IBM Planning Analytics Reviews, Competitors and Pricing

Project Manager at a tech company with 51-200 employees

Jun 4, 2013

Provides the users with flexible modeling environment that does not call for much of the programming or IT skills

Performance Management is an integral part of Business Intelligence Software and Analytics. As mentioned in the article on Performance Management. Planning, Budgeting, Forecasting and Analysis need a systematic approach. There are challenges experienced in each of these processes.

When these activities are carried out in a traditional way, they take longer time delivering limited value. Technology is used to support the best practices and address the full life cycle planning processes – analytics, modeling, contributing and reporting on common IT platform. Streamlining the planning process demands technological tools capable of supporting a faster, more flexible and adaptive approach. IBM Cognos TM1 software is used exactly for this purpose. In addition to enabling collaborative participation by all users, IBM Cognos TM1 can radically transform the enterprise processes by using powerful analysis and flexible modeling.

If we look at the history briefly, the word TM used to stand for Table Manager. A company called Applix developed TM1 software and this was absorbed by IBM about 5 years back. And then this became part of the Cognos software family and part of OLAP – Online Analytical Processing architecture. Though we can figure out several other planning and forecasting software tools, including competing SAP BPC or Oracle’s Hyperion essbase OLAP, IBM Cognos TM1 is extensively found used by enterprises drilling down large datasets. According to IBM, Cognos TM1 can reduce planning cycles in enterprises by 75 percent. The power to various layers and slicing the complicated financial data of a large or even medium-size company means TM1 can be used to perform a number of functions.

It is well known that IBM Cognos Business Intelligence (BI) software provides a proven enterprise BI platform with an open data strategy, providing customers with the ability to leverage data from any source, package it into a business model, and make it available to consumers in various interfaces that are tailored to the task. From business intelligence to financial performance, from strategy management to analytics applications, Cognos software makes enterprise top-performing and analytics-driven. In the featured Cognos software products – Cognos TM1 is used by Finance line of business for planning and reporting. Cognos TM1 provides the users with flexible modeling environment that does not call for much of the programming or IT skills. Also, there are interfaces choices for the users like Microsoft Excel or it can be TM1web interface. Participation by all is facilitated by Contributor client.

When we look at the features and capabilities of Cognos TM1, we find that in addition to collaborative planning, budgeting and forecasting solutions, analytical and reporting applications are definite attractions. Data in IBM Cognos TM1 is stored and represented as multidimensional OLAP cubes. OLAP can be termed as a computer based technique for analyzing data and OLAP cube is a multi dimensional data set. IBM Cognos TM1 also includes a data orchestration environment for accessing external data and systems, as well as capabilities designed for common business planning and budgeting requirement including work flow. Unique value propositions of Cognos TM1 are excel spreadsheet based approach, usage facility by non technical users, large data base handling and real time faster performance. TM1 is available as Modular, Contributor and Viewer licenses. The current version is 10.1. Personal, Mid Market and Enterprise editions are available.

As corporate performance management (CPM) supports cost optimization leading companies worldwide take steps to manage this effectively. Budgeting Planning and Forecasting (BP&F) is one of the important constituent of CPM. IBM’s core strength remains in BP&F with its offering of TM1. It is not only TM1 users are growing but it is also reported most of the cases most of the user acceptance is on the higher side. IBM Cognos TM1 is packed with right features and certainly considered as a leader in this space.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

reviewer2260485

Director at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Aug 24, 2023

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An easy-to-use solution which is quick to deploy and comes with a fast calculation machine

Pros and Cons

"IBM Planning Analytics is easy to use and deploy. It is quick to develop. The calculation machine is also very fast."

"The tool's transport layer could be improved when promoting development between environments."

What is our primary use case?

I use IBM Planning Analytics for financial planning and budgeting.

What is most valuable?

IBM Planning Analytics is easy to use and deploy. It is quick to develop. The calculation machine is also very fast.

What needs improvement?

The tool's transport layer could be improved when promoting development between environments.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the solution for seven years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

IBM Planning Analytics is robust and stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The tool is very scalable, and I have 1000 users for it.

How are customer service and support?

We get good support from IBM; their release notes are easy to follow.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have used SAP solution before. SAP is rigid, and I prefer IBM since it is easy to deploy.

How was the initial setup?

IBM Planning Analytics' installation and maintenance is easy. You can install the basic layer in a week. You need six engineers to deploy the product.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

IBM Planning Analytics is priced well, and licensing costs are yearly.

What other advice do I have?

I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner

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it_user508530

Business Intelligence Consultant - IBM Cognos at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Sep 20, 2016

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With in-memory processing, performance is a strength.

What is most valuable?

This software uses in-memory processing, so performance is a strength, as are the flexibility to make development changes and the facility to learn the programming language.

How has it helped my organization?

I work at a company that implements this software for a lot of clients. The clearest improvement is that, after the implementation, the clients have a lot of more time to analysis their results and make strategic decisions, as opposed to wasting time creating operation jobs.

What needs improvement?

I think the software front-end on Cognos Contributor should be developed further to provide the final user with a better and clear design. The view where the user makes inputs and analyses data is not user-friendly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I’ve been using it for four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have some problems with a few clients. I contact the vendor support, and in some cases I have experienced some difficulty getting a quick resolution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have not encountered any scalability issues. I have the biggest server operating in a client with IBM Cognos. We have never had a big issue with scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

On a scale from 0-10, I rate technical support 7. I have had some problems, but in general, my issues have been resolved quickly.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I did not previously use a different solution.

How was the initial setup?

It was a little complicated to implement a proper setup that ensures future performance and prevents issues. It takes some time to gain enough implementation experience with different environments.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

You have to negotiate to have some advantage, but with more clients, you are in a better position to negotiate.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

For most clients, they evaluate other similar software, but in general this software has more flexibility to make changes and adapt their business rules to the tool.

What other advice do I have?

Have employees participate in a lifecycle project, to learn and understand all the power the software can provide the company. In some cases, the clients are not focused during participation and at the end, they lose the opportunity to use all the functionalities the tool can provide.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: My company it’s the biggest partner with IBM in Latin America implementing IBM Cognos TM1.

it_user508530Business Intelligence Consultant - IBM Cognos at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

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Jun 28, 2017

IBM has launched the new version of Planning Analytics, i'ts a whole new front end. The user can develop reports anda dashboards on Workspace that is a Business Led Design, completely free to create all kinds of reports and data charts.

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it_user7716

BI Expert at a real estate/law firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Jul 17, 2013

Integration- Cognos BI & TM1

I'm glad to see progress made on integrating TM1 and BI as it is sorely needed. TM1 is much more scalable than Enterprise Planning and our users love the fast refresh of reporting cubes from contributor cubes. However, they miss their BI reports. Replicating the functionality offered by the EP Framework Manager Extension is very difficult. We miss several features, most notably flattening of hierarchies and automatic generation of a base package from the model and not from individual cubes. We need a package so we can do links between cubes for validation reports. If TM1 is going to be "owned by Finance" as EP was, these features are crucial.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

it_user544590Cognos BI Architect/ Developer at a real estate/law firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

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Nov 2, 2016

Definitely the fast in-memory processing of calculations and the flexibility to build various application solutions to meet the business need is some of the biggest strengths of the tool. The biggest determinant is the skill and knowledge of the developer/ architect.

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reviewer1484589

Expert EPM (TM1 Cognos BI) at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Jan 29, 2021

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Quick data analysis, reliable, AI improvement needed

Pros and Cons

"Navigating through the data to make analysis is really quick."

"It would have been better if the solution was not just a tool kit."

What is most valuable?

Navigating through the data to make analysis is really quick.

What needs improvement?

It would have been better if the solution was not just a tool kit. They did not embed some functionalities already developed, we are having to develop them ourselves. It would be helpful to have pre-packaged data functionality already developed and the only thing you need to do is configure and use it.

When I worked with IBM it was with a consulting company, I have made projects for many customers and we always developed starting from nothing. They have already begun to integrate AI into the prediction forecast for the future. This will give the possibility to have a predictive data based on AI. I would like to see more AI in future releases.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for 11 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable product. We have customers that encounter issues, but we always fixed it. There are many projects that we have made, some of the companies have a lot of customers. They are in production in many sectors, such as bank sectors. The main problem is when the server shuts down without warning. It is our big nightmare.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have contacted the support, they successfully resolved my issues. It took some time, but it was resolved. They could be faster on resolving issues.

How was the initial setup?

It is complicated to install the solution. You need to consultant with special skills and experienced technical team.

What about the implementation team?

I would advise using consultants, it can be difficult to implement.

What other advice do I have?

Basic level users cannot develop the application. However, you might manage to develop it, but you make a big risk that you will develop not following best practice. The cube population might be voluminous, and the calculation could be too slow if you do not respect some best practices.

I rate IBM Planning Analytics a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner

it_user6852

Developer at a non-tech company with 51-200 employees

Jun 4, 2013

Several new features in TM1 9.5

IBM Cognos TM1 (formerly Applix TM1) is enterprise planning software used to implement collaborative planning, budgeting and forecasting solutions, as well as analytical and reporting applications. Data in IBM Cognos TM1 is stored and represented as multidimensional OLAP cubes, with data being stored at the "leaf" level. Computations on the leaf data are performed in real-time (for example, to aggregate numbers up a dimensional hierarchy). IBM Cognos TM1 includes a data orchestration environment for accessing external data and systems, as well as capabilities designed for common business planning and budgeting requirements (e.g. workflow, top-down adjustments).

Several new features were added to IBM Cognos TM1 9.5, the most visible being TM1 Contributor, which combines an OLAP engine with the enterprise planning capabilities of IBM Cognos Planning in a Web-based client. Other features include an "Undo/Redo" capability that lets users store a collection of data value changes and walk back through the actions to undo them; pick lists for cells to reduce the amount of data entry performed; sandboxes for creating personal modeling scenarios; and data entry shortcuts.
Another Web client option for IBM Cognos TM1 is IBM Cognos TM1 Web, which enables business users to develop and publish web-based applications, using Microsoft Excel as an authoring medium. IBM Cognos TM1 Web is developed in ASP.NET, and is compatible with Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
With its flagship TM1 product line, Applix was the purest OLAP vendor among publicly traded independent BI vendors prior to OLAP industry consolidation in 2007, and had the greatest growth rate.
The latest version, IBM Cognos TM1 10.1, became publicly available on February 7th, 2012.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

it_user358176

Vice President & Business Head at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees

Jan 18, 2016

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You can analyze data, and create models to reflect a constantly evolving business environment.

Valuable Features:

IBM Cognos TM1 is an enterprise planning software platform that can transform the planning cycle, from target setting and budgeting to reporting, score carding, analysis and forecasting. Available as an on-premise or on-cloud solution, and with extensive mobile capabilities, Cognos TM1 enables you to collaborate on plans, budgets and forecasts. You can analyze data, and create models to reflect a constantly evolving business environment

Improvements to My Organization:

In terms finance the return on investment (ROI) can be increased. What-if analysis and business modeling options which users can run without IT involvement

Room for Improvement:

Pulling data from planning crashes very often. if this can be stabilized in next version that would be great
Include a performance modeller feature at architect level
Automation of feeders
Cognos reporting modules can be improved to be more intuitive, and interactive like QlikView. And more generally, I think the BI solution's data visualizations based on maps are too poor, they should improve it by interfacing their product with Google maps for example

Cost and Licensing Advice:

The unlimited licensing is valuable.

Other Advice:

I would strongly recommend to go with TM1 Enterprise in terms of stability, scalability and performance.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.