CIO Bulletin

Column5 Consulting – Empowering Organizations and Driving Better Business through Advanced EPM and xP&A Solutions

In the quest for sustainable competitive advantage, organizations worldwide turn to Column5 Consulting, a global consultancy specializing in advanced Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) and Extended Planning & Analytics (xP&A) solutions. With a mission to equip businesses with the tools for making informed decisions, Column5 boasts a rich history of providing unparalleled services, support, and training to countless companies and tens of thousands of users of SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) solutions across the globe.

At Column5, the focus extends beyond mere data management. They specialize in crafting strategies to collect, store, consolidate, and refine data, complemented by the configuration of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), dashboards, and reports that breathe life into information, transforming it into actionable insights. Column5 injects meaning and context into data, ensuring organizations possess the right information at the right time to drive performance improvements, mitigate risks, and optimize revenue streams.

Why Column5 Consulting?

Embodying the ethos that data alone does not suffice, Column5 champions the transformation of raw data into actionable intelligence. Their guiding principle, "Driving Better Business through Actionable Intelligence," underscores their commitment to empowering organizations with contextualized insights. Having forged a longstanding partnership with SAP spanning over a decade, Column5's roots delve deeper, stemming from the visionary minds behind OutlookSoft, the precursor to SAP BPC. This lineage affords Column5 and its clients a distinct advantage within the EPM landscape, particularly within the SAP ecosystem, where their expertise reveals nuances others often overlook.

Behind the scenes, Column5's team remains actively engaged in the ongoing evolution and enhancement of SAP EPM solutions, including various iterations of BPC and SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC). This insider perspective grants Column5 an edge, enabling them to navigate the complexities of EPM with finesse, ensuring clients harness the full potential of their data.

Despite the myriad certifications, accolades, and their prestigious SAP Gold Partner status, Column5 holds their role as a trusted adviser in the highest regard. Their dedication to guiding clients through the intricacies of EPM reflects their unwavering commitment to fostering long-term partnerships and propelling organizational success.

Unlocking Business Performance with Extended Planning & Analysis (xP&A)

Extended Planning & Analysis (xP&A) emerges as a comprehensive solution dedicated to managing an enterprise's business performance. Building upon the foundations of Integrated Financial Planning (IFP) and Integrated Business Planning (IBP), xP&A integrates both finance and operational aspects on a cutting-edge big data platform. This holistic approach not only streamlines data integration, collection, and reporting processes but also introduces Artificial Intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics functionalities, enriching the platform with robust analytical capabilities.

Shifting Perspectives: Gartner's Embrace of xP&A

Recognizing the evolving landscape, renowned technology industry analyst Gartner has expanded its criteria to encompass the broader functionalities of the xP&A market in 2021. This shift signals a departure from traditional coverage of tools within the Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) space, prompting EPM vendors to demonstrate credibility amidst the expanded criteria for best-in-class solutions. Column5, long-standing proponents of advanced EPM processes extending into operations, echoes the industry's call to leverage technology across broader business areas to maximize return on investment.

Pioneering Advanced Processes with DNA

In 2020, Column5 introduced Dynamic Networked Analytics (DNA) as a paradigm-shifting approach to replace legacy Serial Analytics methods prevalent since the advent of spreadsheets. DNA revolutionizes planning paradigms, surpassing conventional practices like budgeting, rolling forecasts, and activity-based costing by leveraging AI and predictive-driven planning. To explore how xP&A, DNA, or advanced analytics can enhance organizational processes, Column5 encourages customers to leverage their comprehensive Assessments. For further insights on Serial Analytics vs DNA, EPM vs xP&A, and other pertinent topics, the EPM/xP&A Summit Network serves as a valuable resource hub.

Navigating Business Performance with Enterprise Performance Management (EPM)

Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) serves as a comprehensive framework encompassing methodologies, metrics, processes, and technological systems crucial for monitoring and enhancing an enterprise's business performance. By streamlining strategic plans and optimizing critical operations, EPM facilitates managing variability, enhancing information accuracy and consistency, boosting profitability and shareholder value, and reducing overall costs, among other key performance indicators.

Comprehensive Business Processes

Within the realm of EPM, various business processes are integrated to streamline operations effectively. These processes may include budgeting, forecasting, planning, management reporting, and even consolidations to a certain extent. The primary focus of EPM lies in planning and strategizing for organizational success.

Beyond Spreadsheets: Evolution of EPM

EPM solutions represent a significant evolution from spreadsheet-centric approaches, such as manual budgeting, which often rely on labor-intensive data entry and calculation methods. Column5 recognizes the limitations of traditional methods and strives to elevate EPM programs by developing mature management processes capable of adapting to dynamic business environments. By providing consistent, scalable information across organizations, Column5 empowers decision-makers to monitor progress against plans effectively.

Column5's Approach to EPM

Column5's EPM programs transcend the confines of traditional spreadsheet-centric environments. Leveraging comprehensive assessments and a wealth of starter kits and advanced enhancements, Column5 tailors EPM solutions to suit the unique needs of each client. By harnessing SAP Analytics platforms and tools, Column5 empowers organizations to unlock the full potential of their EPM initiatives, driving sustainable growth and performance improvement.

Empowering Organizations with Actionable Solutions

Column5 offers expert consulting and implementation services tailored to organizations seeking assistance with new Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC) or Business Financial Consolidation (BFC) implementations, upgrades to the latest versions, or maximizing the return on investment (ROI) from their Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) strategy. With a focus on enabling better, more informed decisions based on trusted data, Column5 assists organizations in improving every aspect of their operations, from cost reduction to product innovation and customer service enhancement.

Navigating Change with Effective Strategies

Transitioning to a high-performing organization requires careful change management techniques. Column5 guides clients through this process, helping them address challenges such as lack of confidence in financial data, delayed access to critical information, and inefficiencies caused by spreadsheet proliferation. By utilizing enabling technology and strategic approaches, Column5 consultants streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and present information in a way that unlocks new insights for managing complexity, data, and processes.

Cultivating Behavioral Change

Improvements in management techniques are only effective when they lead to lasting changes in behavior and decision-making. Column5 starts by identifying gaps between existing beliefs and desired behaviors, addressing root causes of dysfunction within organizations. Through redesigned processes and appropriate technology implementation, Column5 facilitates rapid transformation, empowering clients to adopt desired behaviors and drive sustainable organizational change.

Elevating Organizational Effectiveness

Column5's approach to enhancing organizational effectiveness begins with addressing pressing issues and bottlenecks within the organization. By leveraging technology and expertise, Column5 consultants empower clients to streamline operations, improve data accuracy, and foster a culture of performance management. With a focus on trust, experience, innovation, and leadership, Column5 serves as a trusted advisor, helping clients establish and optimize their EPM programs to drive tangible increases in profit and value.

Building a Culture of Performance Management

Achieving long-term success with an EPM program requires more than just automating processes—it entails building a culture of performance management within the organization. Column5 offers a comprehensive suite of services, expertise, and visionary blueprints for EPM, positioning itself as a Center of Excellence for organizations seeking to optimize their performance management strategies. With a global team of professionals and a legacy of successful implementations, Column5 leads the market in SAP EPM and BPC Solutions, continually raising the bar for excellence.

David Den Boer | Founder & Chairman

David Den Boer founded Column5 Consulting in 2005. A dedicated professional services practitioner and entrepreneur, he has applied his significant technical delivery experience and broad experience providing solutions across a wide variety of industries — and raising the standards for what success means within EPM. As a founding principal with the launch of Column5, David sought to extend the focus of EPM beyond just implementing technology, assembling a team of business process visionaries and senior product talent with unmatched ability to deliver world-class EPM solutions.

Under David´s leadership, Column5 has evolved beyond its reputation for technically superior solutions to be an influential global provider of high—value EPM solutions. His prior experience includes consulting experience as Director of Services at OutlookSoft from 2000 to 2005.