What is Integrated Business Planning (IBP), and Why is It Important?

There’s nothing that can bring a business to grinding halt faster than lack of collaboration between different departments and poor visibility of processes within and between departments.

But creating a business plan that integrates all aspects of your organization can be challenging as each business process is often measured by its own, unique set of metrics, and some are more important than others, depending on which department is “running the metrics.”

For instance, while the demand forecast accuracy is a top priority for your supply chain managers, your procurement department may be more interested in reducing the price of raw materials, and your manufacturing division might aim to maximize its capacity utilization. Organizations with inconsistent planning practices risk running inefficiently, which can result in a substantial loss of time, energy, and money. 

So, how do you align the many strategies, operations and functions from each of your departments to make informed decisions about market policies, investments, and even new product or service introductions? 

One widespread method that is used to connect diverse business strategies is Integrated Business Planning (IBP). Developing and implementing an integrated business plan for your organization gives you a clearer understanding of your goals and how to plan to achieve them.

What is Integrated Business Planning (IBP)?

Companies have multiple operational functions – ranging from finance to supply chain, to product design and development, to marketing and sales, ad infinitum. By using IBP, you can link your strategic plans and be more aware of how resources, capabilities, and results relate to one another. This enables you to reach your maximum potential and enhance collaboration across supply chains. 

With digitization driving success, IBP is becoming a “best practice” tool for business planning. From sales to operations to finance, data from every facet of an organization can be incorporated seamlessly. This method of incorporation allows companies to maximize output and understand how their resources, abilities, and outcomes are all working together. It also helps companies analyze what role each sector plays in the business.

Why Is Integrated Business Planning Important?

How can your business benefit from integrated business planning? Let’s take a look at a few benefits:

• Increasing visibility
  Organizations can integrate data from financial reports, supply chain projections, and strategic plans into their business plans using IBP. By doing so, businesses gain insights into how each part of the supply chain works both independently and collectively. As a result, it enables businesses to discover and resolve problems in an efficient manner.
• Increasing accountability
  With more visibility, employees are more plugged in and aware of the impact their actions can have on the business as a whole. This makes them more accountable and provides a clear understanding of exactly what their responsibilities are, which increases employee engagement and boosts compliance with processes and procedures.
• Aligning goals and actions
  An organization with visibility and accountability can get a clearer picture of what it is striving for and helps to ensure that everyone is taking the necessary steps to achieve it. In addition to enabling individuals to do their jobs more effectively, this will also allow the whole organization to run more efficiently.
• Allowing for better decision making
  An integrated business process enhances a company’s ability to evaluate data, the relevant context, and the big picture at the same time. By analyzing the results, they can make highly informed decisions based on the information they are presented with.

These benefits are desirable for any organization, but implementing integrated business planning successfully can be a complex process. Following best practices for IBP increases your odds of success and improves your outcomes.

Tips and Best Practices for Successful Integrated Business Planning

IBP is potentially valuable for your business. However, when you try to integrate additional functions and strategic planning into your traditional sales and operations planning (S&OP) cycle, it can initially lead to many challenges. Let’s take a look at a few tips for successful integrated business planning.

• Effective governance
  To make an IBP work, everyone needs to work together as a team and fulfil the company’s objective. Charting the roles and responsibilities of your employees and implementing policies and incentives to create an environment where everyone can work together can help improve team cohesion.
• Clear goal
  Start with a clear goal for implementing an IBP and how it will benefit your business (and individual contributors).
• Organized process
  When your process is already designed to align with your organization, it is easier to achieve the desired outcome.
• Right talent
  The backbone of an organization is its workforce. Choose your employees wisely; look for the skills, experience, and core competencies that are vital to IBP. You’ll need team members who are well-versed in strategic planning, financial planning, and supply chain planning. You will be able to more successfully adopt IBP across the company if you have talented and experienced people on board.
• Insightful analytics
  Businesses need to be proactive to remain ahead in their respective markets. Real-time analytics enables you to adapt swiftly to disruptions and market changes and make data-driven decisions based on your business strategy.
• Powerful technology
  Businesses are moving ahead with digital transformation. IBP, being a cross-functional initiative, needs a strong cloud-based technology platform to perform.

IBP has become an integral element of the day-to-day operations of many businesses, ensuring transparency and efficiency throughout the fast-paced supply chain right from procurement through manufacturing and delivery. As an increasing number of companies make the shift to digitization, the implementation of an integrated business planning (IBP) approach is vital.