IBM Planning Analytics vs. SAP Profitability and Performance Management

For a CFO or a COO to do budgeting and planning, IBM Planning Analytics would be essential. It is a tool that can take in multiple data sources and showcase them in a multidimensional way. If you are looking just for a BI or reporting tool, Planning Analytics would be considered "overkill".

SAP Profitability and Performance is well suited in an organization/scenario where it aims to grow their profitability and optimize their business performance. It will offer strong financial analytics that are applicable in modern organizations and it will assure improved performance and enable purposeful marketing of your goods/services at prevailing profitable rate.

Incentivized

• Handle very large data volumes.
• Scale to a large number of users.
• Not having to compromise on business complexity.
• It can be run by business users.
• Availability of highly qualified consultants to support businesses.
• REST API allows for an open eco system and a variety of solutions to extend the product.
• Vast integration possibilities.
• AI-infused engine with IBM Watson.

Incentivized

• It's reliable and executes profitability analysis using dependable models for modern organization.
• Has helped us optimize our business and grow our profitability assuring our return on investment.
• It's a world class platform and fits well in all organizations without any difficulties.

Incentivized

• sometimes it is hard to produce pixel perfect reports from the Web UI. I know it is not made for this, but still, it'll be great
• getting in e.g. an Excel file just by drag and drop, and the AI should "understand" what the data is all around

Incentivized

• Connectivity to SAP Analytics Cloud (this is supposedly on SAP's roadmaps to deliver in 2020).
• The new tool has some bugs and quirks that need to be worked out. SAP is delivering enhancements on a regular basis.
• Reports and queries.
• Model Flow diagramming could work better and be visible for download or printing for training and MOC purposes.
• Documentation is weak, both in system help screens and user manuals need to be more detailed.

Incentivized

Since IBM Cognos Express is suitable only for medium data warehouse environment, we are not sure if this tool solves the long term need as the business keeps growing rapidly. So its a 50/50 ratio to renew Express license. But having said that, the components of IBM Cognos Express are also available in other Cognos BI suites like Cognos 10.x version. So we will probably upgrade our environment to IBM Cognos 10.x which comes with more new features.

IBM Planning Analytics is generally good in terms of functionalities. It can be used reduce time for budget planning, resource planning, demand forecasting, etc. The performance of IBM Planning Analytics is acceptable, but user interface can be improved. It would be good to see new features that allow users to customise the dashboard.

Incentivized

Although I find the IBM Planning analytics documentation quite time consuming, their support with email and call is something i can term as very considerate and patient, I have had few calls about the features and how i would want to implement them within my projects, and the teams have been super helpful to resolve my issues

Incentivized

We did get excellent support from SAP during our implementation project. We will see about the SAP support over the long term.

Incentivized

For strong technical teams and flexibility IBM Planning Analytics is the way to go. For quicker adoption and less technical teams Anaplan is the best option. If consolidation, financials, and moving from legacy tools are main focus than OneStream will be a really good choice. If deeply invested into SAP already than the SAP BPC will be the best fit to maintain the investment.

Incentivized

• Much higher degree of accuracy in forecasting with the use of predictive analysis from historical data
• Dozens of man hours saved in routine processes that are now handled with minimal human interaction
• One system that holds the "source of truth," consolidating multiple systems together that were only accessible individually before

Incentivized

• Will lower IT costs by enabling business analysts to create and execute complex profitability and cost models.
• Will improve the velocity of period close and reporting cycles by executing complex allocations and calculations much more quickly than tools such as CO or COPA.
• Lowers cost by reducing requirements for ETL development and data replication.

Incentivized