IBM Planning Analytics

Score8.5 out of 10

308 Reviews and Ratings

What is IBM Planning Analytics?

IBM Planning Analytics, powered by IBM TM1®, is an integrated planning solution designed to promote collaboration across the organization and help keep pace with the speed of modern business. With its calculation engine, this enterprise performance management solution is designed to help users move beyond the limits of spreadsheets, automating the planning process to drive faster, more accurate results. Use it to unify data sources into one single repository, enabling users to build sophisticated, multidimensional models that drive forecasts.

Categories & Use Cases

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Screenshot of Workflow management

Excel-based Reporting
Ad hoc or formatted reports using MS Excel.
Category average: 8.3
Journal entries and reports
Ability to enter journal entry adjustments and produce reports showing all journal entries for a specific period.
Category average: 7.8
Financial data consolidation
Consolidating data from several entities into a single statement using US GAAP, IFRS or other standards.
Category average: 8.3

Report-Level Access Control
Report-level access control means that the type of report determines who has access to it.
Category average: 8.7
Pattern Recognition and Data Mining
Pattern recognition and data mining mean the ability to recognize hidden patterns in large quantities of data.
Category average: 7.5
Dashboard / Report / Visualization Interactivity on Mobile
In-app dashboard reports and data visualization.
Category average: 6.7

Most Frequent Users

Top 3 industries using IBM Planning Analytics.

Based on HG Insights installation data

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#1 most frequent

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

17.9%

202 installations of 1,127

“What-If analysis, Sandboxing, Allocation, especially when the requirement is more complex.”
— Practice Director, Cubewise (Mid-sized Companies)

#2 most frequent

Manufacturing

16.1%

181 installations of 1,127

“In our organization, We use IBM Planning Analytics (TM1) for financial consolidation and forecasting at Amazon Devices and Services. Scope covers financial and non-financial metrics, allocations, and modeling.”
— Engineering Manager, Amazon (Mid-sized Companies)

#3 most frequent

Finance and Insurance

12.2%

137 installations of 1,127

“In our organization, we make a PoC in the beginning of the year.”
— Administrator, ALH (Enterprises)

Pros

Robust financial forecasting and scenario analysis capabilities
Strong integration with Microsoft Excel
Efficient handling of large datasets in memory

Cons

Steep learning curve for new users
Performance degradation with very large or complex datasets
Complex initial setup and configuration process

Cástor Villa View profile

Business Analytics Manager in Finance and Accounting at Citibanamex (10,001+ employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

At first, we put a lot of time into the design of the dashboards in PAW. Now we're pros at house! It was definitely worth the customisation. The results made it really popular. They cut the monthly forecasting cycle in half, from five days to two, so there'd be more time for finance to do their strategic analysis and higher-level review. Manual errors are minimised. Confidence is higher.

Pros

Our 18-strong finance team, as well as the heads of operations and sales, use it every day.
The department heads use it every week for variance analysis and once a month for our monthly close process.
It brings together the budgeting and forecasting process, and creates one up-to-date source of truth. This wasn't always the case.

Cons

Data sources are used to retrieve data from cloud resources like Snowflake and AWS S3, and load it straight into the OLAP cubes.
These multi-dimensionals can handle large amounts of data with ease.
This makes it easy to adapt to new situations, so models always have the latest info, instead of having to rely on ODBC or flat file imports.

Return on Investment

When you change one piece of data, it can trigger a whole bunch of other recalculations.
This reduces the interaction of users to a great extent.
It's really important to have solid model validation and detailed dependency mapping.

Alternatives Considered

Anaplan

Other Software Used

IBM Cloud Backup, IBM Verify, SAP Business Network

Tat Seng Wong View profile

Practice Director in Professional Services at Cubewise (201-500 employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use IBM Planning Analytics to facilitate our budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, financial consolidation, notes on financial consolidation, operational planning, project planning, budget to payment, budget approval, etc

Pros

Management Reporting
Multi-Hierarchy Analysis
Budgeting
Forecasting
Financial Consolidation
Operational Planning
Head Count and Staff Cost Planning
Replenishment
Allocation
Costing (Standard Cost, Activity Based Costing)
Budget to Payment
Budget Approval

Cons

Cloud Infrastructure in China for both PAoC and PAaaS

Return on Investment

IBM Planning Analytics can do almost anything!
Lightning Fast Allocation, therefore much quicker to make decisions!
Suitable for any department! Therefore one investment would make a lot of people satisfied!

Alternatives Considered

Anaplan, SAP BPC (Business Planning and Consolidation), Pigment and Wolters Kluwer CCH® Tagetik

Other Software Used

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft SharePoint

BHUPENDRA BERDIA

Marketing Director in Finance and Accounting at 1Direction Global (11-50 employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Precise sales volume planning, considering different variables like products, channels, and location. The solution allowed to automatize the conversion of sales volumes planned in cases to liters, accounted for discounts and incentives, and generated accurate contribution margins and reports for key customer groups and categories.A cost-based HR planning model was deployed within their existing framework, incorporating factors like salaries and bonuses for employees and contractors, which included a vacancy plan for accurate budgeting and forecasting.The model was deployed to manage fixed and variable overhead cost including the necessary cost allocation logic to enable users to select fixed or variable overhead and dynamically allocate drivers for a fast and accurate budgeting process.The system included reports and dashboards based on deployed budget models. Variance analysis was provided for selected areas, and management profit and loss and other reporting were done as per business requirements.

Pros

Planning Analytics for Excel
Planning Analytics for Workspace
What if Analysis
Dynamic modelling capability

Cons

Access rights between PAW & TM1
PAFE addin creating issues some time
download report in PAW not interactive reports

Return on Investment

Time saving in Budgeting process
what if analysis good for decision making
Dynamic modelling help to change quickly in uncertain market

Alternatives Considered

Anaplan, Oracle Cloud EPM Planning and SAP Analytics Cloud

Other Software Used

IBM Cognos Analytics, IBM Cognos Controller, IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management

Verified User

Consultant in Information Technology (10,001+ employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

IBM Planning Analytics is used for the Financial Planning in our organization as a successor to the SAP BPC. Here, IBM Planning Analytics is used for Steering PnL (SPnL), Sales Prediction Tool, and Personnel Capacity Controlling. Steering P&L is the tool for Profit and Loss Reporting for all Steering relevant dimensions. The Sales Prediction Tool unifies global sales forecasting and reporting in a single platform, enhanced by an independent AI‑based prediction. Solution offers functionalities to support PC Controlling by reporting of Actuals and forecasting of year-end figures

Pros

Certain accounts (Sales (incl. Sales Reductions), SG&A) are loaded centrally based on ERP data, reducing manual input and potential errors
While some accounts (mainly resources, PCOS, variances and OOIE) will continue to be filled manually into IBM Planning Analytics. This shift will allow for a more integrated approach to data management
The central sales tool for all scenarios (ACT, CF, CFM, and BP), offering both a consolidated overview as well as detailed data for non‑consolidated entities or total entity sales (including internal sales). The system provides all key sales KPIs, including growth rates
Web-based workflow to support controllers with the MBR (Monthly Business Report) creation and submission

Cons

IBM Planning Analytics cannot be used for the seamless planning with SAP environment
Basic Visualizations are possible with the IBM Planning Analytics. But, the advanced features are missing.
Only limited debugging option. This can be improved with the modern scripting options and step-through debugger
Developing the custom tools required more capacity. Standard content reusability might be useful to reduce the implementation efforts

Return on Investment

Higher accuracy by using the AI trend analysis with expert knowledge for more reliable results
Increased efficiency with automated baseline forecasts, freeing planners for high-value strategic analysis
Delivers an objective, data-driven baseline to validate assumptions and strengthen plans

Alternatives Considered

Kinaxis RapidResponse, SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP Integrated Business Planning, Azure Databricks, SAP Business Data Cloud, SAP BW/4HANA and SAP Datasphere

Other Software Used

SAP Analytics Cloud, Kinaxis RapidResponse, SAP BW/4HANA, Azure Databricks, SAP Business Data Cloud

Verified User

Consultant in Information Technology (11-50 employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

As a consultant, I face new business problems and different use cases every day. With more than 10 years of experience with the tool, I can say the most common business problem the product addresses is the need to simulate, plan, and interact with a highly scalable solution that provides a tailored workflow and the right level of data detail and security. The most common tasks are budgeting and forecasting in finance, but we cannot forget the rest of the business areas. There are no limits, only creativity. Common business problems include orchestrating planning workflows across departments, simulating different scenarios simultaneously before a final decision, managing data at different levels of detail and applying allocation logic, and reacting quickly to business rule changes.

Pros

Solution scalability and quick reaction on business changes.
Workflow, simulations, complex rules, allocation processes.
Multidimensional database with high performances.

Cons

User experience.
Develop and release tool.

Return on Investment

Reduce financial closing timings.
Improve cooperation, coordination and workflows management.

Alternatives Considered

Board, QlikView, Microsoft Power BI and SAP Analytics Cloud

Other Software Used

IBM Cognos Analytics, IBM Bob

Workday Adaptive Planning

Anaplan

Jedox

SAP Analytics Cloud

IBM Planning Analytics

What is IBM Planning Analytics?

Categories & Use Cases

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