This document compares three leading enterprise performance management (EPM) products: Oracle Hyperion, SAP BPC, and IBM Cognos. It outlines reasons for upgrading current systems, including scaling and simplifying financial planning processes. For each product it provides a high-level overview, key advantages and disadvantages, implementation efforts, and other considerations to help recommend an EPM upgrade strategy.

1. EPM comparison - Hyperion, SAP BPC and Cognos
Enterprise Performance Management Upgrade Strategy Recommendation
Here is the comparison of the leading EPM products and their capabilities, advantages and the other key considerations. This is a high-level
document. For further in-depth details contact me at sureshvg@gmail.com
Why upgrade?
 Current version of Hyperion Planning would not scale well with a growing global user base.
 Current version of Planning requires that many common admin functions be centralized.
 Consolidation of multiple applications (Enterprise, Planning, Cognos) would simplify the FP&A close process (reporting & analysis), and reduce total IT system costs.
What are the choices?
Oracle Hyperion System 9.3 SAP Business Planning and Consolidation IBM Cognos 8 Planning
  
Product Summary Complete suite of quot;Enterprise Performance BPC takes advantage of SAP new Each module tailor made for specific
Info Managementquot; tools NetWeaver platform (Newer BPC v7.0 purpose or defined process
 
HFM replacing legacy Enterprise based on ROLAP architecture) Planning - budgeting/forecasting
  Included are legacy OutlookSoft and 
Planning could sit on top of either Essbase or Controller - consolidation and month-end
HFM, and offers a process-driven workflow Cartesis products (strong reputation in close from different ledgers into a common
manager. consolidation, multi-country reporting) chart of account structure
  Each module is designed to be managed 
Smart View offers spreadsheet reporting, offline Workforce Performance - detailed HC
planning, and report display in all MS Office and maintained by the business users that analysis.

format. own the business processes Performance Applications - predefined
  Primary end user interface through MS
BI+ provides a self-service reporting platform reporting modules for customer, financial,
and executive dashboard. Office (mainly Excel) and supply chain reporting.
 
DQM (ETL tool) implements a self-service data MS Excel interface available for complex
load workflow process. needs
  
Key Advantages Familiar interface for FP&A users BPC very similar to Essbase in its design Existing Cognos knowledge available
 Significant synergy if integrating AV's existing philosophy within AV (IT and Finance)
 
Hyperion consolidation and planning solutions Full integration with MS Excel Planning module can scale to thousands of
 
Fastest response time for user queries More flexible data write back. users
  
Full integration with MS Office No aggregation calc needed Pre-defined modules and rolling forecast
 
Offline planning available Pre-packaged business process flows and approach help shorten planning cycle
 
quot;Workforcequot; planning module tailored to the self-service flows (the workflow feature) Distributed admin function
 
detailed HC planning here in AV Cross-training opportunity for existing AV Offline planning available
 Distributed admin functions via full web interface SAP resources
 Upward compatibility for future versions
for SAP.
 Zero foot print (Highly Scalable)
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2. EPM comparison - Hyperion, SAP BPC and Cognos
 Automated predictive analytics ( what if
Analysis)
 Collaborative Forecasting
 Audit trails can be tracked for SOX
Compliance
 Can support leading ledger for IFRS
Support
 Highly Customizable UI
  
Key Disadvantages IT architectural complexity would increase if Less mature due to NetWeaver integration Need to redesign based on existing

implementing all web-based features SAP R/3 skill set not directly transferable Hyperion app.
 
Highest need for technical BI resources vs. the to BPC technology Need to design interface with Corporate
other two choices. Hyperion Planning application
  
Implementation Typical effort to implement the application Typical effort to implement the application Typical effort to implement the application
Effort infrastructure and base solution: 4-5 HC, 4 + infrastructure and base solution: 3-4 HC, infrastructure and base solution: 3-4 HC, 5
months, total $500K - $650K. 3-4 months, total $400K - $500K. + months, total $600K - $700K.
  
Phased roll-out to each group / region is Phased roll-out to each group / region is Phased roll-out to each group / region is
recommended. recommended. recommended.
 
Training Cost is high Training Cost is very minimal
  
Other Consideration Flagship BI product for Oracle SAP BPC 7.0 is in the pre release mode Widely recognized as a leading BI product
 
Leverages OBIEE for data integration Will replace BW SEM's position as the along with Essbase for many years

focus of SAP's next generation BI platform Very mature product
 Recommended for iterative
implementation
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