen notwendig. Gute Datenqualität als Basis für eine hohe Automatisierung.
How would you sum up your experience?
Sehr gut, insofern guter Implementierungspartner vorhanden ist.
Role
Project manager for planning from IT
Number of employees
100 - 2.500
Industry
Process industry
Source
BARC Panel, The Planning Survey 24, 04/2024
What do you like best?
Single view. Ease of consolidation. Slice and dice.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Long time of implementation and customer specific customization.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Compare other products and check requirement as per your company’s fitment.
How would you sum up your experience?
Good to start and use.
Role
Project manager for planning from business department
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Retail
Source
BARC Panel, The Planning Survey 24, 04/2024
What do you like best?
The chance to work with Excel connected with BPC and the automation of manual processes.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Slow performance and strong IT dependencies for maintenance.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
It is a good choice if used with SAP ECC transaction system.
How would you sum up your experience?
We can successfully manage corporate finance for a big company with a seamless integration with SAP ecosystem.
Role
Consultant
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Transportation and logistics
Source
BARC Panel, The Planning Survey 24, 04/2024
What do you like best?
Einfache Verbindung zu anderen SAP-Produkten.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Kaum spezifische Eigenentwicklung / Anpassung möglich.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Entfaltet volles Potential nur im SAP-Gesamtpaket.
How would you sum up your experience?
–
Role
Consultant
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Consulting
Source
BARC Panel, The Planning Survey 24, 04/2024
What do you like best?
Provides comprehensive capabilities and nice reports.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
User interface could be improved.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Make sure you involve all the key stakeholders prior to purchasing, to get their input.
How would you sum up your experience?
It's a pretty good tool.
Role
Member of a cross-departmental BI team
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Utilities
Source
BARC Panel, The Planning Survey 24, 04/2024
What do you like best?
It's generic and able to serve as a self-serve tool for planning.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
It lacks capabilities native to the latest Cloud-based xP&A solutions especially integration to AI and ML tools.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Consider the newest Cloud Planning xP&A solutions.
How would you sum up your experience?
It's good but not longer built for the current trends in XP&A
Role
Member of a cross-departmental BI team
Number of employees
More than 2.500
Industry
Retail
Source
BARC Panel, The Planning Survey 24, 04/2024
What do you like best?
SAP integration.
What do you like least/what could be improved?
Restrictions on customization.
What key advice would you give to other companies looking to introduce/use the product?
Conduct a POC.
How would you sum up your experience?
Solid product that does what it purports to.
Survey Information
Number of reviews for SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC)
51
Reviewed versions
Planning Survey 25: V10.1 42%, V11 25%, V10 25%, V11.1 8%
Peer groups in the survey
Large/Enterprise-Wide Implementations, Products for Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting, Integrated Products for Planning and Financial Consolidation, Worldwide Implementations, Enterprise Deployments
