This article first appeared at Constellation Research By Doug Henschen
About this Constellation ShortList™
Cloud-based planning platforms help companies with budgeting and forecasting, financial reporting and analysis, strategic planning, and operational planning and optimization in areas such as sales and human resources. The category emerged in the ’90s and ’00s as on-premises “performance management” systems aimed at large enterprises. Cloud-based planning platforms are rapidly replacing these legacy systems, as well as manual, spreadsheet-based approaches still used by small- and midsized organizations.
This category refers to cloud-based planning platforms that support budgeting, planning, forecasting, and analysis across financial and operational areas. These platforms also support or integrate with tools for financial reporting. The cloud makes it possible to quickly deploy, configure and change these systems to support a broad base of users both within and beyond finance departments. Planning platforms bring vital what-if analysis capabilities for dealing with rapid growth, fast-changing business conditions and the development of new products/business models.
With this update, OneStream Software has been added to this ShortList on the strength of its rapid growth and successful adoption by large enterprises. SAP Analytics Cloud has been added on the strength of its growing financial and operational planning capabilities and its extensive integrations and prebuilt content geared to
SAP customers.
Threshold Criteria
Constellation considers the following criteria for these solutions:
- Rapid cloud deployment and configuration
- Agile planning and forecasting capabilities
- Flexible modeling and “what-if” scenario planning capabilities
- Support for operational planning in areas such as sales and human resources
- Rich analysis and reporting tools
- Modern, intuitive interfaces easing frequent planning, forecasting and analysis
- Emerging augmented capabilities supporting predictive planning
The Constellation ShortList™
Constellation evaluates more than a dozen solutions categorized in this market. The Constellation ShortList is determined by client inquiries, partner conversations, customer references, vendor selection projects, market share and internal research.
- ANAPLAN
- ONESTREAM SOFTWARE
- ORACLE CLOUD ENTERPRISE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
- PLANFUL
- SAP ANALYTICS CLOUD
- WORKDAY ADAPTIVE PLANNING
Frequency of Evaluation
Each Constellation ShortList is updated at least once per year. Updates may occur after six months if deemed necessary.
Evaluation Services
Constellation clients can work with the analyst and research team to conduct a more thorough discussion of this Constellation ShortList. Constellation can also provide guidance in vendor selection and contract negotiation.
