SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation unifies planning with data and processes for budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, plus financial consolidation. So you can further ensure the consistency and relevance of your plans and help to seed the best budgets and forecasts possible.

Key features and functions include:

• Familiar user experience – Leverage Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word documents, as well as the Web, to access centrally located plans, budgets, and forecasts and improve organizational alignment. For example, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets are linked directly to live operational data; as data is updated in real time so is the spreadsheet. Working with tools they know well, users need minimal training and are productive from day one.
• Intelligent action panes – Context-sensitive intelligent action panes aid productivity by helping users understand what to do, along with when, why, and how to act. In addition, you can facilitate collaboration with built-in discussion threads and unstructured data sharing.
• Top-down and bottom-up planning – The application provides a centralized forum for communicating organizational financial goals and objectives, along with tools for data collection and collaboration.
• Multidimensional modeling – Modeling functionality includes what-if analysis and scenario planning that enables your users to model and assess future outcomes.
• Collaborative forecasting – The application enables bi-directional (horizontal and vertical) communication and manages interaction among plan stakeholders.
• Workflow management – Workflow management features allow versioning that helps track plan status and provides stakeholders with immediate access to the plan.
• Financial management – The application enables you to shave days and weeks off closing books with functionality for currency conversions, inter-company eliminations, multi-tier allocations, and journal entries. Plus, you can produce reports such as P&L, balance sheets, cash flow, and fixed assets, so you can get a comprehensive view of your financial landscape.
• Compliance management – SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation includes functionality for Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and standards compliance, including IAS, IFRS, FASB, and GAAP. Plus, the application can integrate with SAP BusinessObjects governance, risk, and compliance solutions to reduce the risk of fraud and errors and create a fully-documented audit trail.