Revolutionising operations and customer interactions

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, organisations are constantly looking for innovative ways to enhance efficiency, improve customer experiences, and make data-driven decisions. One of the most transformative technologies that is making waves across industries is the AI assistant.

AI assistants—powered by natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, and automation—are transforming how businesses operate. From streamlining internal workflows to enhancing customer engagement, AI assistants are offering tangible benefits for organisations of all sizes.

In this blog, we’ll explore how AI assistants can help businesses improve operations, drive growth, and stay ahead of the competition.

1. Enhancing customer support and service

One of the most powerful ways AI assistants are impacting business is by transforming customer support. AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants can handle a wide range of customer inquiries in real time, without the need for human intervention.

Benefits:

• 24/7 availability: AI assistants can work around the clock, ensuring that customers can get the help they need at any time, even outside of regular business hours.
• Instant responses: AI assistants respond quickly to common queries, providing immediate assistance and improving overall response times.
• Consistent customer experience: AI assistants can ensure consistent responses across all customer interactions, eliminating discrepancies that might occur with human support.
• Scalability: During peak periods or holidays, AI assistants can handle a high volume of inquiries without the need to hire additional staff, ensuring that businesses can scale their support operations efficiently.

2. Automating repetitive tasks and workflows

AI assistants are highly effective at automating routine, repetitive tasks that take up valuable time for employees. By taking over menial tasks, AI can help businesses streamline operations and free up human workers to focus on more strategic activities.

Examples of tasks AI assistants can automate:

• Scheduling and calendar management: AI assistants can schedule meetings, set reminders, and send invites, reducing the administrative burden on employees.
• Data entry and documentation: AI can automate data collection, entry, and report generation, ensuring accuracy while saving employees' time.
• Customer feedback collection: AI assistants can automatically send surveys or request feedback from customers, gather responses, and analyse the results for businesses.

Benefits:

• Improved efficiency: By automating time-consuming tasks, employees can focus on high-value work that drives innovation and business growth.
• Reduced human error: AI assistants follow programmed instructions without making mistakes, ensuring that repetitive tasks are completed accurately.
• Faster response times: Automation allows tasks to be completed faster, increasing the overall speed of business processes.

3. Enhancing Data Analysis and Decision-Making

AI assistants, when integrated with business intelligence tools, can help businesses make better decisions based on data-driven insights. AI assistants can analyse large volumes of data in real time and provide recommendations that guide business decisions.

Examples of AI-driven insights:

• Sales trends: AI assistants can analyse sales data and identify trends or patterns in customer behaviour, helping businesses forecast demand and optimize inventory management.
• Market Insights: AI can analyse competitor data, customer preferences, and market conditions, providing businesses with insights that help shape marketing strategies.O
• Operational efficiency: AI assistants can identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies in workflows, providing recommendations for process improvements.
  

Benefits:

• Better decision-making: AI assistants provide real-time insights, helping managers and executives make informed decisions faster.
• Predictive analytics: AI-powered tools can forecast future trends, helping businesses anticipate market changes and adjust strategies accordingly.
• Cost savings: By identifying inefficiencies or underperforming areas, AI assistants can help businesses reduce waste and optimize resource allocation.

4. Improving marketing and personalisation

AI assistants can significantly improve marketing efforts by offering a higher level of personalization and delivering targeted content to the right audience. By analysing customer preferences, behaviour, and interactions, AI assistants can help businesses create customised marketing campaigns that drive engagement and conversions.

Examples of AI-driven marketing activities:

• Personalised recommendations: AI assistants can analyse customer browsing and purchase history to recommend products or services tailored to individual preferences.
• Automated content creation: AI assistants can help businesses generate content, such as emails, product descriptions, and blog posts, based on customer interests and previous interactions.
• Social media monitoring: AI assistants can track social media mentions, sentiment, and trends, helping businesses adjust their marketing strategy in real time.

Benefits:

• Increased customer engagement: Personalised experiences resonate more with customers, leading to hi
• Better targeting: AI can segment customers based on their preferences and behaviors, allowing businesses to target the right audience with the right message at the right time.
• Enhanced ROI: With improved targeting and personalisation, businesses can see a higher return on marketing investments.

5. Enhancing employee productivity and collaboration

AI assistants are not only beneficial for customer-facing tasks but also play a vital role in improving internal productivity and collaboration within organisations. By providing employees with access to real-time information, helping them manage tasks, and facilitating communication, AI assistants can improve overall team performance.

Examples of how AI assistants can help employees:

• Project management: AI can assist with project tracking, reminders, and deadline management, ensuring that projects stay on track.
• Internal communication: AI assistants can help employees quickly find the information they need by searching through internal knowledge bases, documents, and databases.
• Collaboration tools: AI assistants can integrate with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace, providing employees with intelligent support and facilitating team collaboration.

Benefits:

• Time savings: Employees can quickly access information, receive reminders, and automate tasks that would otherwise take time, allowing them to be more productive.
• Improved communication: AI can enhance communication and reduce delays in getting answers or collaborating on projects.
• Task prioritisation: AI assistants can help employees prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, ensuring that critical work gets done first.

6. Boosting sales and lead generation

AI assistants can help businesses improve their sales processes by identifying new leads, nurturing existing prospects, and automating customer interactions during the sales journey.

Examples:

• Lead qualification: AI can help qualify leads by engaging with prospects through chat, analyzing their responses, and scoring their likelihood to convert into paying customers.
• Automated follow-ups: AI assistants can automate email follow-ups, schedule calls, and send reminders, ensuring that no leads slip through the cracks.
• Sales forecasting: AI assistants can analyse past sales data and predict future sales trends, helping sales teams plan their efforts more effectively.

Benefits:

• Increased sales: By automating lead generation and nurturing processes, AI helps sales teams focus on high-priority leads, improving conversion rates.
• Efficiency gains: Automated tasks like follow-ups and lead qualification free up time for sales teams to focus on closing deals and building relationships with customers.
• Data-driven insights: AI assistants provide real-time insights into sales performance, helping teams make data-driven decisions that optimize their efforts.

7. Boosting employee training and development

AI assistants can also be leveraged for training and employee development, especially in large organizations with a continuous need for skill enhancement.

Examples:

• Training modules: AI-powered platforms can recommend training materials and courses based on an employee’s current role, interests, and skill gaps.
• Onboarding assistance: New employees can interact with AI assistants to learn about company policies, procedures, and workflows, ensuring a smooth onboarding experience.
• Performance feedback: AI assistants can track employee performance and provide actionable feedback to help employees improve and grow.

Benefits:

• Personalised learning: Employees receive tailored training recommendations based on their specific needs, leading to more effective learning.
• Faster onboarding: AI assistants help new employees get up to speed quickly by providing them with essential resources and answering common questions.
• Continuous development: AI enables businesses to offer continuous learning opportunities, fostering a culture of growth and improvement.

AI assistants are reshaping the way businesses operate by automating tasks, improving customer engagement, providing real-time insights, and enhancing productivity. Whether it’s through streamlining workflows, enhancing personalisation, improving decision-making, or

offering round-the-clock customer support, AI assistants bring immense value to organisations across industries.

As businesses continue to adopt AI-driven solutions, those who leverage AI assistants will likely see significant improvements in efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance. By embracing this transformative technology, organisations can stay competitive, boost innovation, and achieve long-term success.

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In a world where speed, scale, and trust define success, Octane has emerged as a leader in enterprise AI-driven transformation. Honoured with the 2025 IBM Partner Plus Award in APAC for automation, Octane’s groundbreaking use of IBM Watsonx Orchestrate is setting a new benchmark for how intelligent automation can empower business users and scale human productivity.

The Award: Increasing performance through automation

The IBM Partner Plus Award for Automation celebrates business partners who are delivering new levels of performance with speed, scale and security, enabling systems, business processes, and people to be more efficient.

For Octane, this means:

• Speed: Accelerating workflows by over 70% through AI orchestration.

• Adaptability: Designing solutions that flex with business demands.

• Security: Ensuring compliance through enterprise-grade automation guardrails.

“This award reinforces our belief that automation should be intuitive, intelligent, and human-first,” said Amendra Pratap, Managing Director. “Our collaboration with IBM brings this vision to life.”

IBM Watsonx Orchestrate: A new paradigm in intelligent automation

Watsonx Orchestrate is IBM’s enterprise-ready solution that helps create, deploy, and manage AI assistants and agents. It blends AI and workflow automation, enabling users to interact with systems using natural language prompts, representing a powerful step toward fully autonomous agentic AI systems. It enables multi-step, goal-driven task orchestration and integration with existing business systems, connecting to multiple proprietary and third-party AI models and automation tools.

How Octane leverages Watsonx Orchestrate:

• Skill-based AI execution: Prebuilt “skills” automate repetitive actions—like sending emails, updating records, or scheduling interviews.
• No-code integrations: Plug-and-play connections to enterprise tools like SAP, Salesforce, and Workday.
• Conversational interface: Users trigger complex workflows through Slack, Teams, or email with simple prompts.

“Watsonx Orchestrate isn’t just for building chatbots—it’s an AI-powered teammate,” says Amendra Pratap, Managing Director, “Watsonx Orchestrate is your next hire. By orchestrating tasks across various assistants, agents and systems, it helps boost workforce efficiency and reduces manual load by surfacing the right tools when you need them."

Real-world impact:

What we achieved:

What sets Octane apart: Augmented intelligence, not just automation

Traditional automation follows rules. Octane uses AI to understand goals, context, and next best actions.

With Watsonx Orchestrate, Octane delivers:

• Adaptive workflows: Adjusts based on real-time data (e.g., re-routing approvals during outages).
• Multi-agent collaboration: Skills collaborate (e.g., sentiment analysis + ticket escalation).
• Continuous learning: Models improve from feedback to streamline operations over time.

“We don’t just automate tasks—we augment thinking,” says Steny Sebastian, Principal - Data and AI Platforms. “That’s how we deliver smarter outcomes, not just faster ones.”

Ready to orchestrate intelligence into every workflow?

 Explore how Octane’s award-winning AI solutions can help you scale with confidence.

Learn how advanced your organisation is with AI adoption and how Orchestrate can help. - Take the next step. Try IBM Watsonx Orchestrate at no cost, or book a consultation with an expert

Learn more about the IBM Partner Plus Awards: https://www.ibm.com/partnerplus/awards

#AgenticAI #EnterpriseAutomation #OctaneSolutions #WatsonxOrchestrate #IBMPartnerPlus #DigitalTransformation

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There’s nothing quite like starting a new role at the forefront of innovation. My first week at Octane Software Solutions was nothing short of electrifying—the highlight was a full-house customer event buzzing with energy, visionary ideas, and the promise of AI-driven transformation. 

The focus? IBM AI Platform, Watsonx Orchestrate, is poised to redefine how businesses harness automation, AI agents, and predictive intelligence to unlock unprecedented efficiency. Let me take you through this exhilarating journey and why Watsonx Orchestrate, paired with Octane’s expertise, is the future of work.  

As we close out 2024, a year that has been nothing short of revolutionary for AI adoption, let’s pause to reflect on the data driving this transformation. Companies have spent 2023-2024 experimenting with generative AI, deploying AI assistants, and running pilots—many of which have evolved into concrete plans for 2025. Now, the focus shifts to finding the right partner to turn these blueprints into reality. 

These statistics aren’t just metrics; they’re proof that AI is fulfilling its promise to amplify productivity while elevating outcomes. Here’s how Watsonx Orchestrate’s AI agents are reshaping enterprises: 

1. Enhanced User Experience 
   
   AI agents deliver intelligent, multi-turn conversational experiences that solve complex tasks seamlessly. For instance, integrating Watsonx Orchestrate with tools like IBM Planning Analytics (TM1) allows finance teams to automate data reconciliation while maintaining compliance.

2. Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) 
   
   By leaning on AI to automate tasks at scale, enterprises cut costs while boosting efficiency. Watsonx Orchestrate’s pre-built Skills and low-code studio let businesses extend existing Gen AI investments—like chatbots or co-pilots—without overhauling systems.

3. Agility & Future-Proof Flexibility 
   
   AI agents enable organizations to pivot rapidly as markets shift. With Watsonx Orchestrate’s autonomous orchestration, businesses adapt workflows in real-time—whether rerouting customer inquiries during peak demand or updating financial forecasts using TM1.

If below is what you are thinking: 

• How do you integrate AI agents into your existing digitised workflows?
• How do you maximise ROI from current AI tools?
• How do you retain control as AI evolves?

Octane: Is Your Partner for Scaling Customer-Centric AI

While many providers offer AI tools, Octane stands apart as a force for customer-centric innovation. Here’s why: 

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Together with IBM, Octane’s team works side-by-side with clients to:

• Map AI use cases to your unique customer journey.
• Integrate Watsonx capabilities with niche tools  
• Prioritise ethical AI practices, ensuring transparency and trust at every interaction. 

Octane: Delivering Real-World Impact with Watsonx Orchestrate—An Airline’s Journey to AI-Driven Intelligence 

Let’s cut through the hype and dive into a tangible example of how IBM Watsonx Orchestrate, implemented by Octane, transformed operations for a global airline—a case study that exemplifies the platform’s power to turn data chaos into strategic clarity. 

The Challenge: Manual Mayhem in Business Intelligence 

The airline’s Business Intelligence (BI) and Finance teams were drowning in manual processes: 

• 2-3 days wasted monthly on report generation, with analysts manually cleaning, reconciling, and validating data in IBM Planning Analytics (TM1).
• Knowledge bottlenecks: Executives relied on BI teams for real-time insights during critical meetings, creating delays and frustration.
• Human errors: Manual calculations led to costly rework, while commercial decisions were stalled by a 3-week data validation cycle. 

The stakes? Missed deadlines, strained resources, and executives flying blind in a competitive market. 

The Solution: Watsonx Orchestrate in Action

Octane partnered with the airline to integrate Watsonx Orchestrate with their existing IBM Planning Analytics deployment. In just two weeks, we automated workflows and unleashed AI-driven efficiency:

Automated Data Cleaning & Reconciliation 

• AI-Powered Automation: 

• Manual data cleaning reduced from 2-4 days/month to minutes. 

• Data reconciliation slashed from 3-4 hours/month to 1 minute. 

• Self-Correcting Workflows: 
  Watsonx Orchestrate’s AI agents flagged inconsistencies, auto-corrected errors, and validated datasets, ensuring 99% accuracy in financial reports. 

Empowering Executives with NLP-Driven Insights

• Natural Language Queries: 
  Executives could now ask, “Show me Q3 revenue trends vs. forecasts” in plain language. Watsonx Orchestrate generated real-time insights, reducing reliance on BI teams by 90%. 

• Faster Decisions: 
  Monthly reports that once took 2-3 days were generated in 10 minutes, accelerating commercial decisions from weeks to hours. 

Eliminating Knowledge Silos

• Democratized Data Access: 
  By codifying tribal knowledge into AI workflows, the airline mitigated key-person risk and ensured continuity during staff turnover. 

• Scalable Governance: 
  Octane embedded compliance checks into automated processes, aligning with IBM’s enterprise-grade LLMs for audit-ready outputs. 
  

Business Outcomes: From Friction to Flight 

"With Octane and Watsonx Orchestrate, we’re not just surviving data chaos—we’re soaring above it." - Fortune 500 Airline Client

Three Pathways to AI Transformation 

1. Test-drive Watsonx Orchestrate’s on our dedicated platform  

2. Client Briefing: Dive deep into a 2-4 hour session to align AI strategy with your goals.

3. Pilot Program: Co-develop a 1-4 week proof-of-concept with Octane’s AI engineers. 

The Future is Autonomous—Let’s Build It Together

Reflecting back on the event, the energy in the room was infectious. Attendees left inspired by Watsonx Orchestrate’s ability to blend autonomous AI with human ingenuity. By automating the mundane, enhancing precision, and scaling seamlessly, this platform isn’t just a tool—it’s a productivity revolution. 

As I begin my journey with Octane, I’m energised by the possibilities. Whether you’re optimising finance with TM1, Anaplan, transforming employee productivity with SAP, or reimagining customer service with Salesforce / ServiceNow, IBM Watsonx Orchestrate—powered by Octane—is your catalyst for growth. The future of enterprise productivity isn’t just automated—it’s augmented. With AI Agents handling the grind, your team can focus on what humans do best: innovating, strategising, and delivering exceptional value.

Ready to turn your 2025 AI vision into reality?

Contact Octane to discover how Watsonx Orchestrate can accelerate your journey—with the stats to back it up. 

Steny Sebastian
Principal - Data and AI Platforms
Octane Solutions 🗓️ Book me
https://www.octanesolutions.com.au/

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In today’s fast-paced business environment, companies are constantly looking for ways to streamline their operations, improve decision-making, and stay ahead of the competition. One of the tools that has gained significant attention in the world of business intelligence and analytics is IBM Planning Analytics, which harnesses the power of AI to enhance financial planning, forecasting, and reporting. One of the standout features of IBM Planning Analytics is its AI Assistant, an innovative tool that leverages artificial intelligence to provide smarter, more efficient planning and analytics capabilities.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the key features of the IBM Planning Analytics AI Assistant and explore how it is transforming business planning for organizations around the world.

What is IBM Planning Analytics AI Assistant?

IBM Planning Analytics is a cloud-based solution designed to help businesses automate their planning, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis processes. The AI Assistant embedded within the platform brings cognitive capabilities to the table, making it more intuitive and user-friendly.

The AI Assistant uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms to understand and respond to user queries in plain language, enabling business users—whether financial analysts, planners, or executives—to interact with the system in a more natural way. Instead of relying on complex formulas or spending hours running reports, users can simply ask questions like, "What was our sales growth in Q3?" or "How much did our expenses increase year-over-year?" The AI Assistant then processes these requests and provides quick, data-driven insights.

Key Features of IBM Planning Analytics AI Assistant

1. Conversational Analytics

   One of the most impressive features of the AI Assistant is its ability to enable conversational analytics. Traditionally, getting insights from business intelligence tools involved navigating through multiple layers of data, setting up reports, or writing complex queries. The AI Assistant eliminates this complexity by allowing users to ask questions in natural language, just like they would talk to a colleague or consultant.

   For example, a user can ask, "What were our sales for last quarter?" and the AI Assistant can instantly pull up relevant data, graphs, or reports. This conversational interface makes it easier for non-technical users to engage with analytics and access valuable insights without having to be data experts.

2. Data-driven Decision-Making

   The AI Assistant doesn’t just provide static answers—it actively helps users analyse trends, identify anomalies, and make data-driven decisions. For instance, the Assistant can compare historical data, identify seasonal patterns, and even suggest potential adjustments to forecasts based on changing market conditions. This empowers decision-makers to quickly assess different scenarios and make informed choices.

   Additionally, the Assistant can provide context behind the data, such as explanations of why certain numbers are trending upward or downward. This deeper level of understanding enables organizations to plan with greater confidence.

3. Predictive Analytics and Forecasting

   In addition to assisting with retrospective analysis, the AI Assistant is also equipped to help users with predictive analytics. Using historical data, market trends, and other variables, the Assistant can generate forecasts for various business aspects like sales, revenue, and operational costs.

   For instance, planners can ask the AI Assistant, "What is the projected revenue for the next quarter based on current trends?" The Assistant then leverages machine learning models to provide accurate, forward-looking forecasts. By incorporating AI-driven insights, businesses can improve their planning accuracy and reduce the risks associated with manual forecasting.

4. Automated Insights and Recommendations

   One of the standout benefits of AI in business planning is its ability to go beyond simple reporting. The IBM Planning Analytics AI Assistant is capable of delivering automated insights and recommendations that are tailored to the needs of the organization. By analyzing past performance, the Assistant can highlight areas of opportunity or potential risk that may require attention.

   For example, if expenses are increasing faster than revenue, the Assistant might recommend strategies for cost-cutting or optimizing operations. These automated recommendations allow planners and analysts to quickly address potential issues and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

5. Seamless Integration with IBM Planning Analytics Workspace

   The AI Assistant is fully integrated with the IBM Planning Analytics Workspace, which is the central hub for business users to manage and analyze data. This integration ensures that users have a smooth experience when interacting with their data, whether they are leveraging the AI Assistant for ad-hoc analysis or using the broader tools available in Planning Analytics for long-term strategic planning.

   The seamless integration between the Assistant and the workspace also means that businesses can continue to rely on traditional data management and reporting workflows while taking advantage of AI-powered insights without disruption.

Benefits of IBM Planning Analytics AI Assistant

• Faster Decision-Making

  The AI Assistant accelerates decision-making by delivering insights in real-time. Users can ask questions and get answers instantly, without having to manually sift through large datasets or run complex queries. This speeds up planning cycles and ensures that decisions are based on the latest data.

• Empowerment of Business Users

  With the AI Assistant, business users who may not have deep technical expertise can now access analytics and make informed decisions. This democratization of data ensures that all teams—finance, marketing, operations—are equipped to contribute to planning processes and drive organizational success.

• Reduced Errors

  Since the AI Assistant uses machine learning models to predict and analyse data, the likelihood of human error in forecasting and planning is significantly reduced. Automated insights and recommendations are based on sophisticated data analysis, helping to eliminate mistakes caused by manual data handling.

• Scalable Insights Across Teams

  The AI Assistant enables businesses to scale their analytics capabilities across teams and departments. Whether a team is working on financial forecasts, sales targets, or operational efficiencies, the Assistant can be used to generate insights that are relevant to each department’s specific goals and objectives. This scalability ensures that AI-powered decision-making benefits the entire organization.

Real-World Use Cases

1. Finance Teams

   For finance teams, the AI Assistant is a game-changer in managing budgets, forecasting, and scenario planning. It can quickly identify deviations from expected results, recommend corrective actions, and forecast the financial outlook based on real-time data.

2. Sales and Marketing Teams

   Sales and marketing teams can use the Assistant to gain quick insights into customer behaviour, sales trends, and marketing ROI. By understanding which campaigns are driving results and which aren’t, they can adjust strategies on the fly and optimize their efforts.

3. Operations and Supply Chain

   Operations managers can use the AI Assistant to forecast demand, optimize inventory, and predict potential supply chain disruptions. By understanding these dynamics earlier, businesses can mitigate risks and improve operational efficiency.

Conclusion

The IBM Planning Analytics AI Assistant represents a significant leap forward in the world of business analytics. By combining artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and predictive analytics, it transforms the way businesses plan, forecast, and make decisions. With its ability to provide faster insights, automate recommendations, and empower users across the organization, the AI Assistant is not just a tool—it’s a strategic asset that helps businesses become more agile and data-driven in their operations.

As businesses continue to face increasingly complex challenges, tools like IBM Planning Analytics AI Assistant will become indispensable for navigating the future of planning and decision-making.

Ready to take AI to the next level? Talk to us! 

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The world of finance is evolving rapidly, and AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a practical tool that can transform how finance teams operate. But for many organisations, the idea of integrating AI into their workflows can feel overwhelming. Where do you start? How do you ensure success? The answer lies in taking a gradual, strategic approach. With Watson Orchestrate and IBM Planning Analytics, you can start small, prove the value, and confidently scale your AI initiatives. At Octane, we guide you through this journey, from exploring use cases to delivering impactful projects.

Why Start Small with AI in Finance? 

AI has the potential to revolutionize finance by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing decision-making, and improving accuracy. However, diving headfirst into a full-scale AI implementation can be risky. Starting small allows you to test the waters, build confidence, and demonstrate tangible results before committing to larger investments. This is where Watson Orchestrate shines—it’s designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing tools, like IBM Planning Analytics, and automate specific tasks without disrupting your workflows. 

Step 1: Explore Use Cases with Octane’s Workshops 

The first step in your AI journey is identifying where it can add the most value. We work closely with IBM client engineering team and run interactive workshops to help you explore potential use cases for Watson Orchestrate within your finance team. These workshops are designed to: 

• Understand Your Pain Points: We work with your team to identify repetitive, time-consuming tasks that are ripe for automation, such as data consolidation, report generation, or budget reconciliation. 

• Brainstorm Solutions: Together, we brainstorm how Watson Orchestrate can address these challenges, leveraging its AI capabilities to automate processes and enhance efficiency. 

• Prioritise Opportunities: Not all use cases are created equal. We help you prioritize the ones that offer the quickest wins and the highest impact. 

Step 2: Prove the Value with a Proof of Concept (POC) 

Once we’ve identified promising use cases, the next step is to validate them through a Proof of Concept (POC). A POC allows you to see Watson Orchestrate in action, delivering real results in a controlled environment. Here’s how it works: 

• Define Success Metrics: We work with you to define clear objectives and success metrics for the POC, ensuring that the results are measurable and aligned with your goals. 

• Build and Test: Our team builds the POC, integrating Watson Orchestrate with IBM Planning Analytics to automate the selected use case. We test the solution rigorously to ensure it meets your requirements. 

• Evaluate Results: After the POC, we evaluate the results together. Did it save time? Improve accuracy? Enhance productivity? These insights help you decide whether to move forward with a full-scale implementation. 

Step 3: Deliver the Project and Scale 

If the POC demonstrates value, we move into the  project delivery phase. Our team works closely with yours to implement the solution, ensuring it’s tailored to your specific needs and integrated seamlessly into your workflows. Once the initial project is delivered, you can scale the solution to address additional use cases, gradually expanding the role of AI in your finance operations. 

Real-World Impact: A Gradual Approach to AI 

Many organizations have successfully adopted AI in finance by starting small and scaling strategically. For example, a airline participated in one of Octane’s workshops and identified report generation as a key pain point. Through a POC, they automated the process using Watson Orchestrate, reducing the time required from 2 days to just 30 minutes. Encouraged by the results, they expanded the solution to automate budget reconciliation, achieving even greater efficiencies. 

Why Choose Octane? 

At Octane, we specialise in helping organisations like yours navigate the complexities of AI adoption in Finance teams. Our phased approach—starting with workshops, moving to POCs, and then delivering projects—ensures that you can dip your toes into AI without taking on unnecessary risk. We bring deep expertise in Watson Orchestrate and IBM Planning Analytics, along with a commitment to delivering measurable results.  

Take the First Step Today 

AI is no longer a distant dream—it’s a practical tool that can transform your finance team. By starting small with Watson Orchestrate and IBM Planning Analytics, you can explore the potential of AI, prove its value, and scale your initiatives with confidence. Ready to get started? Contact Octane today to schedule a workshop and begin your AI journey. Email us at  media@octanesolutions.com.au  to learn more. 

The future of finance is AI-powered, and the journey starts with a single step. Let Octane guide you every step of the way. 

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In this blog post, we will showcase the process of exposing the transaction logging on Planning Analytics (PA) V12 on AWS to the users. Currently, in Planning Analytics there is no user interface (UI) option to access transaction logs directly from Planning Analytics Workspace. However, there is a workaround to expose transactions to a host server and access the logs. By following these steps, you can successfully access transaction logged in Planning Analytics V12 on AWS using REST API.

Step 1: Creating an API Key in Planning Analytics Workspace

The first step in this process is to create an API key in Planning Analytics Workspace. An API key is a unique identifier that provides access to the API and allows you to authenticate your requests.

1. Navigate to the API Key Management Section: In Planning Analytics Workspace, go to the administration section where API keys are managed.
2. Generate a New API Key: Click on the option to create a new API key. Provide a name and set the necessary permissions for the key.
3. Save the API Key: Once the key is generated, save it securely. You will need this key for authenticating your requests in the following steps.

Step 2: Authenticating to Planning Analytics As a Service Using the API Key

Once you have the API key, the next step is to authenticate to Planning Analytics as a Service using this key. Authentication verifies your identity and allows you to interact with the Planning Analytics API.

1. Prepare Your Authentication Request: Use a tool like Postman or any HTTP client to create an authentication request.
2. Set the Authorization Header: Include the API key in the Authorization header of your request. The header format should be Authorization: Bearer <API Key>.
3. Send the Authentication Request: Send a request to the Planning Analytics authentication endpoint to obtain an access token.

Detailed instructions for Step 1 and Step 2 can be found in the following IBM technote:

How to Connect to Planning Analytics as a Service Database using REST API with PA API Key

Step 3: Setting Up an HTTP or TCP Server to Collect Transaction Logs

In this step, you will set up a web service that can receive and inspect HTTP or TCP requests to capture transaction logs. This is crucial if you cannot directly access the AWS server or the IBM Planning Analytics logs.

1. Choose a Web Service Framework: Select a framework like Flask or Django for Python, or any other suitable framework, to create your web service.
2. Configure the Server: Set up the server to listen for incoming HTTP or TCP requests. Ensure it can parse and store the transaction logs.
3. Test the Server Locally: Before deploying, test the server locally to ensure it is correctly configured and can handle incoming requests.

For demonstration purposes, we will use a free web service provided by Webhook.site. This service allows you to create a unique URL for receiving and inspecting HTTP requests. It is particularly useful for testing webhooks, APIs, and other HTTP request-based services.

Step 4: Subscribing to the Transaction Logs

The final step involves subscribing to the transaction logs by sending a POST request to Planning Analytics Workspace. This will direct the transaction logs to the web service you set up.

Practical Use Case for Testing IBM Planning Analytics Subscription

Below are the detailed instructions related to Step 4:

1. Copy the URL Generated from Webhook.site:
   • Visit siteand copy the generated URL (e.g., https://webhook.site/<your-unique-id>). The <your-unique-id> refers to the unique ID found in the "Get" section of the Request Details on the main page.

2. Subscribe Using Webhook.site URL:
   • Open Postman or any HTTP client.
   • Create a new POST request to the subscription endpoint of Planning Analytics.
   • In Postman, update your subscription to use the Webhook.site URL using the below post request:

• In the body of the request, paste the URL generated from Webhook.site:

{
 "URL": "https://webhook.site/your-unique-id"
}
<tm1db> is a variable that contains the name of your TM1 database.

Note: Only the transaction log entries created at or after the point of subscription will be sent to the subscriber. To stop the transaction logs, update the POST query by replacing /Subscribe with /Unsubscribe.

By following these steps, you can successfully enable and access transaction logs in Planning Analytics V12 on AWS using REST API.

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Effective management of Planning Analytics (TM1), particularly with tools like IBM’s TM1, can significantly enhance your organization’s financial planning and performance management. 

Here are some essential tips to help you optimize your Planning Analytics (TM1) processes:

1. Understand Your Business Needs

Before diving into the technicalities, ensure you have a clear understanding of your business requirements. Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics that are critical to your organization. This understanding will guide the configuration and customization of your Planning Analytics model.

2. Leverage the Power of TM1 Cubes

TM1 cubes are powerful data structures that enable complex multi-dimensional analysis. Properly designing your cubes is crucial for efficient data retrieval and reporting. Ensure your cubes are optimized for performance by avoiding unnecessary dimensions and carefully planning your cube structure to support your analysis needs.

3. Automate Data Integration

Automating data integration processes can save time and reduce errors. Use ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools to automate the extraction of data from various sources, its transformation into the required format, and its loading into TM1. This ensures that your data is always up-to-date and accurate.

4. Implement Robust Security Measures

Data security is paramount, especially when dealing with financial and performance data. Implement robust security measures within your Planning Analytics environment. Use TM1’s security features to control access to data and ensure that only authorized users can view or modify sensitive information.

5. Regularly Review and Optimize Models

Regularly reviewing and optimizing your Planning Analytics models is essential to maintain performance and relevance. Analyze the performance of your TM1 models and identify any bottlenecks or inefficiencies. Periodically update your models to reflect changes in business processes and requirements.

6. Utilize Advanced Analytics and AI

Incorporate advanced analytics and AI capabilities to gain deeper insights from your data. Use predictive analytics to forecast future trends and identify potential risks and opportunities. TM1’s integration with other IBM tools, such as Watson, can enhance your analytics capabilities.

7. Provide Comprehensive Training

Ensure that your team is well-trained in using Planning Analytics and TM1. Comprehensive training will enable users to effectively navigate the system, create accurate reports, and perform sophisticated analyses. Consider regular training sessions to keep the team updated on new features and best practices.

8. Foster Collaboration

Encourage collaboration among different departments within your organization. Planning Analytics can serve as a central platform where various teams can share insights, discuss strategies, and make data-driven decisions. This collaborative approach can lead to more cohesive and effective planning.

9. Monitor and Maintain System Health

Regularly monitor the health of your Planning Analytics environment. Keep an eye on system performance, data accuracy, and user activity. Proactive maintenance can prevent issues before they escalate, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted operation.

10. Seek Expert Support

Sometimes, managing Planning Analytics and TM1 can be complex and may require expert assistance. Engaging with specialized support services can provide you with the expertise needed to address specific challenges and optimize your system’s performance.

By following these tips, you can effectively manage your Planning Analytics environment and leverage the full potential of TM1 to drive better business outcomes. Remember, continuous improvement and adaptation are key to staying ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of financial planning and analytics.

For specialized TM1 support and expert guidance, consider consulting with professional service providers like Octane Software Solutions. Their expertise can help you navigate the complexities of Planning Analytics, ensuring your system is optimized for peak performance. Book me a meeting

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In a recent announcement, IBM unveiled changes to the Continuing Support program for Cognos TM1, impacting users of version 10.2.x. Effective April 30, 2024, Continuing Support for this version will cease to be provided. Let's delve into the details.

What is Continuing Support?

Continuing Support is a lifeline for users of older software versions, offering non-defect support for known issues even after the End of Support (EOS) date. It's akin to an extended warranty, ensuring users can navigate any hiccups they encounter post-EOS. However, for Cognos TM1 version 10.2.x, this safety net will be lifted come April 30, 2024.

What Does This Mean for Users?

Existing customers can continue using their current version of Cognos TM1, but they're encouraged to consider migrating to a newer iteration, specifically Planning Analytics, to maintain support coverage. While users won't be coerced into upgrading, it's essential to recognize the benefits of embracing newer versions, including enhanced performance, streamlined administration, bolstered security, and diverse deployment options like containerization.

How Can Octane Assist in the Transition?

Octane offers a myriad of services to facilitate the transition to Planning Analytics. From assessments and strategic planning to seamless execution, Octane support spans the entire spectrum of the upgrade process. Additionally, for those seeking long-term guidance, Octane  Expertise provides invaluable Support Packages on both the Development and support facets of your TM1 application.

FAQs:

• Will I be forced to upgrade?

  No, upgrading is not mandatory. Changes are limited to the Continuing Support program, and your entitlements to Cognos TM1 remain unaffected.

• How much does it cost to upgrade?

  As long as you have active Software Subscription and Support (S&S), there's no additional license cost for migrating to newer versions of Cognos TM1. However, this may be a good time to consider moving to the cloud. 

• Why should I upgrade?

  Newer versions of Planning Analytics offer many advantages, from improved performance to heightened security, ensuring you stay ahead in today's dynamic business environment. This brings about unnecessary risk to your application.

• How can Octane help me upgrade?

  Octane’s suite of services caters to every aspect of the upgrade journey, from planning to execution. Whether you need guidance on strategic decision-making or hands-on support during implementation, Octane is here to ensure a seamless transition. Plus we are currently offering a fixed-price option for you to move to the cloud. Find out more here 

In conclusion, while bidding farewell to Cognos TM1 10.2.x may seem daunting, it's also an opportunity to embrace the future with Planning Analytics. Octane stands ready to support users throughout this transition, ensuring continuity, efficiency, and security in their analytics endeavours.

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Amin Mohammad, the IBM Planning Analytics Practice Lead at Octane Solutions, is taking you through his top 12 capabilities of Planning Analytics, in 2023. These are his personal favorites and there could be more than what he is covering.

He has decided to divide his list into PAFe and PAW, as they have their own unique capabilities, and to highlight them separately. 

Planning Analytics for Excel (PAfE)

1. Support for alternate hierarchies in TM1 Web and PAfE

Starting with TM1 Set function, which has finally opened the option to use alternate hierarchies in TM1 web. it contains nine arguments as opposed to the four in SubNM adding to its flexibility. It also supports MDX expressions as one of the arguments. This function can be used as a good replacement for SubNM.

2. Updated look for cube viewer and set editor

The Planning Analytics Workspace and Cognos Analytics have taken the extra step to provide a consistent user experience. This includes the incorporation of the Carbon Design Principles, which have been implemented in the Set Editor and cube viewer n PaFe. This allows users to enjoy an enhanced look and feel of certain components within the software, as well as improved capabilities. This is an excellent addition that makes the most out of the user experience.

3. Creating User Define Calculations (UDC)

Hands down, the User Defined Calculations is by far the most impressive capability added recently. This capability allows you to create custom calculations using the Define calc function in PAFe, which also works in TM1 Web. With this, you can easily perform various calculations such as consolidating data based on a few selected elements, performing arithmetic calculations on your data, etc. Before this capability, we had to create custom consolidation elements in the dimension itself to achieve these results in PAfE, leading to multiple consolidated elements within the dimension, making it very convoluted. Tthe only downside is that it can be a bit technical for some users who use this, making it a barrier to mass adoption. Additionally, the sCalcMun argument within this function is case-sensitive, so bear that in mind. Hoping this issue is fixed in future releases.

4. Version Control utility

The Version Control utility helps to validate whether the version of Pathway you are using is compatible with the data source version of Planning Analytics Logo. If the two versions are not compatible, you cannot use Pathway until you update the software. The Version Control uses three capability or compatibility types to highlight the status of the compatibility:

• normal
• warning
• blocked

Administrators can also configure the Version Control to download a specific version of Pathway when the update button is clicked, helping to ensure the right version of Pathway is used across your organization.

Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW)

5. Single Cell widget

Planning Analytics Workspace has recently added the Single Cell widget as a visualization, making it easier to update dimension filters. Before this, the Single Cell widget could be added by right-clicking a particular data point, but it had its limitations. 

One limitation that has been addressed is the inability to update dimension filters in the canvas once the widget has been added. In order to update it, one has to redo all steps, but the single widget visualization has changed this. Now, users can change the filters and the widget will update the data accordingly. This has been a great improvement as far as enhancing user experience goes.

Additionally, the widget can be transformed into any other visualization and vice versa. When adding the widget, the data point that was selected at that point is reflected in it. If nothing is selected, the top left of the first data point in the view is used to create the widget.

6. Sending email notifications to Contributors

You can now easily send email notifications to contributors with the click of a button from the Contribution Panel of the Overview Report. When you click the button, it sends out an email to the members of the group that has been assigned the task. The email option is only activated when the status is either pending approval or pending submission. Clicking the icon will send the email to all the members assigned to the group for the task.

7. Add task dependencies

Now, you can add task dependencies to plans, which allows you to control the order in which tasks can be completed. For example, if there are two tasks and Task Two is dependent on Task One, Task Two cannot be opened until Task One is completed. This feature forces users to do the right thing by opening the relevant task and prevents other tasks from being opened until the prerequisite task is completed. This way, users are forced to follow the workflow and proceed in the right order.

8. Approval and Rejections in Plans with email notifications

The email notifications meintioned here are not manually triggered like the ones in the 6th top picks. These emails are fully automated and event-based. The events that trigger these emails could be opening a plan step, submitting a step, or approving or rejecting a step. The emails that are sent out will have a link taking the user directly to the plan step in question, making the planning process easier for the users to follow.

"The worklow capabilities of the Planning Analytics Workspace have seen immense improvements over time. It initially served as a framework to establish workflows, however, now it has become a fully matured workflow component with many added capabilities. This allows for a more robust and comprehensive environment for users, making it easier to complete tasks."

9. URL to access the PAW folder

PAW (Planning Analytics Workspace) now offers the capability to share links to a folder within the workspace. This applies to all folders, including the Personal, Favorites, and Recent tabs. This is great because it makes it easier for users to share information, and also makes the navigation process simpler. All around, this is a good addition and definitely makes life easier for the users.

10. Email books or views

The administrator can now configure the system to send emails containing books or views from Planning Analytics Workspace. Previously, the only way to share books or views was to export them into certain formats. However, by enabling the email functionality, users are now able to send books or views through email. Once configured, an 'email' tab will become available when viewing a book, allowing users to quickly and easily share their content. This option was not previously available.

11. Upload files to PA database​

Workspace now allows you to upload files to the Planning Analytics database. This can be done manually using the File Manager, which is found in the Workbench, or through a TI process. IBM has come up with a new property within the action button that enables you to upload the file when running the TI process. Once the file is uploaded, it can be used in the TI process to load data into TM1. This way, users do not have to save the file in a shared location and can simply upload it from their local desktop and load the data. This is a handy new functionality that IBM has added. Bear in mind that the file cannot be run until it has been successfully uploaded, so if the file is large, it may take time.

12. Custom themes​

Finally, improvements in custom themes. Having the ability to create your own custom themes is incredibly helpful in order to align the coloring of your reports to match your corporate design. This removes the limitation of only being able to use pre-built colors and themes, and instead allows you to customize it to your specific requirements. This gives you the direct functionality needed to make it feel like your own website when any user opens it.

That's all I have for now. I hope you found these capabilities insightful and worth exploring further.

If you want to see the full details of this blogpost. Click here

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The blogs brief about the challenge faced post enabling the Audit log in one of our client's environment. Once the audit log was turned on to capture the metadata changes, the Data Directory backup scheduled process started to fail.

After some investigation, I found the cause was the temp file (i.e., tm1rawstore.<TimeStamp> ) generated by the audit log by default and placed in the data directory.

The Temp file is used by audit log to record the events before moving it to a permanent file (i.e., tm1auditstore<TimeStamp>). Sometimes, you may even notice dimension related files (i.e., DimensionName.dim.<Timestamp>), and these files are generated by audit log to capture the dimension related changes.

The RawStoreDirectory is a tm1.cfg parameter related to the audit log, which helped us resolve the issue. This parameter is used to define the folder path for temporary, unprocessed log files specific to the audit log, i.e., tm1rawstore.<TimeStamp>, DimensionName.dim.<Timestamp>. If this Config is not set, then by default, these files get placed in Data Directory.

RawStoreDirectory = <Folderpath>

Now, let's also see other config parameters related to the audit logs

AuditLogMaxFileSize:

The config parameter can be used to control the maximum size audit log file to be before the file gets saved and a new file is created. The unit needs to be appended at the end of the value defined ( KB, MB, GB), and Minimum is 1KB and Maximum is 2GB; if this is not specified in the TM1 Cfg then the default value would be 100 MB.

AuditLogMaxFileSize=100 MB

AuditLogMaxQueryMemory:

The config parameter can be used to control maximum memory the TM1 server can use for running audit log query and retrieving the set. The unit needs to be appended at the end of the value defined ( KB, MB, GB) and Minimum is 1KB and Maximum is 2GB; if this is not specified in the TM1 Cfg then the default value would be 100 MB.

AuditLogMaxQueryMemory=200 MB

AuditLogUpdateInterval:

The config parameter can be used to control the amount of time the TM1 server needs to wait before moving the contents from temporary files to a final audit log file. The value is taken in minutes; that is, say 100 is entered, then it is taken has 100 minutes.

AuditLogUpdateInterval=100

That's it folks, hope you had learnt something new from this blog.

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IBM has been recommending its users to move to Planning Analytics for Excel (PAX) from TM1 Perspective and/or from TM1 Web. This blog is dedicated to clients who have either recently adopted PAX or contemplating too and sharing steps on how to trace/watch TI process status while running process using Planning Analytics for Excel.

Steps below should be followed to run processes and to check TI process status.

1. Once you connect to Planning Analytics for Excel, you will be able to see cubes on the right-hand side, else you may need to click on Task Pane.

2. Click on the middle icon as shown below and click on Show process. This will help show all process (to which respective user has access to) in Task Pane.

3. You will now be able to see Process.

4. To check/ trace status of the process (when triggered via Planning analytics for excel) right-Click on Processes and click Active processes.

5. A new box will pop-up as shown below.

6. You can now run process from Task pane and check if you can track status in new box popped up in step 5.

7. You can now see the status of process in this box, below is a screen print that shows the for-process cub.price.load.data, process completed 4 tasks out of 5 tasks.

8. Below screen prints tells us if the status of TI process, they are Working , Completed and Process completed with Errors.

Once done, your should be able to to trace TI status in Planning Analytics for Excel. Happy Transitioning.

As I pen down my last Blog for 2019, wishing you and your dear ones a prosperous and healthy 2020.

Until next time....keep planning & executing.

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This blog broaches all steps on how to install IBM Secure Gateway Client.

IBM Secure Gateway Client installation is one of the crucial steps towards setting up secure gateway connection between Planning Analytics Workspace (On-Cloud) and RDBMS (relational database) on-premise or on-cloud.

What is IBM Secure Gateway :

IBM Secure Gateway for IBM Cloud service provides a quick, easy, and secure solution establishing a link between Planning Analytics on cloud and a data source. Data source can reside on an “on-premise” network or on “cloud”. Data sources like RDBMS, for example IBM DB2, Oracle database, SQL server, Teradata etc.

Secure and Persistent Connection :

A Secure Gateway, useful in importing data into TM1 and drill through capability, must be created using TurboIntegrator to access RDBMS data sources on-premise.

By deploying the light-weight and natively installed Secure Gateway Client, a secure, persistent and seamless connection can be established between your on-premises data environment and cloud.

The Process:

This is two-step process,

1. Create Data source connection in Planning Analytics Workspace.
2. Download and Install IBM Secure Gateway

To download IBM Secure Gateway Client.

1. Login to Workspace ( On-Cloud)
2. Navigate to Administrator -> Secure Gate

Click on icon as shown below, this will prompt a pop up. One needs to select operating system and follow steps to install the client.

Once you click, a new pop-up with come up where you are required to select the operating system where you want to install this client.

Choose the appropriate option and click download.

If the download is defaulted to download folders you will find the software in Download folder like below.

Installation IBM Secure Gateway Client:

To Install this tool, right click and run as administrator.

Keep the default settings for Destination folder and Language, unless you need to modify.

Check box below if you want this as Window Service.

Now this is an important step, we are required to enter Gateway ids and security tokens to establish a secured connection. These needs to be copied over from Secure connection created earlier in Planning Analytics Workspace ( refer 1. Create Data source connection in workspace).

Figure below illustrates Workspace, shared details on Gateway ID and Security Token, these needs to be copied and pasted in Secure Gateway Client (refer above illustration).

If user chooses to launch the client with connection to multiple gateways, one needs to take care while providing the configuration values.

1. The gateway ids need to be separated by spaces.
2. The security tokens, acl files and log levels should to be delimited by --.
3. If you don't want to provide any of these three values for a particular gateway, please use 'none'.
4. If you want Client UI you may choose else select No.

Note: Please ensure that there are no residual white spaces.

Now click Install, once this installation completes successfully, the IBM Secure Gateway Client is ready for use.

This Connection is now ready, Planning Analytics can now connect to data source residing on-premise or any other cloud infrastructure where IBM Secure Gateway client is installed.

You may also like reading “ Predictive & Prescriptive-Analytics ” , “ Business-intelligence vs Business-Analytics ” ,“ What is IBM Planning Analytics Local ” , “IBM TM1 10.2 vs IBM Planning Analytics”, “Little known TM1 Feature - Ad hoc Consolidations”, “IBM PA Workspace Installation & Benefits for Windows 2016”.

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IBM Planning Analytics (TM1) vs Anaplan

There has been a lot of chatter lately around IBM Planning Analytics (powered by TM1) vs Anaplan. Anaplan is a relatively new player in the market and has recently listed on NYSE. Reported Revenue in 2019 of USD 240.6M (interestingly also reported an operating loss of USD 128.3M). Compared to IBM which has a 2018 revenue of USD 79.5 Billion (there is no clear information on how much of this was from the Analytics area) with a net profit of 8.7 b). The size of global Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) is around 3.9 Billion and expected to grow to 6.0Billion by 2022. The size of spreadsheet based processes is a whopping 60 Billion (Source: IDC)

Anaplan has been borne out of the old Adaytum Planning application that was acquired by Cognos and Cognos was acquired by IBM in 2007. Anaplan also spent 176M on Sales and Marketing so most people in the industry would have heard of it or come across some form of its marketing. (Source: Anaplan.com)

I’ve decided to have a closer look at some of the crucial features and functionalities and assess how it really stacks up.

There are some issues around scaling up the Anaplan cubes where large datasets are under consideration (8 billion cell limit? While this sounds big, most of our clients reach this scale fairly quickly with medium complexity). With IBM Planning Analytics (TM1) there is no need to break up a cube into smaller cubes to meet data limits. Also, there is no demand to combine dimensions to a single dimension. Cubes are generally developed with business requirements in mind and not system limitations. Thereby offering superior degrees of freedom to business analyst.

For example, if enterprise wide reporting was the requirement, then the cubes may be need to be broken via a logical dimension like region of divisions. This in turn would make consolidated reporting laborious, making data slicing and dicing difficult, almost impossible.

Love it or hate it – Excel is the tool of choice for most analyst and finance professionals. I reckon it is unwise to offer a BI tool in today’s world without a proper excel integration.  I find Planning Analytics (TM1) users love the ability to use excel interface to slice and dice, drill up and down hierarchies and drill to data source. The ability to create interactive excel reports with ability to have cell by cell control of data and formatting is a sure-shot deal clincher.

On the other hand, on exploration realized Anaplan offers very limited Excel support.

In today’s world users have come to expect drag and drop analysis. Ability to drill down, build and analyze alternate view of the hierarchy etc “real-time”. However, if each of this query requires data to be moved around cubes and/or requires building separate cubes then it’s counterproductive. This would also increase the maintenance and data storage overheads. You also lose sight of single source of truth as your start developing multiple cubes with same data just stored in different form. This is the case with Anaplan due to the software’s intrinsic limitations.

Anaplan also requires users to invest on separate reporting layer as it lacks native reporting, dashboards and data visualizations.

This in turn results in,

1. Increase Cost
2. Increase Risk
3. Increase Complexity
4. Limited planning due to data limitations

IBM Planning Analytics, on the contrary offers out of the box ability to view & analyze all your product attributes and the ability to slice and dice via any of the attributes. 

It also comes with a rich reporting, dashboard and data visualization layer called Workspace. Planning Analytics Workspace delivers a self-service web authoring to all users. Through the Planning Analytics Workspace interface, authors have access to many visual options designed to help improve financial input templates and reports. Planning Analytics Workspace benefits include:

1. Free-form canvas dashboard design
2. Data entry and analysis efficiency and convenience features
3. Capability to combine cube views, web sheets, text, images, videos, and charts
4. Synchronised navigation for guiding consumers through an analytical story
5. Browser and mobile operation
6. Capability to export to PowerPoint or PDF

Source : Planning Analytics (TM1) cube

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This Blog details IBM Planning Analytics On-Cloud and On-Premise deployment options. It focusses & highlights key points which should help you make the decision; “whether to adopt Cloud Or stay on Premise”

IBM Planning Analytics:

As part of their continuous endeavour to improve application interface and better customer experience, IBM rebranded TM1 to Planning Analytics couple of years back which came with many new features and a completely new interface. With this release (PA 2.x version as it has been called), IBM is letting clients choose Planning Analytics as Local SW or as Software as a Service (SaaS) deployed on IBM Softlayer Cloud.

Planning Analytics on Cloud:

Under this offering, Planning Analytics system operates in a remote hosted environment. Clients who choose Planning Analytics deployed “on-cloud” can reap many benefits aligned to any typical SaaS.

With this subscription, Clients’ need not worry about software Installation, versions, patches, upgrades, fixes, disaster recovery, hardware etc.

They can focus on building business models and enriching data from different source systems and give meaning to the data they have. This by converting data into business critical, meaningful, actionable insights.

Benefits:

While not a laundry list, covers significant benefits.

• Automatic software updates and management.
• CAPEX Free; incorporates benefits of leasing.
• Competitiveness; long term TCO savings.
• Costs are predictable over time.
• Disaster recovery; with IBM’s unparalleled global datacentre reach.
• Does not involve additional hardware costs.
• Environment friendly; credits towards being carbon neutral.
• Flexibility; capacity to scale up and down.
• Increased collaboration.
• Security; with options of premium server instances.
• Work from anywhere; there by driving up productivity & efficiencies.

Client must have Internet connection to use SaaS and of course, Internet speed plays major role. In present world Internet connection has become a basic necessity for all organizations.

Planning Analytics Local (On-Premise):

Planning Analytics local essentially is the traditional way of getting software installed on company’s in-house server and computing infrastructure installed either in their Data Centre or Hosted elsewhere.

In an on-premise environment - Installation, upgrade, and configuration of IBM® Planning Analytics Local software components are on the Organization.

Benefits of On-Premise:

• Full control.
• Higher security.
• Confidential business information remains with in Organization network.
• Lesser vendor dependency. 
• Easier customization.
• Tailored to business needs.
• Does not require Internet connectivity, unless “anywhere” access is enabled.
• Organization has more control over implementation process.

As evident on-premise option comes with some cons as well, few are listed below.

• Higher upfront cost
• Long implementation period.
• Hardware maintenance and IT cost.
• In-house Skills management.
• Longer application dev cycles.
• Robust but inflexible.

On-premise software demands constant maintenance and ongoing servicing from the company’s IT department.

Organization on on-premise have full control on the software and on its related infrastructure and can perform internal and external audits as and when needed or recommended by governing/regulatory bodies.

Before making the decision, it is also important to consider many other influencing factors; from necessary security level to the potential for customization, number of Users, modelers, administrators, size of the organization, available budget, long term benefits to the Organization.

While you ponder on this, there are many clients who have adopted a “mid-way” of hybrid environment. Under which basis factors like workload economics, application evaluation & assessment, security and risk profiles, applications are being gradually moved from on-premise to cloud in a phased manned.

You may also like reading “ What is IBM Planning Analytics Local ” , “IBM TM1 10.2 vs IBM Planning Analytics”, “Little known TM1 Feature - Ad hoc Consolidations”, “IBM PA Workspace Installation & Benefits for Windows 2016”.

For more Information: To check on your existing Planning Analytics (TM1) entitlements and understand how to upgrade to Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) reach out to us at info@octanesolutions.com.au for further assistance.

Octane Software Solutions Pty Ltd is an IBM Registered Business Partner specialising in Corporate Performance Management and Business Intelligence. We provide our clients advice on best practices and help scale up applications to optimise their return on investment. Our key services include Consulting, Delivery, Support and Training. Octane has its head office in Sydney, Australia as well as offices in Canberra, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.

To know more about us visit, OctaneSoftwareSolutions.

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There’s no question that more and more enterprises are employing analytics tools to help in their strategic business intelligence decisions. But there’s a problem - not all source data is of a high quality.

Poor-quality data likely can’t be validated and labelled, and more importantly, organisations can’t derive any actionable, reliable insights from it.

So how can you be confident your source data is not only accurate, but able to inform your business intelligence decisions? It starts with high-quality software.

Finding the right software for business intelligence

There are numerous business intelligence services on the market, but many enterprises are finding value in IBM solutions. 

IBM’s TM1 couches the power of an enterprise database in the familiar environment of an Excel-style spreadsheet. This means adoption is quick and easy, while still offering you budgeting, forecasting and financial-planning tools with complete control.

Beyond the TM1, IBM Planning Analytics takes business intelligence to the next level. The Software-as-a-Service solution gives you the power of a self-service model, while delivering data governance and reporting you can trust. It’s a robust cloud solution that is both agile while offering foresight through predictive analytics powered by IBM’s Watson.

Data is only one part of the equation

But it takes more than just the data itself to make the right decisions. The data should help you make smarter decisions faster, while your business intelligence solution should make analysing the data easier. 

So how do you ensure top-notch data? Consider these elements of quality data:

• Completeness: Missing data values aren’t uncommon in most organisations’ systems, but you can’t have a high-quality database where the business-critical information is missing.
• Standard format: Is there a consistent structure across the data – e.g. dates in a standard format – so the information can be shared and understood?
• Accuracy: The data must be free of typos and decimal-point errors, be up to date, and be accurate to the expected ‘real-world’ values.
• Timeliness: Is the data ready whenever it’s needed? Any delays can have major repercussions for decision-making.
• Consistent: Data that’s recorded across various systems should be identical. Inconsistent datasets – for example, a customer flagged as inactive in one system but active in another – degrades the quality of information.
• Integrity: Is all the data connected and valid? If connections are broken, for example if there’s sales data but no customer attached to it, then that raises the risk of duplicating data because related records are unable to be linked.

Are you looking to harness the power of your source data to make actionable business decisions? Contact Octane to find out how we can help you leverage your data for true business intelligence.

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Smart businesses are seeking out new ways to leverage the benefits of their big data analytics programs, and the self-service model is coming up trumps. By placing the onus directly on business users, enterprises are empowering customers with insights-driven dashboards, reports, and more. But it’s not the only bonus. 

Arguably an even greater upside for organisations is that it alleviates the talent shortage that often comes with big data. With most companies only employing a handful of data experts who can deliver analytics insights to customers, the self-service model means they are freed up to concentrate on more important tasks, while allowing the masses to derive their own insights on their own terms. 

What are the real benefits of self service?

If nothing else, a self-service model creates a ‘democratisation’ of big data, giving users the freedom to access the data they need when they need it most: during the decision-making process.

Moreover, there’s a low cost to entry – coupled with reduced expenses thanks to freeing up data science and IT resources – and faster time to insight. When users know what they need and can change their research strategies according to new and changing demands, they become more empowered.

But it’s not all smooth sailing – giving customers the tools they need for self service is only one part of the equation. They must also be educated on the potential pitfalls.

Avoid the common hurdles

When several users have access to specific data, there’s a risk of multiple copies being made over time, thus compromising the ‘one version of truth’ and possibly damaging any insights that could be derived.

Business users unfamiliar with big data analytics are also prone to mistakes, as they may be unaware of data-preparation complexities – not to mention their own behavioural biases. 

For all these issues, however, education is the solution, which is what Ancestry.com focused on when it began encouraging self-service analytics through its new data-visualisation platform. And with 51 quintillion cells of data you can see why.

There’s no harm in starting small with big data analytics

Ancestry.com has over 10 billion historical records and about 10 million registered DNA participants, according to Jose Balitactac who is the FP&A Application Manager.

The old application they were using was taking hours to do the calculations.  They looked at seven different applications before deciding on IBM Planning Analytics.  

The reason they chose IBM Planning Analytics was to accommodate the company’s super-cube of data, other solutions would have required them to “break it into smaller cubes, or reduce the number of dimensions, or join members, such as business units and cost centers.” They didn’t want to do that because their processes worked.

They set up a test with IBM to time how long it took for the model to calculate and it took less than 10-20 seconds which is what they wanted. You can read more about the Ancestry.com case study here.

If you’re keen to empower your business users through a self-service model, contact Octane today to learn how we can help you harness big data analytics.

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As business implements more and more technology to streamline their operations the benefits of saving time, minimising costs, increasing productivity and better accuracy are starting to be realised. This means this is hardly a trend that will fade anytime soon. If you or your business are not 'there yet' it’s better to catch up now rather than being left behind with the rest of the competition.

We've moved on from the times when cloud technology was an unknown territory for especially for Accounting and Finance but the industry players are now fully aware, prepared or in cloud. This leaves us to ponder where to next? I think people are now starting to set their attention to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and we can see that this is happening at a much faster pace.

Both Data and work as we know it will be strongly affected by AI. With bots now able to determine and sort the information into different accounts by themselves, meaning AI is already delivering solo performances in the field. Further to this, Bots can tell and organise data coming from the same source into different categories, so if you have a monthly subscription and or one off purchases coming from the supplier, bots will automatically understand that they are of a different nature and will set them under different chart of accounts. Machine learning is also observable since these bots can learn from various human inputs to make better judgments and to adapt to accounting professionals’ behaviour patterns.

The effect or major changes due to AI on the typical Accounting and Finance role will have one of two observable outcomes:

• The menial / administrative tasks as they stand right now are slowly becoming scarcer, even some operational tasks traditionally performed by accountants, such as dedicated accounts payable and accounts receivable ones, are already being performed by AI or are outsourced.
• The other observable is the way accounting and finance will be structured within the organisation more than likely a small footprint but they have a greater impact.

The results of the above inevitably are better performance and enhanced cost reductions and although AI is already finding its way into the finance and accounting industry, it’s not been fully adopted quite yet. Without a doubt, the accounting industry has a bright future ahead with a focus more on value add than the menial.

Part 2 of this article might be a review of the tools avaialble. What do you think? Was my assessment fair? Leave comments, or feel free to reach out on social media.

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