Changing Forecast Values in the Univariate View with SAP DP

Executive Summary

• How the Univariate View in SAP DP Works
• Forecasting in Interactive Planning (Univariate Button)
• The Parameters Tab
• Model Tab
• Horizons Tab
• Profile Tab and Assignment
• Settings Tab
• The Different Methods of Assignment
• What to Watch Out for When Using the Univariate View

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Forecasting in Interactive Planning (Univariate Button)

The Univariate view is found by selecting the Univariate button in the Planning Book. This is the button at the top of the screen next to the eyeglasses and has the blue streak in front of the white background.

Quite a lot can be done in the Univariate view of the Planning Book. However, some things make sense to do, while other things should not be done, and in fact, will undermine the forecasts at other selections. The Univariate button contains most of the functionality for users in DP, but training on this transaction is essential to prevent the system from being undermined.

The Parameters Tab

Here within the Univariate view, the parameters can be changed. However, I will discuss the problems with making changes to parameters or other values that directly change the Forecast Profile in just one moment.

Model Tab

I have gone away from using the best fit in SAP DP as it lacks reliability. This has been shown in repeated testing, but secondly, it is also the view of Dr. Sven F Crone at the Lancaster Center for Forecasting. As pointed out by Sven, DP is primarily an application for manual assignment. However, I am not a fan of using this screen to apply different models. Instead, I think the Forecast Profiles should be pre-setup, and then the Forecast Profiles should be assigned.

Horizons Tab

If the horizon is changed after a Forecast Profile is selected, it will change the master Forecast Profile. That may work for the product being reviewed but will not likely work for all the other selections or products that Forecast Profile is assigned to. Therefore, if a planner needs to change, they should create a new Forecast Profile outside of this view and then assign that new Forecast Profile to the product, but using this assignment tab, as you can see below.

Profile Tab and Assignment

Once again, the Settings tab also adjusted the applied Forecast Profile, which is not something we want, because it changes the master Forecast Profile.

Settings Tab

Conclusion

Only some of the functionality within the Univariate view should be used. SAP should have created the ability to create a selection or product-specific variant of the Forecast Profile if they were going to allow changes to the Forecast Profile from within the Univarirate view. However, they did not do this. So training is required to use the Univariate view correctly. Interestingly, I have run into implementations where the Univariate view is not used at all. Or planners underutilize it because they don’t understand it. The Univariate view is not all that complicated, but it must be explained how to use it without misusing it or negatively affecting other products’ forecasts.