1 Introduction
Oracle Retail Merchandise Financial Planning (MFP) Cloud Service provides strategic and financial product planning functions. These functions support industry planning standards for pre-season and in-season processes. For a more detailed overview of the functionality within MFP Cloud Service, see the Oracle Retail Merchandise Financial Planning Cost Cloud Service User Guide and Oracle Retail Merchandise Financial Planning Retail Cloud Service User Guide.
Contents of the Guide
This implementation guide addresses the following topics:
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Introduction: Overview of the MFP Cloud Service business workflow and skills needed for implementation.
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Implementation Considerations: Explanation of the factors to take into consideration before performing the implementation.
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RAP Integration: Information about RAP integration.
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Appendix: Exports: List of measures for the available exports.
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Appendix: Integration with Oracle Retail Assortment Planning Cloud Service: Information needed for integration with Assortment Planning Cloud Service.
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Appendix: Data Load: List of measures loaded as part of administration tasks.
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Appendix: RMFCS Integration: Information needed for integrating with Oracle Retail Merchandising Foundation Cloud Service.
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Appendix: MFPCS Specific Custom Functions, Procedures, and Special Expressions: Information on custom functions available for MFP Cloud Service.
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Appendix: MFPCS Scheduling in JOS/POM: Details about MFP scheduling in JOS/POM.
Business Process Flow
Figure 1-1 shows a typical workflow for MFP Cloud Service.
Figure 1-1 Business Process Workflow
![This figure shows the typical business process workflow. This figure shows the typical business process workflow.](img/business_flow.png)
Table 1-1 describes the part of the business process workflow in Figure 1-1.
Table 1-1 Business Process Workflow Components
Component | Description |
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MFP Targets |
|
MFP Plan |
|
Location Targets |
|
Location Plan |
|
Key Features of MFP Cloud Service
MFP Cloud Service provides the following features:
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Setting and passing targets
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Creating a financial plan in a structured method
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Plan reconciliation
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Plan approval
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Plan maintenance
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Replanning
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Plan monitoring
Skills Needed for Implementation
The implementer must have an understanding of the following applications and technical concepts.
Applications
The implementer must understand interface requirements of the integrated applications and data sources for the master data, demand, and inventory history. For full implementation, the implementer requires this knowledge for the following applications:
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Oracle Retail Predictive Application Server Cloud Edition (RPASCE)
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Oracle Retail Merchandise Financial Planning Cloud Service (MFPCS)
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Oracle Retail Merchandising Foundation Cloud Service (RMFCS)
Technical Concepts
The implementer must understand the following technical concepts:
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UNIX system administration, shell scripts, and job scheduling
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Performance constraints based on the retailer’s infrastructure
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Retailer’s hierarchical data
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MFP Cloud Service batch processes
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Understanding of how RPASCE rule language works
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Understanding of measures and dimension constructs