SAP Analytics Cloud
In cooperation with BOS, valantic has optimized existing reports, implemented new BI reports and developed an innovative planning solution for purchasing. The advantages: Significantly reduced manual effort, better business decisions thanks to up-to-date reports and a plus in overview, transparency and performance.
The company
BOS is an international corporate group with locations in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its companies develop, manufacture, and distribute innovative systems and components for the automotive industry. With more than 100 years of experience, BOS has developed a global presence and technology and market leadership in important product areas of vehicle manufacturing.
Constant innovations and improvements, cost-optimized development and manufacturing processes, and the highest quality give BOS a competitive edge and result in a high level of customer satisfaction.
Since its establishment in 1910, all companies in the group have been family-owned. Visionary and committed, management and employees lead the company as a global, customer-oriented automotive supplier with a passion for customer-specific product solutions.
Challenge
Development of analytics front-ends for purchasing, store floor, quality, logistics, finance & controlling. New sub-planning solutions in the supply chain environment.
Consulting approach
Together with BOS, valantic has optimized existing planning and reporting with SAC and developed a planning solution for purchasing.
Customer benefit and solution
The advantages: Significantly reduced manual effort, better business decisions thanks to up-to-date reports and a better overview, transparency and performance.
Heiko Krämer
Executive Vice President Supply Chain Int. (SCI) at BOS
”We are very satisfied with the results achieved so far and are happy to continue our successful collaboration with valantic.“
The challenge
Development of analytics front ends for purchasing, shop floor, quality, logistics, finance, & controlling. New partial planning solutions in the supply chain environment.
valantic‘s team took over the project from another service provider. BOS‘s goal was to improve BI reporting and extend it to other business units. A planning solution was also on the corporate group’s wish list. The strategy was: Fewer manual applications, greater transparency, and cross-plant evaluations and reports.
Solution & results in detail
The SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) serves as the strategic reporting platform for BOS. Working with BOS, valantic has optimized existing reports, created urgently needed new BI reports, and, as a first step, developed a planning solution for purchasing.
Here are the services that valantic has provided so far:
Dramatically reduced manual work
More successful business decisions with up-to-date reports
Better visibility, transparency, and performance
Manuel Essers
SAP Analytics Manager and Project Manager at valantic
”We bring the whole spectrum and concentrated expertise and experience; We can expand our team flexibly, depending on tasks and challenges.“
Project history
With approximately 6,500 employees and 21 locations in Europe, North America, and Asia, BOS wanted cross-plant BI reporting in order to use data for planning and making more successful business decisions. The focus was on the purchasing, logistics, finance, controlling, and quality management business units. BOS‘s product and service portfolio includes, among other things, luggage compartment cover systems, sun protection and panoramic roof systems, armrests, safety nets, support systems for motor and sports equipment, adjustable body systems, and plastic components in the vehicle engine compartment.
BOS chose valantic because of its many years of expertise in all analytics disciplines and in integrated business planning (IBP). The valantic team was assembled in October 2022 and took over the project from another service provider. Initially, the concern was to optimize existing reports and develop much-needed new BI reports in the SAP Analytics Cloud. Reporting is relevant in all areas of the company. For users in the specialist departments, standard reporting should be possible with a high degree of automation, that is, without manual effort and using only the usual office tools.
valantic took over some of the most critical reports, improved them, and simultaneously created new analytical evaluations, with a focus on logistics, purchasing, quality management, and shop floor. For example, a daily view of stock levels is very important in order to be able to make purchasing decisions in good time and, if necessary, to carry out targeted supplier management. However, the initial project focusing on logistics and purchasing at BOS was quickly expanded.
BI reports – boosting business success
A cross-plant view of production and production cells was also very important to management „We have developed a custom widget for a bird‘s-eye view of the cross-plant view, one that will gradually integrate our various locations. This has great practical added value for BOS. The SAP standard in the SAC does not offer such a solution,“ recalls Manuel Essers, project manager at valantic. valantic also developed the purchase price planning application „from scratch.” More planning scenarios will follow. „We bring the whole spectrum and concentrated expertise and experience. We can expand our team flexibly, depending on tasks and challenges,“ says Essers.
Largely automated BI reporting offers numerous advantages and is not only useful for individual departments, but also helps management make far-reaching business decisions, in particular based on sound data and analysis. Companies that use BI and data analytics are doing business more successfully, identifying opportunities earlier than the competition, for example.
BOS is very satisfied with the progress of the project to date and has already placed about a dozen other orders with valantic for 2024 – and they appreciate Manuel Essers’s skill as an expert project manager. The integrated business planning project started in 2023. Other projects will follow in the course of the upcoming migration to SAP S/4HANA.
Download Case Study "BOS optimizes Planning and Reporting with SAP SAC"
Manuel Essers
SAP Analytics Manager
CoE Lead SAC