FAQ

1. What is a Fast Close?

A Fast Close is the process by which reliable financial information is accumulated and reported - faster, better, cheaper

2. What solutions does SAP provide for Fast Close?

SAP provides SAP Financial Closing cockpit (abbreviated to 'FCc') for fast Close purposes.

3. What components do I need to use the SAP solution for Fast Close?

If you want to organize your Fast Close as integrated part of your SAP system, you need SAP ECC 6.03, SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood (optional), SAP FCc, SAP BI 7.01 and BI Business Content 7.04.

4. Why do I need SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood in combination with SAP FCc?

Integration: it enables job scheduling in one central place in case of a distributed system landscape.

Automation: it is easy to handle, it enables parallel job processing with monitoring functions such as alerting, notifications and audit trail.

5. What services does Proxyon International provide in relation to Fast Close?

Proxyon International is the unique SAP Financial Closing cockpit expert. Since Proxyon International is a business consulting firm, fully focused on providing SAP solutions for Fast Close, you can expect Proxyon International to provide you with (a) Pre-sales support to Redwood and SAP; (b) Functional demo of SAP FCc in combination with SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood; (c) Assignment for Proof of Concept; (d) Project management and functional consultancy of implementation, training and knowledge transfer; (e) Ad hoc or structural support of daily operating FCc within the corporation.

6. Why could SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood be of interest for me?

In addition to the above mentioned advantages like integration and automation (see QA 4) SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood can be used for the scheduling and monitoring of all other jobs in a central place.

7. Redwood offers their software tool 'Cronacle' and SAP offers the OEM version Cronacle, SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood. What is the difference between them?

In terms of overall functionality there is no difference. However, SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood is an OEM version of Cronacle especially designed for SAP. So if you intend to make use of central process scheduling in combination with your SAP ECC, you need SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood.

8. Why can't I use the free version of SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood to operate SAP FCc?

The functionality of SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood free version doesnt support SAP FCc.

9. Where can we order SAP FCc and SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood?

Both SAP FCc and SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood can only be ordered at SAP. Nor Redwood, nor Proxyon International are software resellers of SAP FCc and SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood.

10. What is the relationship between Proxyon International and Redwood?

Proxyon International is an independent business consulting firm, providing - as a niche market specialist - special expertise on SAP Financial Closing cockpit and SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood. Since Redwood has her focus on technical implementation and Proxyon on functional business process implementation, both companies are complementary in their daily businesses.

11. What is the relationship between Proxyon International and SAP?

Proxyon International is an independent business consulting firm with a focus on providing special expertise for SAP Financial Closing cockpit. For reasons of in-depth knowledge and experience in the Fast Close processes, SAP has chosen Proxyon International as a business partner in defining requirements, testing the SAP FCc software and proving business consultancy to her customers. In addition: Proxyon International is not a software reseller.

12. How can we benefit from the services of Proxyon International regarding Fast Close?

Proxyon International is a special expertise partner of SAP, specialized in SAP FCc. Furthermore, a close working relationship exists with Redwood. In conclusion Proxyon International possesses functional and technical knowledge to perform a SAP FCc implementation at global level.

13. What typical roles can Proxyon International provide to us?

Proxyon International is a typical 'end-to-end' SAP solution provider. This means that we are involved from t=0 in the pre-sales process, typically supporting SAP and Redwood. In close cooperation with SAP and Redwood, Proxyon International is taking care of a demo at request of the customer. Subsequently we could be assigned for a 'Proof of Concept'. Thereafter project management of the implementation, training, and knowledge transfer. We can also provide after sales support for daily operating SAP FCc and SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood.

14. Where does Proxyon International provide her services?

Proxyon International delivers her services all around the world, having her head quarters in Ede, The Netherlands.

15. Do we need SAP BI to operate SAP FCc?

Making use of SAP BI (Business Content) in combination with SAP FCc will enhance your capabilities to generate standard reports. SAP BI 7.01 is not mandatory but advisable, due to the added value of the reports.

16. What level of SAP ERP do we need to SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood and SAP FCc?

You need SAP ECC 6.03 to run SAP FCc and SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood. That means that you need Enhancement Pack 3 at minimum. However, Proxyon advises Enhancement Pack 4.

17. What functionalities does SAP BI (or SAP BO) add to the functionality of SAP FCc / SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood?

SAP delivers standard reports that can be used after activating the Business Content. Real-time monitoring is therefore enabled as a result of the direct access. The possibility also exists to create tailored reports.

18. Since Proxyon International is the global special expertise partner of Redwood, and is operating in close co-operation with SAP for their Fast Close solution, whom do we contract to get the Fast Close implementation done?

SAP is selling the SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood and SAP FCc software license at global level. Redwood will take care of the technical implementation, and Proxyon International will take care of the functional implementation, training, and knowledge transfer, and also daily operational support if requested.

19. When should we contact Proxyon International for our Fast Close demand?

Proxyon is the founding father of Runbook, a SAP add-on software tool for Fast Close. In 2004 the stakeholders of Proxyon decided to split off the software tool development (Runbook Company BV) from business consulting services (Proxyon BV). For her in-depth knowledge of financial business processes as well as in-depth functional knowledge of SAP Financials, SAP recommends Proxyon International as global expert for SAP FCc and SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood. At special request of SAP AG, Proxyon International is involved in further developing and testing SAP FCc.

20. What relation is there between SAP FCc /SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood and Financial Consolidation?

SAP FCc provides a preparation step in consolidation but it is not a consolidation tool.

21. What relation is there between SAP FCc /SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood and SAP GRC?

The combination of SAP FCc /SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood will provide a powerful foundation for any SAP GRC implementation. SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood is a tool to control the scheduling and monitoring of any activity, including financial closing, which is part of SAP GRC. SAP FCc provides the structure for the functional requirements.

22. If we are interested in a demonstration, what can we expect from Proxyon International?

Proxyon can organize a demonstration of SAP FCc/SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood. Proxyon is able to build a demo with a few specific characteristics if you are able to supply the necessary data from your organization.

23. Our organization has a SAP Competence Center of its own, with SAP consultants on our pay roll. Why should we need any help from Proxyon International?

You might want to profit from Proxyon International since it has Business Process Experts with elaborated knowledge of financial business processes as well as knowledge of the typical SAP FCc and SAP Central Process Scheduling by Redwood software. For reasons of her in-depth knowledge SAP recommends Proxyon International to her customers.

24. Proxyon International is currently not on our procurement short list (preferred supplier). How can we make use of Proxyon International's services, without harming our existing procurement policy?

Since Proxyon International is a global SAP Financial Closing cockpit expertise partner of SAP and Redwood, you could assign SAP or Redwood as contractor and let Proxyon play the role as a subcontractor.

25. What improvements do I get by implementing SAP FCc compared to using SAP Schedule Manager and the classical Closing Cockpit, that are already avaible in the ECC package?

The answer on that question depends on your specific situation. Both Schedule manager and the classical Closing Cockpit offer stable functionality in a one SAP Client environment. However it is not expected that this functionality will be extended, since the development focus is on the SAP FCc product, especially on advanced scheduling, strong authorization, easy access, reporting and compliance. This functionality is available through the additional business functions only. For the evolution of SAP FCc and it's predecessors see this page.