IBM Planning Analytics Reviews

Vendor: IBM

4.2 out of 5

25 reviews
90% willing to recommend

4,841 followers

What is IBM Planning Analytics?

IBM Planning Analytics is an integrated planning solution that uses AI to automate planning, budgeting, and forecasting and drive more intelligent workflows.

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IBM Planning Analytics is the #3 ranked solution in top Business Performance Management solutions. PeerSpot users give IBM Planning Analytics an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. IBM Planning Analytics is most commonly compared to Anaplan: IBM Planning Analytics vs Anaplan. IBM Planning Analytics is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 48% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 41% of all views.

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IBM Planning Analytics

April 2025

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Featured IBM Planning Analytics reviews

Gnanavel-Chakkarapani

Junior Consultant at CMA CGM

The product has improved our company's forecasting accuracy since it serves as a very useful tool for our sales and controller teams as they easily get to enter the inputs using views in TM1, which gets loaded into our main database. If there are sales team members in different parts of the world, like in Hong Kong and Singapore, they may prefer to use IBM Planning Analytics, which is easy to use when compared to the Excel tool. Speaking about planning analytics and data analysis, I would say that our company used to use IBM Cognos Analytics for reporting, where we used to use Cognos Dynamic Cubes so that users can easily use its drag and drop features while getting to see the data for which the users had to wait for two to three minutes prior to its use. In our company, tons of data are loaded into the memory, and users can use Cognos Dynamic Cubes to analyze data and understand it. The AI capabilities of IBM have benefited our planning strategy as they are very useful for business. The tool allows the easy creation of dashboard reports using AI capabilities. No technical knowledge is required for business use cases. It is possible to integrate the product in scenarios where some new integrations are available. I remember that my company used Azure Data Factory to connect Azure, Oracle, and IBM WebSphere Application Server. When it comes to IBM Planning Analytics, it is complex to integrate it with LDAP and or any other authentication tool offered by Microsoft. In our company, some users like to integrate IBM Planning Analytics with the common LDAP or Microsoft AD, which we currently use for all our applications. The authentication part is difficult to configure with IBM Planning Analytics. The maintenance of the product is easy. My company has scheduled maintenance on the product every week, especially during forecast times, so that memories automatically lapse and users can freely access their servers. The use of the tool has had an impact on collaboration within our company's planning team since everyone knows how to easily access the data and publish the results. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. I rate the tool a nine out of ten.

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Milan Orendac

Senior Business Executive at Sophia

IBM Planning Analytics is used for cross-departmental planning and forecasting by our customers. Different versions of the planning can be used, such as budgets and projections based on monthly results. The system keeps all historical data and tracks the development from projected numbers. IBM Planning Analytics supports compliance and risk management within financial operations. It enables the calculation of impacts, such as increased interest rates, across various business areas. The effectiveness of risk management depends on the system setup and how risks are defined by the company. In financial planning, IBM Planning Analytics aligns with current trends, including the use of AI and leveraging unstructured data. It is capable of handling large amounts of diverse data types. While it is unclear if IBM fully incorporates AI, it likely follows the trend as many companies do. Before using Planning Analytics by IBM, consider your planning process and how it can be simplified. Understand that the system won't solve all issues on its own. Overall, I would rate IBM Planning Analytics as a nine out of ten.

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Arnold Steffens

Managing Director at Steffens PANTA RHEI GmbH

It's easy to set up. I would rate my experience with the initial setup a nine out of ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy to set up. We had a bug in computation a long time ago, but that was solved. Normally, we can rely on the computations being correct. It is mostly deployed on-premises. Deployment time: The initial setup is quite fast, but the system grows and gets more complex over time. Planning Analytics is not a ready-made product; you develop it with the customers based on their specific needs. So from the beginning to the first use, it takes four to six months. If you start from scratch, it can take longer. But if the customer buys pre-designed modules, it's faster. So the most time it can take is up to six months, if you start from scratch. If the customer buys already designed modules, you're faster. Deployment process: We always have a development, test, and quality assurance system, and then a production system. We have continuous development and deployment for projects that run for two to three years because the customer develops a huge, complex planning and reporting solution. So it doesn't stop after installation. It's not like an app that is ready to use after installation.

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IBM Planning Analytics mindshare

As of May 2025, the mindshare of IBM Planning Analytics in the Business Performance Management category stands at 8.6%, down from 9.4% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Business Performance Management

PeerResearch reports based on IBM Planning Analytics reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Business Performance Management	May 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	May 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Planning Analytics vs Anaplan	May 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Planning Analytics vs Oracle Hyperion	May 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM Planning Analytics vs Jedox	May 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Anaplan	4.0	13.6%	96%	28 interviews Add to research
Oracle Hyperion	3.9	10.7%	86%	56 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM Planning Analytics offers valuable features including flexibility, in-memory processing, and ease of use with Excel integration, enabling CFOs to modify models without IT assistance. It allows quick real-time calculations, provides a unified database with centralized data storage, and integrates ETL tools like TurboIntegrator. Planning Analytics Workspace offers design flexibility, and sandboxing enables extensive analysis. Users appreciate its fast calculations, complex modeling, machine learning integration, and its ability to streamline financial performance management.

"IBM Planning Analytics can help us build scenarios through a sandbox environment, allowing us to test multiple variables and assess their impact on our budget and planning."
"Its stability helps controllers win time in their planning processes."
"This level of stability is crucial for a product like Cognos TM1, as using an unstable platform would result in loss of time."

Room for Improvement

IBM Planning Analytics needs better integration within the Cognos suite and simpler pricing. The user interface and visualization components are outdated and need enhancement. Automation of processes like feeders is necessary to improve efficiency. Stability in data extraction and a more flexible, lightweight frontend are desired. Users suggest that IBM Planning Analytics should include features for AI and automation, better scalability, and predefined templates to enhance user experience.

"IBM is behind competitors like Tableau and Power BI in terms of visualization. Their visuals are less innovative and practical with fewer varieties."
"Scalability is quite hard to implement in TM1, largely since the on-premise installation chosen back in 2014. On a scale, I'd rate scalability at four, out of ten. It's difficult."
"If we talk only about the TM1 engine, it's quite rich and possibly too rich, making it complex to perform simple tasks."

ROI

IBM Planning Analytics enables faster budgeting processes and enhances productivity by analyzing large data. It aids budget planning, motivating employees to achieve goals. Operational cost savings come from improved processes, reducing the need for extensive control departments and enhancing predictability and insights into decision impacts. However, recent price increases in maintenance and renewals have led many to consider alternatives. Implementing it as a reporting tool eliminates the need for separate solutions.

Pricing

IBM Planning Analytics' pricing involves initial setup costs mainly attributed to consulting fees around €130,000 for a 6-month project and annual licensing costs that vary depending on the user base and requirements. Licenses can cost approximately $50,000 yearly with options for unlimited usage. While regarded as expensive compared to competitors, the pricing aligns with market standards, offering ROI and valuable functionalities. Negotiation is encouraged to achieve favorable terms.

"Compared with the other tools in the market, IBM Planning Analytics is a bit expensive."
"IBM Planning Analytics is priced well, and licensing costs are yearly."
"I would rate the tool's pricing a nine out of ten since it's expensive."

Popular Use Cases

IBM Planning Analytics is primarily utilized for budgeting, planning, and forecasting. It serves various organizations as a tool for managing budget processes, cash flows, and financial planning. Many users apply it for monthly, quarterly forecasts, and scenario management. It acts as a data source for reporting and aids in developing dashboards. Specific to large enterprises, especially in regions like the Czech Republic and Slovakia, it is integral to financial control and accounting processes.

Service and Support

Users generally find IBM Planning Analytics customer service satisfactory, with ratings mostly around seven to eight. Responses may sometimes be slow, prompting some to use third-party partners for cost-effective assistance. Support information is accessible online, yet technical assistance efficiently addresses issues, though they could be faster. Escalation often resolves complex scenarios, akin to similar platforms like SAP BPC. Users appreciate IBM's release notes, but some suggest improvements in problem-solving efficiency.

Deployment

Initial setup experiences of IBM Planning Analytics vary. Some describe it as straightforward, especially if deploying on a single machine, while others find it complex, requiring expertise and time, ranging from one to twelve months. Installation is more challenging in distributed environments. IBM and partners often assist due to technical demands. Familiar interfaces like Excel can simplify deployment. The implementation may involve ongoing development based on client needs.

Scalability

IBM Planning Analytics is highly adaptable, handling extensive data in real time. Scalability issues depend on TM1 database design. The service is in-memory based, reliant on hardware like RAM. Enterprises appreciate its ability to grow alongside data and user needs. Most users find scalability exceptional, suitable for large and medium businesses. While previously used IBM Cognos, customers now benefit from Planning Analytics' robust scalability, though it can be expensive for smaller organizations.

Stability

While some configuration changes and support resolutions have presented challenges, IBM Planning Analytics is generally stable and robust. The latest version has improved significantly in stability. Users across various sectors, including banks, describe it as crucial for budgeting and forecasting. Instances of server shutdowns have occurred but stability is rated highly, with some users giving it a nine or ten out of ten. Stability is vital for budgeting processes to avoid time loss.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

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Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

41%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Insurance Company

Retailer

Healthcare Company

Government

Real Estate/Law Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

University

Consumer Goods Company

Construction Company

Legal Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Non Profit

Media Company

Comms Service Provider

Transportation Company

Performing Arts

Hospitality Company

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Logistics Company

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Learn more about IBM Planning Analytics

Built on TM1, IBM’s powerful calculation engine, this enterprise performance management tool allows you to transcend the limits of manual planning and become the Analytics Hero your business needs. Quickly and easily drive faster, more accurate plans for FP&A, sales, supply chain and beyond.

IBM Planning Analytics was previously known as Cognos TM1, IBM Cognos TM1.

IBM Planning Analytics customers

ManpowerGroup, Convergys, AIG, Orchard Brands, Citibank, InterGen, Northwestern University, EF Education First, Ironside, Bazan Group, CSOB Insurance, Macquarie Group, Charles Stanley, SATO, Government of Sint Maarten, BMW Financial Services