What is Integrated Business Planning?
The technology analyst firm Gartner defines Integrated Business Planning (IBP) as: "A set of systems, processes, and competencies that forms the strategic alignment and modelling capability that is missing from the traditional operationally focused sales and operations planning (S&OP) processes. IBP links corporate performance management to S&OP, with capability for strategic and financial modelling and analytics."
True Integrated Business Planning, as defined by Tim Payne (Research Director at Gartner), must include the following critical areas or attributes:
- Explicit process mapping
- Strong financial modelling
- A holistic view of the supply chain
- Extensive optimisation and business rule capability
- Collaboration
- Strong links to sales and operations planning (S&OP) processes
- Access to supporting analytics (such as product performance management)
