Putting the Planner Back in the Driver’s Seat

The Friction

Traditional systems only record geopolitical and macroeconomic market shocks after the fact, once they are transactionally logged. In today’s volatile market, companies are hitting the absolute limits of their standard ERP environments because of this lag. These systems rely heavily on historical sales averages and rigid statistics, causing them to struggle immensely with slow-moving items and leaving them with no direct connection to external variables like sudden promotions or rapid market trends.

As a planner, this often leaves you trapped in a ‘black box’: you are forced to fly blind on an automated number without knowing how it was generated. However, with the SAP APO deadline approaching early next year, you are currently in a natural strategic window where you must act to make your demand planning future-proof.

The Solution

Newitera DemandSync seamlessly connects the operational power of your ERP system with the specialized, mathematical intelligence of SAS. The system leverages SAS’s advanced forecasting algorithms to powerfully calculate numerous planning and SKU-location combinations.

What makes DemandSync unique is that it provides the planner with a cockpit where they can make their own choices. Planners retain 100% autonomy and control; they are firmly back in the driver’s seat. Every forecast is traceable from A to Z, which immediately builds maximum trust in the numbers. Furthermore, SAS has the flexibility to clean and correct flawed historical data, ensuring that errors in planning data are flagged and scrubbed before they ever reach your MRP. Based on the planning characteristics, SAS selects the best-fitting model, while still allowing the planner to adjust planning data at their own discretion.

The SAP Connection: From Prediction to Direct Execution

DemandSync ensures a flawless, clean division of labor between the analytical brain (SAS) and the operational muscles (SAP). Throughout this process, your digital core remains completely clean.

1. Automated Data Unification: SAS pulls the required master data and sales history directly from SAP.
2. Near Real-Time Release: The final consensus forecast is written directly to SAP as a table via an automated batch or manual trigger using a BAPI (or the SAP Integration Suite on BTP).
3. Powering MRP Live & ePPDS: Within SAP, this forecast lands immediately as Planned Independent Requirements (PIRs). This instantly triggers the execution layer: MRP Live calculates net requirements, after which ePPDS (embedded Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling) translates the demand straight into a feasible, capacity-aware production plan on the shop floor.

Proof of Concept

NewITera minimizes implementation risks by rolling out strategies to the production floor gradually and methodically. We promise results within weeks through two tangible phases.

1. DemandSync Discovery (Duration: 2 weeks)

The Discovery phase is a brief and highly focused assessment. Within two weeks, we conduct a targeted process and dataset review of your current data streams.

• Functional: We map out your planning characteristics (such as sales organizations, distribution channels, and material-plant combinations) based on the data you provide.
• Outcome: This results in a concrete, well-founded business case estimate and an initial demonstration. This brief process is ideal for rapidly securing internal executive mandate and buy-in.

2. DemandSync Proof of Concept (Duration: 3 to 6 weeks)

Following the Discovery, we launch the Proof of Concept (PoC). This is the stage where the software proves its worth using your actual data.

• Technical: We build a functional planning model based on real historical transactional and master data from your SAP environment. Within the powerful SAS Viya Visual Forecasting platform, we set up automated pipelines and utilize various statistical models tailored to your specific planning characteristics.
• Outcome: With this setup, we deliver black-and-white proof upfront that the business case holds true. Running SAS Viya Visual Forecasting independently alongside your SAP system ensures that your operational continuity is never compromised.