Cognos Planning, comprised of Cognos Contributor and Cognos Analyst, is a leading budgeting software specializing in operational and financial planning. Also referred to as Cognos Enterprise Planning (EP), this software provides real-time analysis of business requirements versus current financial status. Never again will your organization be left with the following unanswered questions:
1.) How can we define a better forecasting model?
2.) What is our current financial status vs. the budget?
3.) Are our current Gross Profit (GP) margins within expectations?
With Cognos Planning you can build financial budgeting models in days instead of weeks. Planning also enables your company to import data models directly from your ERP or General Ledger system. Through the use of these data models, your company can allow a handful or even thousands of end users to submit projected sales targets, expense limits, etc., allowing input from all corners of your business. By implementing this method you can define top-down objectives with bottom-up input.
Also, unlike other planning software applications, client administrators and users are not required to perform complicated programming. Cognos Planning is designed with a user friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI), which closely resembles other spreadsheet applications to help diminish the learning curve.
One of the unique features offered by Cognos Planning is a functionality called “break-back” analysis. The use of “break-back” automatically spreads high-level targets across any profile, previous-period actuals, or projected seasonality. These calculations are applied to multiple dimensions such as products, customers, territories, or time periods without the need to define special business rules. This functionality allows users to analyze “What If” effects so that every financial situation can be carefully reviewed.
Cognos Planning from Thoughtstream Consulting
To inquire about Cognos Planning and the services that Thoughtstream Consulting can provide your company, please contact Michael Orechwa at (213) 596-8296 x707 or via email at mikeo@thoughtstreamconsulting.com.
