SAP Analytics Cloud vs Planning Maestro

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Our analysts compared SAP Analytics Cloud vs Planning Maestro based on data from our 400+ point analysis of EPM Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

SAP Analytics Cloud is an augmented analytics solution that uses machine learning technology to generate data visualizations and simulate predictive scenarios. It provides every member of an organization with access to automatic, interactive insights via natural language processing. Powered by artificial intelligence, it helps businesses make decisions with confidence by exploring what-if possibilities based on historical data.

There are multiple plans available with different functionality levels, so businesses can choose the subscription that provides the best fit for their needs.
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Implement Planning Maestro by Centage to simplify planning protocols and make swifter business choices during market shifts. Planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting and analytics are its top modules. Assess numerous what-if situations and make more precise predictions.

It pinpoints where, when and why actuals deviate from projections. Obtain in-depth reports and dashboards for more transparent results. It also allows numerous data source integrations for centralization.
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$36/User, Monthly
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$950 Monthly
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Product Assistance

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Product Insights

  • Increase Efficiency: Automatically generates relevant explanations and insights, saving time for those who would otherwise spend it slicing and dicing data to find that information.
  • Smarter Analytics: Digs deeper and thinks smarter with data thanks to machine learning technology that powers its Smart Predict, Smart Insights and Smart Discovery modules.
  • No IT Training Needed: Discover insights through natural-language processing which eliminates the need for cryptic queries. Easily access augmented analytics, irrespective of skill levels in data science or visualization.
  • Anticipate Problems: Detect risks and avoid issues before they happen through predictive forecasting and alerts.
  • More Informed Decisions: Determine the best course of action through AI-powered capabilities that take the uncertainty and guesswork out of decision-making.
  • Visualize Impact: Software algorithms identify key influencers and make it easier to see what drives business and what impacts the bottom line the most.
  • Work Better Together: Collaborate through the cloud, keeping in constant communication to get the job done together.
  • Free Trial: Download a 30-day free trial version from the vendor's website.
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  • Improved Accuracy: Reduces manual errors by automating data consolidation and calculations, ensuring more reliable financial forecasts.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates seamless communication among team members with shared access to real-time data and collaborative planning tools.
  • Time Efficiency: Speeds up the budgeting and forecasting process by automating repetitive tasks, allowing finance teams to focus on strategic analysis.
  • Scenario Analysis: Enables users to create and compare multiple financial scenarios, helping organizations prepare for various market conditions.
  • Data Integration: Integrates with existing ERP and accounting systems, ensuring a single source of truth and reducing data silos.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Helps maintain compliance with financial regulations by providing accurate and timely financial reports.
  • Cost Management: Identifies cost-saving opportunities through detailed financial analysis and variance tracking.
  • Scalability: Adapts to the growing needs of the business, supporting increased data volumes and more complex financial models.
  • Customizable Reporting: Offers flexible reporting options that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different stakeholders.
  • Real-Time Insights: Provides up-to-date financial data and analytics, enabling quicker decision-making and more agile responses to market changes.
  • Resource Allocation: Optimizes resource allocation by providing detailed insights into financial performance and future needs.
  • Strategic Planning: Supports long-term strategic planning with robust forecasting and budgeting tools that align with business goals.
  • Risk Management: Identifies potential financial risks and provides tools to mitigate them, enhancing overall business stability.
  • User-Friendly Interface: Features an intuitive interface that reduces the learning curve and increases user adoption across the organization.
  • Performance Tracking: Monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure that financial goals are being met and to identify areas for improvement.
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  • Data Preparation: Alerts as to possible errors and automatically cleans data through machine learning technology to enhance data for deeper insights. Offers context-based suggestions for better data preparation and data visualizations through Smart Transformations.
  • Chat With Data: Type questions into the Search to Insight bar in natural language to instantly create visualizations — no syntax mastery necessary. Analyze data easily, similar to using a search engine.
  • Instant Data Visualization: See the full picture in seconds; the solution generates interactive charts and graphs automatically upon query.
  • Predictive Forecasting: Generates prediction models that learn from historical data to automatically detect risks and predict what is likely to happen in the future.
  • What-If Analysis: Create what-if simulations through the power of self-service machine learning. Plan for the next steps by fine-tuning prediction scenarios based on confidence levels.
  • Highlight KPIs: Answer the “why” and “what” questions through augmented analytics. Identify the top contributors to business performance — the people, products and processes that contribute to the overall story.
  • Analyze Anomalies: Take corrective action aided by Smart Discovery, which automatically points out outlying data.
  • Hybrid Analytics: Protect technology investments by continuing to manage on-premise systems and existing data infrastructure, while simultaneously moving towards the future by leveraging the cloud. Supports a wide range of data connections, ensuring import and access to data from any source to maintain a 360-degree view of the business.
  • Partners: Over 100 partners offer upwards of 430 analytical extensions in the SAP App Center that provide additional value and industry specific applications to the platform.
  • Built-In Collaboration: Create discussions, assign tasks and deadlines and comment on data points. Share information and interact with each other continuously on screen.
  • Mobile App: Stay connected to the Cloud via a responsive, interactive iOS app.
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  • Planning
    • Collaborative Financial Planning: Protect private information with role-based security tools. Utilize shared comments, assumptions and audit trail tools for enhanced security. 
    • Data Gathering: Compare and contrast actuals to proposals to ensure consistent performance management. Utilize numbers and other vital information to make better business decisions. 
    • Financial Intelligence: Implement automatic workflows to push data through different pipelines while aligning with GAAP accounting standards. 
  • Budgeting
    • In-Depth Budgeting: Detect internal and external elements that impact existing budgets, including seasonal trends. Craft what-if situations for stress assessments. 
    • Financial Consolidation: Centralize entities, locations and merchandise in one system. Monitor outcomes with or without modifications. Build and allocate condensed GAAP-regulated bookkeeping reports. 
    • Workforce Planning and Budgeting: Enter information from CRM and HR solutions for an improved work plan infrastructure. Logic tools track overtime, shift differentials and other factors to align with work and pay practices. 
  • Reporting and Analytics
    • Dashboards: Display analytics in multiple dashboards for comprehensive analysis. 
    • Report Management: Format files with graphs and charts for better readability. 
    • Self-Serve Analytics: Pick pre-set benchmarks to filter report views. 
  • Forecasting
    • Cash Flow: Understand how sales, workforce, loans and capital asset plans affect cash flow. 
    • Rolling Forecasts: Craft long-term repetitive estimates that last past 12 periods. 
    • Several Report Types: Create multiple accounting reports, such as profit and loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements and more. 
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Product Ranking

#19

among all
EPM Software

#40

among all
EPM Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

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75
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Reports and Dashboards
Sales Planning
Workforce Planning
Profitability Modelling and Analysis
Cash Management
Workforce Planning
Reports and Dashboards
Profitability Modelling and Analysis
Cash Management
Capital Expenditure Planning

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

SAP Analytics Cloud
Planning Maestro
+ Add Product + Add Product
Capital Expenditure Planning Cash Management Financial Consolidation And Reconciliation Planning, Budgeting,and Forecasting Platform Capabilities Profitability Modelling And Analysis Project Planning Reports And Dashboards Revenue Planning Sales Planning Workforce Planning 81 96 80 87 92 97 73 100 80 100 98 94 96 75 63 77 97 76 98 77 55 100 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

50%
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 834 reviews
we're gathering data
85%
of users recommend this product

SAP Analytics Cloud has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 834 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

we're gathering data
4.2 (274)
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4.3 (72)
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4.1 (148)
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4.3 (340)
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Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated SAP Analytics Cloud and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Sales Planning.

Sales Planning Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Planning Maestro and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Workforce Planning.

Workforce Planning Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Data Visualization: Approximately 91% of users who reviewed visualization said that they can customize dashboards effortlessly with the solution’s wide range of templates and graphics libraries.
Ease of Use: Citing the platform’s modern and intuitive interface, around 89% of users said that the platform makes it easy to develop stories without technical knowledge thanks to Smart Discovery.
Data Analysis: Mentioning its forecasting and predictive analysis capabilities, approximately 87% of users said that the solution enables collaborative enterprise planning via statistical and predictive analysis.
Web and Mobile Accessibility: Discussing its easy accessibility on multiple browsers, around 72% users said that the platform works well on a wide range of devices.
Data Connectivity: Approximately 70% of the users who mentioned integration said that the tool, with strong live data connections, integrates well with other applications and data sources.
Functionality: Around 55% of the users who discussed features said that the tool is scalable and quite versatile, with frequent updates.
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Flexible Budgeting and Forecasting: Users praise Planning Maestro for its ability to handle complex budgeting and forecasting scenarios, including rolling forecasts and what-if analysis. This allows businesses to adapt to changing market conditions and make informed financial decisions.
Improved Collaboration: Planning Maestro facilitates collaboration among different departments and stakeholders, streamlining the budgeting and forecasting process. This leads to better communication and alignment across the organization.
Automated Reporting and Analysis: The platform automates reporting and analysis, saving time and effort for finance teams. Users appreciate the ability to generate insightful reports and dashboards with ease, providing valuable insights into financial performance.
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Performance: Approximately 85% of users who reviewed performance said that some features do not work well at the enterprise level.
Reporting: Around 58% of users who mentioned reporting said that report creation with the tool is complicated and needs IT support.
Data Management: Approximately 52% of users who discussed data preparation said that the platform needs more ubiquitous data modeling capabilities.
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Limited Reporting Capabilities: Users have expressed frustration with the inflexibility of reporting options, making it difficult to tailor reports to specific needs.
Steep Learning Curve: The software can be challenging to learn initially, requiring significant time and effort to become proficient.
Occasional Performance Issues: Some users have reported experiencing slow loading times and occasional system glitches, impacting productivity.
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SAP Analytics Cloud is a powerful data visualization tool that helps users explore data in an easy-to-understand format and discover metrics that help them make informed decisions. Many users who reviewed visualization said that the platform has rich graphics libraries and a range of templates for story presentation of business metrics. Citing its aesthetic design, a majority of users said that the solution’s interface is intuitive for programmers and non-technical users alike. Mentioning its strong predictive and augmented analysis capabilities, a lot of users said that the platform is a strong planning tool and helps them gain business insights easily. Many users said that the tool works well on a plethora of devices, including mobile, and is accessible on multiple browsers, though some users said that its offline mode capabilities are limited. Most of the users who reviewed data integrations said that the tool handles large amounts of data seamlessly, though quite a few users said its compatibility with live connection data sources is limited to other SAP products. Reviewing functionality, a majority of users said that the tool is versatile and scalable to ensure a great end-to-end user experience, though some said that it needs more features, such as improved live data analytics. The solution does have its limitations, though. Around 85% of users who reviewed its performance said that it struggles at the enterprise level, though quite a few users said that it performs exceedingly well within the SAP ecosystem. A majority of the users who mentioned reporting said that the solution lacks automatic report distribution and broadcasting capabilities, though some said that it has excellent analytical and data-oriented report creation. Many users who discussed data management complained that the process for updating an existing data model needs a lot of rework, and that the solution needs more versatile modeling features. Overall, SAP Analytics Cloud is a planning tool with strong BI capabilities that brings the power of cloud computing to self-service data analysis for gaining actionable insights into business metrics.

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Is Planning Maestro the *concerto* of financial planning software, hitting all the right notes for businesses? User reviews suggest the software is a well-regarded tool for managing financial planning and analysis (FP&A) processes, but it's not without its critics. Fans of the software praise its user-friendly design and ability to streamline FP&A workflows, leading to more efficient budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. Some users specifically highlight the strong customer support as a major plus. However, some users find the software's pricing to be a barrier, while others have struggled with its complexity. Planning Maestro seems to stand out from competitors by offering a robust suite of features that cater to a variety of FP&A needs, all within a single platform. For example, its ability to integrate with existing accounting systems and automate tasks like report generation is a major selling point for users who want to ditch clunky spreadsheets and manual processes. This focus on automation and integration is a key differentiator for Planning Maestro, making it particularly appealing to businesses looking for a comprehensive solution to centralize and streamline their financial planning. Overall, Planning Maestro appears to be best suited for businesses that need a powerful, centralized platform to manage their FP&A processes. Its robust features and automation capabilities make it a good fit for companies looking to improve efficiency and gain better insights from their financial data. However, businesses on a tight budget or those with simpler FP&A needs may find the software's pricing and complexity to be drawbacks.

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