In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, businesses require efficient and scalable enterprise solutions to stay competitive. Hari Challagondla, an experienced SAP IBP Techno-Functional Consultant, has been instrumental in driving digital transformation through SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) solutions. With 14 years of experience in SAP and over 7.6 years dedicated to IBP, Hari has led multiple successful implementations across industries, helping organizations optimize their supply chain and business operations.
Hari has deep expertise in SAP IBP, CPI-DS, SDI, and HANA, making him a key player in end-to-end IBP implementations. He has designed and implemented IBP Demand, Demand Sensing, Supply and Response, and Inventory Optimization modules, ensuring seamless integration with various SAP and non-SAP systems. His proficiency in data integration, planning area configuration, and forecasting has enabled businesses to achieve greater visibility, automation, and efficiency in their operations.
His expertise includes:
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Designing SAP IBP architecture for various modules, including Demand, Supply, Response, and Inventory Optimization
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Implementing and optimizing Planning Areas, Attributes, Key Figures, and Master Data
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Managing time profile loading, data integration, and forecast releases
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Creating dashboards, charts, and reports using SAP IBP
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Configuring SSO Integration with Microsoft AD and Okta
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Developing custom integration solutions using SAP CPI-DS and SDI
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Troubleshooting IBP, CPI, and SDI-related technical and functional issues
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Implementing RTI setup and integration for IBP planning scenarios
Professional Journey at Microsoft
Hari is currently a Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft, where he plays a crucial role in designing and implementing IBP solutions for Microsoft’s cloud business. He has contributed to multiple IBP go-lives, developed forecasting functionalities, and managed weekly and monthly forecast releases. His work involves:
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Developing IBP configuration for Microsoft’s internal planning functions
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Enhancing planning functionalities and defining new configurations to support IBP systems
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Building interfaces using CPI-DS to integrate master and transactional data with IBP
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Supporting order-based planning systems such as OBP and Time Series Planning
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Managing data governance for IBP master data
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Creating custom templates for IBP validations and reports
Driving Innovation in SAP IBP Implementations
Hari has been instrumental in implementing innovative solutions for IBP at Microsoft, including:
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Component Signaling – Designed and built integration tasks for SAP and non-SAP upstream systems, developed NPI pricing data integration, and optimized forecasting models.
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Build Planning Enhancements – Developed interfaces for Time Series Build Planning, SI splits, and component pricing while integrating security features into planning solutions.
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Forecast Automation – Built T2 component forecast solutions and introduced automation in supply adjustments, capex, and buffer planning.
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SAP MDG Support – Conducted E2E master data validation and managed location and Tlane validations for seamless IBP integration.
A Thought Leader in SAP IBP and Digital Transformation
Hari’s expertise goes beyond technical implementation. He collaborates with business stakeholders, supply chain planners, and technical teams to deliver robust, scalable, and future-ready IBP solutions. His ability to bridge the gap between business requirements and technical execution makes him a valuable asset in any enterprise looking to streamline its SAP IBP landscape.
As businesses continue to evolve with AI-driven predictive analytics and cloud-based planning, experts like Hari Challagondla play a crucial role in shaping the future of enterprise resource planning. His innovative approach, deep domain expertise, and commitment to driving efficiency make him a leader in the SAP IBP space.