Oracle Hyperion Planning

 “We have to build the framework in which we will execute the tasks.”

Oracle has succeeded in creating a centralised, Excel and Web-driven planning, budgeting and forecasting framework (in the form of Oracle Hyperion Planning) to help connect operational assumptions to financial outcomes.

Planning and budgeting is a resource and time intensive process in most organisations dominated by a multitude of spread-sheets that are exchanged between cost center managers, line of business finance managers and corporate finance personnel. Oracle Hyperion Planning streamlines the planning process by aligning plans along common dimensions.

Hyperion Planning sits in an application server between the Essbase database and the client tools that work with it; integrating financial and operational planning processes; leading to improved business predictability. It does so by leveraging Essbase’s multidimensional data model as well as standard relational database management platforms.

i.            The Essbase portion of the application gives Hyperion Planning the calculation power to handle predictive planning, allocations and complicated revenue recognition planning.

ii.            The relational source allows Planning to collect textual information critical to a coordinated understanding of the budget.

Key Features od Hyperion Planning

• Alignment of the organisation: by combining financial & operational planning in one system
  • Hyperion Planning utilises Oracle Hyperion Essbase as its central data store, maximizing the user experience where information is available instantly and in real-time supporting both bottom-up and top-down planning processes.
• Multi-dimensional / multi user planning with a powerful business rules engine
  • Robust data integration with ERP, CRM and data warehousing systems enabling bi-directional information exchange.
• Easy to use Web interface: appealing to a wider user community
• Flexible workflow and plan management capabilities: using thin client technology (allowing ‘anytime, anywhere’ planning) and flexible data entry, users can analyse their plans in a safe and secure environment with frequent real-time updates using any standard web browser.
• Comprehensive Microsoft Office integration
  • Hyperion Planning has an add-in with Microsoft Office (Smartview) which allows users to forecast or budget in Microsoft Excel, an environment comfortable to most finance users, where data is automatically refreshed in real time.
• Seamless creation of reports: companies can directly integrate data from Hyperion Planning into Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Word allowing the creation of highly customised reports with accurate information.
• Full set of administrative tools for application management: allows users to track and communicate the progress of each planning unit and budget; create, analyse or validate plans; and change plans in real-time, all from a central data platform.
• Enterprise Security Interoperability: Oracle Hyperion Planning interoperates with existing security mechanisms such as NTLM, MSAD and LDAP ensuring maintenance and security consistency.

Additional Add-Ins
Hyperion Planning is often utilised with Hyperion Financial Reports and Web Analysis to enhance the analytic value inherent in its underlying use of Essbase. Oracle Hyperion Planning has two additional add-in modules; Workforce Planning and CapEx Planning.

Companies today are faced with a rapidly dynamic business environment where costs fluctuate and demand changes. A key requirement to stay ahead of the competition is to understand this volatility and forecast financial and operational performance accurately. With Oracle Hyperion Planning, a company can forecast project performances (in terms of financial outcomes) based on historic information, and if needed, the creation of alternative scenarios. A company can centrally manage and collaborate on every step of the planning process by communicating plans, calculations or targets to all decision-makers via the Internet, intranet and a standard Web browser; all of which can be leveraged with Microsoft Office to view all your necessary financial data. This Business Intelligence (BI) and Business Performance Management (BPM) Tool provides an in-depth look at business operations and its related impact on financials; predicting and forecasting the success of future prospects and in turn enabling better decision making and business success.

According to Dwight D. Eisenhower “Plans are nothing; planning is everything”, and with Oracle’s Hyperion Planning application; all your planning, budgeting and forecasting needs are executed effectively and efficiently.