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Foreword on Enterprise Management
19
Foreword on Technology Simplification
21
Foreword on Finance Transformation
23
Part I Getting Started with Central Finance
29
1 The Basics: What Is Central Finance?
31
1.1 A Centralized Finance System
31
1.1.1 Evolution of Central Finance
32
1.1.2 Central Process Execution Model
34
1.1.3 Standard SAP Solution
36
1.1.4 Technical Foundation
38
1.1.5 SAP S/4HANA Deployment Option
39
1.1.6 System Consolidation Path
40
1.2 Central Finance Building Blocks
41
1.2.2 Data Replication
45
1.2.4 Cloud Integration
50
1.3 Central Finance Results
52
1.4 Boundaries and Restrictions
53
2 The Mechanics: How Does Central Finance Work?
57
2.1 Functional Foundation
57
2.1.1 Finance Value Map
57
2.1.2 Key Process Candidates
58
2.2 Central Finance Capabilities
59
2.2.2 Data Replication
62
2.2.3 Business Mapping
64
2.2.4 Data Digitization and Inbound Posting
66
2.2.6 Drilldown/Audit Trail
69
2.2.7 Data Reconciliation
69
3 The Motivation: Why Central Finance and Why Now?
73
3.1 Central Finance as a Silver Bullet
74
3.2 Innovation Acceleration
78
3.2.1 Pressure to Innovate
79
3.2.2 Earlier Innovation
80
3.2.3 Faster Cycles, Faster Adoption
82
3.3 Process Transformation
82
3.4 Business Model Evolution
84
3.4.1 Enterprise Optimization
85
3.4.2 Business Model Changes
85
3.4.3 Mergers and Acquisitions
86
3.5 Technology Transformation
87
3.5.3 Cloud Transition
89
3.6 SAP S/4HANA Adoption
90
3.6.1 Continued Evolution
90
3.6.2 Side Car Adoption
90
4 Reporting: What Can I Learn About My Data?
93
4.1 Advanced Reporting
93
4.1.1 Line Item Access
94
4.1.2 Universal Reporting
95
4.1.3 Multidimensional Reporting
97
4.1.4 Microsoft Excel Analysis
97
4.1.5 Root Cause Analysis and Storytelling
98
4.1.8 Predictive Reporting
101
4.1.9 Problem Solving Solutions
102
4.2 Extended Dimensional Reporting
104
4.2.1 Microsegment Profitability
104
4.2.2 Cross-Organizational Functional Reporting
106
4.2.3 Business Continuity Reporting
107
4.3.1 Local Processes
109
4.3.2 System of Record
109
4.3.3 Company Code Alignments
110
4.3.4 Tax Optimization
111
4.4.1 Multi-Entity Reporting
112
4.4.2 Harmonized/Standardized
112
4.4.4 Consolidated Reporting
113
5 Finance Processes: What Can Central Finance Improve?
115
5.1 Processes and Process Orchestration
115
5.2 Payables and Receivables
119
5.2.1 Accounts Payable
119
5.2.2 Payables with Direct and Indirect Procurement
121
5.2.3 Three-Way Matching
122
5.2.4 Accounts Receivable
123
5.2.5 Receivables with Central Credit Management
125
5.3 Accounting and Financial Close
127
5.3.3 Corporate Close
130
5.3.4 Financial Reporting and Disclosure
130
5.3.5 Financial Close Governance
130
5.4 Banking and Treasury
131
5.4.1 Adoption of Treasury Best Practices in Central Finance
131
5.4.2 Bank Account Management
132
5.4.3 Cash Operations and Liquidity Management
136
5.4.4 Payment Factories
138
5.4.5 Collection Factories
138
5.5 Controlling Processes
139
5.5.1 Operational Expenses (OpEx)
140
5.5.2 Capital Expenditure (CapEx)
141
5.5.3 Profitability Analysis
142
5.6 Beyond Core Finance
143
5.6.1 SAP Cash Application
144
5.6.2 SAP S/4HANA Cloud for Customer Payments
145
5.6.3 SAP S/4HANA Cloud for Credit Integration
146
6 Deployment Options: How Do I Implement Central Finance?
149
6.2.1 Required Deployments
153
6.2.2 Optional Deployments
154
6.2.3 SAP Business Warehouse
158
6.2.4 SAP Business Planning and Consolidation
160
6.5 Two-Tier Strategy
173
Part II Deploying Central Finance
175
7 System Architecture
177
7.1 Technical Architecture
177
7.1.1 SAP HANA Database
179
7.1.2 SAP S/4HANA Core Application
179
7.1.5 Third-Party Data Integration
181
7.2 Central Finance Landscape
182
7.3 SAP Landscape Transformation Replication Server
188
7.3.1 Deployment Options for the SAP LT Replication Server
189
7.3.2 Data Migration Server
191
7.4 SAP Application Interface Framework
191
7.4.1 SAP Application Integration Framework Message Processing
193
7.4.2 BC Sets for SAP Application Integration Framework
194
7.4.3 Configuring the SAP Application Integration Framework
194
7.4.4 Monitoring SAP Application Integration Framework for Central Finance
195
7.5 SAP Master Data Governance
195
7.6 Frontend Tools and Central Finance
196
7.6.3 SAP Analysis for Microsoft Office
199
7.6.4 SAP Analytics Cloud
199
7.6.5 SAP Business Client
201
8 Implementing Central Finance
203
8.1.1 Iterative Rollout versus Big Bang
203
8.1.2 Milestone-Based Rollout
205
8.1.3 Process Selection
205
8.2.2 Subsequent Waves
207
8.3.2 Central Finance Instance
211
8.3.3 SAP Landscape Transformation Replication Server
224
8.3.4 SAP Source Systems
227
8.3.5 Non-SAP Source Systems
228
8.3.6 SAP Master Data Governance System
229
8.4 Data Integration Framework
230
8.4.2 Transactional Data
240
8.4.3 SAP Source Data
244
8.4.4 Non-SAP Source Data
247
8.4.5 Third-Party Interface
249
8.5 Replication Setup
251
8.5.1 SAP Source Systems
252
8.5.2 Non-SAP Source Systems
253
8.5.3 Pre-Implementation Assessment
254
8.5.5 Initial Data Load
259
8.5.6 Online Replication
260
8.6.1 Process Settings
261
8.7.1 Master Data Objects
270
8.7.2 Harmonization (Golden Record Creation)
272
8.8.1 Master Data Objects
276
8.9 Initial Data Load
280
8.9.2 Configuration in Source System
282
8.9.3 Initial Load of CO Postings
283
8.9.4 Initial Load for Financial Accounting
286
9 Central Finance Operations
299
9.1 Centers of Excellence
299
9.2 Ongoing Replication
301
9.2.1 Transaction Replication
302
9.2.2 Error Correction
303
9.2.3 Data Reconciliation
304
9.4 System Onboarding
307
9.5 Process Onboarding
310
9.6 Mergers and Acquisitions
311
10 Master Data Management
315
10.1.1 Initial Data Loads
315
10.1.3 Golden Record Creation
318
10.2 Master Data Processes
320
10.2.1 Request for Change
322
10.2.2 Approval of the Request
323
10.2.3 Execution of the Change Request
324
10.3 Master Data Objects
325
10.3.1 Chart of Accounts
326
10.3.2 General Ledger Account
328
10.3.3 Business Partners
329
10.3.4 Material Numbers
331
10.3.5 Profit Centers
331
10.3.7 Activity Types
333
10.3.8 Statistical Key Figures
333
10.4.1 Master Data and Master Data Objects
334
10.4.2 Dynamic Cost Object Creation
335
10.4.5 Rationalization
338
Part III Next Steps with Central Finance
341
11 Mergers and Integrations
343
11.1 Integration Catalyst
343
11.1.1 Merger and Integration Platform
344
11.1.2 Merger and Integration Playbook
345
11.2 Mergers and Acquisitions
345
11.2.1 Central Finance as an M&A Platform
346
11.2.2 Building Blocks
347
11.3 Post-Merger Integration
355
11.3.1 Process Execution Considerations
356
11.3.2 Platform Considerations
356
11.3.3 System Continuity
357
11.3.4 Interim versus End State
357
12 Central Finance as a Stepping Stone to SAP S/4HANA
361
12.1 Charting Your Journey
362
12.1.1 First Step: Central Finance
363
12.2 Choosing Your Route
367
12.2.1 Brownfield versus Greenfield
368
12.2.2 SAP S/4HANA Cloud Code Line
368
12.3 Planning the Process
370
12.3.1 Transition Planning
370
12.3.2 Adoption Patterns
374
12.3.3 Moving a Single ERP to SAP S/4HANA Using Central Finance
375
12.3.4 Moving Multiple ERP Systems to SAP S/4HANA Using Central Finance
377
13 Finance Transformation
379
13.1 Strategy Management
380
13.2 Value Management
386
13.3.1 Technical Risk Factors
389
13.3.2 Business Change and Organizational Risk Factors
391
13.3.3 Financial Risk Factors
394
13.4 Business Process Management
395
13.5 Organizational Change Management
398
14 Platform Transformation
411
14.1 Platform Transformation Strategy
412
14.2 System and Application Consolidation
415
14.2.1 Corporate SAP HANA Reporting Platform
416
14.2.2 Corporate Finance Service Platform
417
14.2.3 Stepping Stone to Consolidated SAP S/4HANA Platform
418
14.2.4 Corporate MA&D Platform
418
14.2.5 Orchestration of Source Systems of Record with Central Finance
419
14.4 Readiness for Services Consumption in the Cloud
424
15 Central Finance Business Case Development
429
15.1 Identifying Stakeholders
429
15.1.1 Finance Organization and the Impact to Resources
430
15.1.2 IT Organization
431
15.2 Evaluating the Status Quo
432
15.2.1 Current Landscape
432
15.2.2 Anticipated Challenges
434
15.3 Determining Key Value Drivers
434
15.3.4 Cost Reduction
436
15.3.5 Working Capital Improvement
437
15.3.6 Profit and Margin Management
437
15.3.7 Simplification
437
15.3.8 Business Continuity
438
15.3.9 Risk Mitigation
438
15.4 Assessing the Cost
439
15.4.1 Initial Implementation
439
15.5 Return on Investment
441