On-demand business performance management comes to manufacturing SMEs
1 min read
With enterprise performance management (EPM) one of today’s key catch phrases, manufacturing SMEs might be interested to learn of subscription-based software catching on in the US and now coming over here.
Adaptive Planning is the name of the company and its software, just released at v5.0, and CEO Bill Soward likens it to Salesforce.com, but aimed at helping small to mid size companies meet their performance management requirements.
“SMEs want performance management capabilities, but with lower risk, rapid payback and working with minimal IT resource – and that’s what we do. We’re an easy way to get started: the system offers instant value, low risk and it’s designed for business users, not power users.”
That is, of course, what they all say, but Soward trots out several reasons for Adaptive Planning’s apparent success.
“For example, we have model sheets that help users report multi-dimensional information so they can easily organise their plans and budgets. Also, we have updated the user interface, with a lot of right click capability, so navigation is better.
“Third, we make collaboration real by capturing communications in Word, PowerPoint emails and so on in one place and enablling discussion groups that connect back into the plan for a 360 degree view that gets away from assumptions and exposes dependencies.”
Users to date speak highly of the system, and there are names you will recognise – such as Flowserve, Finnish Master, Magellan, International Coal Group and Vicor.
As for what’s new in Adaptive Planning 5.0, Soward says it’s all about building on the ‘connected intelligence’ of the earlier product.
“A recent study conducted with the BPM Forum revealed that financial decision makers and mid-sized companies believe lack of collaboration is the number one obstacle to better financial planning and reporting.
“Adaptive Planning 5.0 tightly integrates new collaboration capabilities, including discussion forums, online documents and project management into planning and reporting processes, facilitating deeper and more transparent communication about key business decisions.
“The new offering also enables users to engage with other financial professionals and access best practices and benchmarking information via a unique public online community.
