APCC 12.1.3.8

APCC 12.1.3.8 Release Features:

- This release comes with enhanced and improved usability of Advanced Planning Command Center module. Within APCC, Supply Chain Analysts in this version have ability to:
- edit material plan to modify supply and demand
- edit resource plan to modify resource availability
- utilize item simulation set for mass item attribute maintenance
- utlize Orders UI to firm and release orders
- re-run a plan and release the plan for execution

- Embed Demantra worksheets in APCC reports: Ability to access and update Demantra worksheets while being logged into APCC. Uses Demantra anywhere feature and requires both APCC and Demantra applications SSO enabled.

Demantra 7.3.1.4 is supported with APCC 12.1.3.8, also note that APCC 12.1.3.8 is certified on OBIEE 11g.

Demantra 7.3.1.4 is now Available

The latest release of Demantra in form of version 7.3.1.4 is now available, this release while in waiting of 12.2 release has now made some of the new UI changes available. This release is more focused on further improving user's experience with worksheet UI by allowing usage of new and better promotional calendar. Drag and drop kind features along with ability to change font/color/3D graphs make Demantra worksheet look and feel better.

Utilizing Demantra anywhere concept, one can also embed now a Demantra worksheet into APCC reports. This would allow S&OP users to easily access Demantra data and also allows them to make changes to facts using APCC reports itself. No need to navigate back and forth between screens anymore.

Refer to Metalink note id 1490558.1 for more details and complete listing of key features.  

New "Guided Resolution" for Demantra

After a good success of Oracle Community concept released earlier by Oracle Support, we are seeing them taking another step forward in form of "Guided Resolution" for Demantra application. The concept basically better organizes previous resolutions for known or fixed issues related to Demantra product. 

They have started with five topics:

• Data loading related issues (Note Id 1461899.1)
• Data loading issues not related to error codes (Note Id  1468884.1)
• Workflow related issues (Note Id 1353217.l)
• Worksheet related issues (Note Id 1486639.1)
• Engine related issues (Note Id 1486634.1)

Guided resolution page look:

Refer to below note for more details around what is this new concept and how to use it. 

How to Use the Demantra Guided Resolution, a Proactive Services Tutorial.  Note 1473992.1

Demantra: Engine Status Check

Checking status of Engine:

To determine if engine is running or not, one can use the work_status parameter in init_params_0 table. Value_float column indicates if the current or the last engine run was in batch mode or simulation mode.

• 99 => Simulation Run
• 1=> Batch Run

Value_date reflects the current state of engine. If the value_date changes every 22 sec then it would mean that Engine is running currently.

As Engine can only run in one mode at a time, it helps to be aware of the current state of engine prior to launching engine run.

Demantra 7.3.1.3 version released

Demantra 7.3.1.3 version was released recently for customers.

Following are few key new features:
 - Integration with Asset Intensive Planning Applications.

• DM module is now integrated with cMRO(Complex Maintenance Repair & Overhaul) module of Oracle EBS application. Integration empowers using Demantra's capabilities to build non-unit maintenance plan forecast and to support deriving planning factors accurately for cMRO module. 
• DM module is also integrated with eAM(Enterprise Asset Management) module of Oracle EBS application. The integration let's Demantra users to generate a non-maintenance forecast and then use it further with ASCP and cMRO to support planning for maintenance activities.

 - Ability to define Series with Hyperlink, allowing opening a URL from worksheet.

- Ability to run database health check using standard procedures. Flexibility to run a quick or a comprehensive test has been provided.

- Additional improvements on PTP/TPMO engine are also part of this release.

Refer to document ID 1453644.1 on Metalink for more details about this new release. 

R12.2 Demantra Pre-release material now available !

R12.2 Demantra Pre-release material now available !

Oracle has recently updated Demantra documentation library with R12.2 pre-release content. One can access TOI material around new enhancements which will be available with R12.2 release.

Some of the key enhancements are:
1. Import from File: Export to Excel option from worksheet interface has been enhanced considerably to allow users import csv files directly from their desktops to a predefined demantra worksheet. This will surely assist end users in making mass changes or uploading supplementary demand facts like customer forecast or other causal factors.

2. Calendar Month: This was a long awaited functionality which enables customers to build a weekly Demantra data model but still allows them to work at calendar month aggregation level. This enhancement has been in asking list from many demantra customers and will surely assist building more robust but flexible demand planning process.

3. Improved Multi-language support: Building on 7.2 feature of supporting alternate languages with constraint of one language per instance, now 12.2 features supporting multi-languages within a single instance.

4. Other enhancements include:

• Improved Date Format
• DOL & DA enabled for PTP module
• Nodal tuning now available for TPO module
• Improved Cost Modeling (ASCP/SNO/Rapid Planning integration)
• Promotion and Calendar Optimization 

Refer for more details Oracle Support site under metalink note: 

Oracle Demantra Documentation Library [ID 443969.1]

Oracle Mix Open World Session

Vote for this session @ Oracle Mix

Integrated Collaborative Forecasting for CPG Industry

Abstract

This session will explore how an integrated collaborative platform can be build using Value Chain Planning modules to enable usage of POS, Withdrawals, Shipments, Bookings and Trade promotions in building an integrated collaborative forecast using Demantra.

This session will also discuss:
1. S&OP solution options
2. Challenges faced during implementation
3. CPG Success Stories

Vote for this session @ Oracle Mix.

Integrated Causal Exponential Model (BWint)

Demantra has Integrated Causal Exponential Model (BWint) as one of the models available for analytical engine. This also is a regression model, known as Multiplicative regression - winter model. The model works only in DP mode. It runs multiplicative regression on Causal data (short CFs) and then smooths out the residual series exponentially like HOLT.

Data Type: Good fit for capturing Trends, Seasonality and Causality in demand data.

Example: Here is an example of where forecast is generated by Bwint model of Demantra. Look at how engine is able to capture seasonality and demand trend accurately, providing a good baseline forecast for planners to start with.