Spreadsheets have long been at the heart of planning in SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP), but that’s starting to change.
We spoke to SAP IBP consultant Rich Bevan about how planning is evolving, why Excel is no longer enough and where Planner Workspaces is winning.
Everyone loves a spreadsheet, right?
That’s the perception that’s stuck around in the trenches of the supply chain world I’ve been part of for the past 30 years. It’s why SAP IBP was launched with an Excel-based UI a decade ago.
Excel is familiar, flexible and has been central to planning for years, but planning has changed and so have planners. Those entering the industry today use connected tools rather than spreadsheets.
Now, the job isn’t just about building analysis. It’s about making faster decisions, staying aligned and working from a single source of truth. That’s where spreadsheets start to fall short.
In practice, that gap shows up in the time spent managing the process, rebuilding views, checking numbers and switching between files. For many teams, this can add up to 3–4 hours per week, per planner. At that point, Excel stops being the enabler and starts becoming the constraint.
At the same time, SAP IBP’s Planner Workspaces has upped its game. What was once a secondary option is now a fully capable planning cockpit.
The question is no longer whether Planner Workspaces can replace Excel. It’s whether Excel should still sit at the centre of your planning process.
From fragmented to connected planning
Excel was built for individual use, which comes with limitations:
- Multiple versions of the same file
- Time spent reconciling numbers
- Heavy manual effort
- Limited visibility beyond your own work
As more teams get involved, this creates friction.
Planner Workspaces take a different approach. Instead of disconnected files, planners operate in a shared, real-time environment where data, views and updates are visible to everyone. Demand, supply and finance work from the same numbers, in the same place, which is particularly valuable during S&OP and executive reviews.
The result is less noise, better alignment and reduced time spent reconciling numbers.
Planning data, alerts and analytics are brought together in one interface, creating a stronger foundation for Joule AI. With more context, it can surface more relevant insights and support faster, better decisions.
Less time building, more time deciding
Planning in Excel is about setup; building views, structuring data and applying filters before analysis even begins.
Planner Workspaces reduce that effort, making it easier to go straight to the issues:
- Where demand is off track
- Where supply is under pressure
- Where service levels are at risk
- Where inventory needs attention
This is possible by built-in capabilities including cascading filters, conditional formatting, key figure sorting and embedded analytics, making exception-based planning far easier.
That also reduces the need to switch between views or rebuild analysis. Even small delays like this quickly add up when repeated throughout the day.
So instead of spending time preparing data, planners can act on it.
Excel isn’t going away
It still plays a role in ad-hoc analysis and working through complex calculations, but its role is changing. It’s becoming a supporting tool, a place to test and explore, rather than the central planning environment.
Looking ahead
Planner Workspaces is fast becoming the core workspace for SAP IBP. Make sure you don’t get left behind, join others who benefit from:
- Less time managing files
- Fewer manual errors
- Better visibility across teams
- More time focused on decisions
Teams see a significant reduction in manual effort, freeing up hours each planning cycle to focus on higher-value activities.
If you’re looking to get more from your IBP investment, it may be time to rethink where Excel fits. Get in touch to explore where Planner Workspaces could make the biggest impact in your operation.