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IBM Planning Analytics vs Workiva Wdesk comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 19, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

IBM Planning Analytics
Ranking in Business Performance Management
6th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Workiva Wdesk
Ranking in Business Performance Management
11th
Average Rating
7.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
GRC (8th), Financial Close Software (6th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Business Performance Management category, the mindshare of IBM Planning Analytics is 4.9%, down from 9.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Workiva Wdesk is 3.2%, up from 3.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Business Performance Management Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
IBM Planning Analytics4.9%
Workiva Wdesk3.2%
Other91.9%
Business Performance Management
 

Featured Reviews

Varsha Singh - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Data Analyst at Wells Fargo
Automated budgeting has transformed our forecasting accuracy and decision-making speed
Some of the best features that IBM Planning Analytics offers include built-in reporting, a web interface with spreadsheet capabilities, predictive forecasting, simple integration, and real-time insights with TM1. Predictive forecasting and real-time insights have specifically helped my team in the following ways: using predictive forecasting has enabled us to predict with predictive and AI capability for faster and more accurate forecasts. Real-time insights with TM1 provide faster and flexible analysis with high performance at scale through built-in TM1 technology. The built-in reporting supports scorecards and metrics, which includes ad hoc reports and compelling visualization. IBM Planning Analytics has positively impacted my organization because it has been a very clear and helpful platform over the past five years that I have used it. It has helped us open new clients and provide insights into data that most of the tools we used before could not. My financial team has enjoyed the software, which has helped minimize manual data entry by more than 80% and focus on more holistic data analysis and business strategy. The software has also helped us understand real-time marketing dynamics and take decisions accordingly.
reviewer2510292 - PeerSpot reviewer
Corporate ESG Analyst at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
Has cross-functional connectivity but improvement is needed in script encoding
The tool's deployment is quick. Once the program is set up, you're ready to collect data and connect it to your report. The deployment team's size depends on the size of the company and how many different data providers you're utilizing. Some companies have one person doing everything, while others have a huge team. We're on the latter end of it, with many people involved. One great thing about the platform is that everything is consolidated in one place, providing a single resource for everyone. This is a benefit. The maintenance of the solution depends on the experience of the person managing the company's program. The company might have a contractor handling the back end and software management if they're low-level and only analyzing the data. However, if you have someone experienced with software and script encoding, that person might be the analyst and managing the program. Generally, most people are just analysts and not managing the software. There's an opportunity for improvement in user management of their software, and I hope they address this gap before the year ends.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Navigating through the data to make analysis is really quick."
"The most valuable features of IBM Planning Analytics for streamlining planning processes include a unified database where all data are centralized."
"Planning Analytics' best features include automatic updates and slicing."
"All the different platforms are well integrated."
"It's a very stable, robust product."
"Its stability helps controllers win time in their planning processes."
"The most valuable feature is that it is able to slice and dice the data."
"IBM Planning Analytics is easy to use and deploy. It is quick to develop. The calculation machine is also very fast."
"It makes the compliance process more efficient and more effective."
"The most valuable feature is its ability to easily upload and update financial results, creating a dynamic data sheet."
"Workiva Wdesk has a flow diagram that is standardized, making it easy for people to file documents on ECDAs, which are in HTML format."
"Workiva Wdesk is pretty good in terms of getting the data from the system, automating the reporting schedules...It has a very good integration with ERP tools."
"The cross-functionality between connectivity, whether through API connections between different software platforms or the connection of data collection to the actual written ESG report, is highly valuable. The connectivity of all these aspects significantly aids in data assurance, which I consider a bonus."
"It helps you to maintain a backup of your data, including the connectivity with the tables, which provides a user-friendly way to handle and access your files."
"The collaboration within the platform is valuable."
 

Cons

"The workspace API should be improved and documented so we know better which objects are used."
"It is a bit expensive, but it does the job."
"The new frontend Planning Analytics Workspace is not very good, it could be improved. I like the Planning Analytics functionality but it would be helpful if it could be more customizable. You can create a prediction and receive information but you cannot do feature engineering regarding the predictive models. If this was added it would be helpful."
"The local authentication part is difficult to manage in the product, making it an area where improvements are required."
"Some of the main challenges with IBM Planning Analytics are the installation, which requires multiple complex configurations, challenges, and training."
"Planning Analytics could be improved by adding automation features."
"The tool should include features for prediction. It can also improve the scalability."
"The dashboard is very poor and needs a lot of improvement."
"The tool's script encoding needs to be updated to make it more user-friendly and less of a manual process when changes are made to a company's program. Those changes happen frequently due to mandatory or voluntary reporting requirements, leading to lost linkage connections that must be manually reset each time a change is made. This aspect is not functional now, and I see it as an opportunity for improvement."
"Regarding the solution, reporting has certain areas that can be considered for improvement."
"The speed must be improved."
"One area where Workiva Wdesk could improve is by ensuring that its cloud-based system is fully compatible with the most current versions of PowerPoint and Excel."
"The most critical issue is the need to shift between uppercase and lowercase."
"With this product, it's more about the integrated data model where you can have a one-to-many/many-to-one relationship between your policies and processes, risks, and controls. They need to showcase how you can put those pieces together."
"At this point, I don't see a compelling reason to invest in Workiva. It may be necessary for compliance and controlling the version of SCC, but not everyone needs its high-end capabilities."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I would rate the tool's pricing a nine out of ten since it's expensive."
"IBM Planning Analytics is not the cheapest solution, but it's priced per the market standard for this type of solution. I rate the price at seven out of ten."
"The license of this solution is paid annually. Most of my customers choose a license that includes support."
"IBM Planning Analytics is priced well, and licensing costs are yearly."
"It is a bit expensive, but you get what you are paying for."
"Our licensing cost is approximately $50,000.00 per year."
"Compared with the other tools in the market, IBM Planning Analytics is a bit expensive."
"Our clients in Asia think that the solution is too expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
16%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Retailer
9%
Insurance Company
5%
Financial Services Firm
15%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Computer Software Company
8%
Insurance Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business16
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise12
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business1
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise5
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM Planning Analytics?
The most valuable features of IBM Planning Analytics for streamlining planning processes include a unified database where all data are centralized.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Planning Analytics?
While IBM's solutions were costly before, the introduction of SaaS models has reduced prices significantly. Comparatively, IBM rates may be better than those of competitors, such as Hyperion ( /pro...
What needs improvement with IBM Planning Analytics?
IBM is behind competitors like Tableau ( /products/tableau-reviews ) and Power BI in terms of visualization. Their visuals are less innovative and practical with fewer varieties. IBM's visualizatio...
What needs improvement with Workiva Wdesk?
The tool's script encoding needs to be updated to make it more user-friendly and less of a manual process when changes are made to a company's program. Those changes happen frequently due to mandat...
What advice do you have for others considering Workiva Wdesk?
I've been working with the tool's script encoding departments and top management to address gaps in their script encoding. They are working towards closing these gaps to ensure we can continue usin...
 

Also Known As

Cognos TM1, IBM Cognos TM1
Wdesk
 

Overview

 

Sample 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
Noodles Company, eBay, Winnebago, American Assets Trust, AmericanEnterprise, Calpian, Capstone Infrastructure, Cascades, Circor International, Coeur Mining, Davey, Dr Pepper Snapple
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Planning Analytics vs. Workiva Wdesk and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
881,036 professionals have used our research since 2012.