Welcome to the first blog post of the new year. My goal is to do one a month for 2020. Please help encourage me with my goal by sending feedback. Any comments are appreciated!
Since we formed Brass Tacks, we have specialized in helping clients find the EPM best for them. It’s all about the best fit for the clients, based on their needs.
A lot of our clients get the software companies in for demos and then ask us for advice. This is easier when the company we don’t recommend falls flat on their faces during the demo (this happens more often than you think). It’s hard to watch a client make the incorrect decision. Outside help can be tough to ask for.
This past year has been about adding OneStream to our skillset. The more we know, the better we can advise our clients. OneStream has been impressive. It was built by the same people who built HFM, so they understood it. What I find really interesting is to see the different directions each software has taken. Compared to my experiences with FCCS, there isn’t much of a comparison.
Sometimes Hyperion was a hammer, so everything looked like a nail. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Hyperion’s tech. Essbase was my living for years and years. It’s a versatile tool that can handle most of the business problems I was asked to solve with it.
OneStream is much deeper toolbox. The learning curve comes from taking all the business knowledge and realizing that are more ways to do things.
To give you an example; dashboards
In Hyperion we used OBIEE. This meant flattening the Hyperion database to combine it with relational sources. There was some limited dashboarding that has been added to PBCS, but I prefer OneStream’s. Hyperion’s mix and match different tools vs all in one(stream).
My prediction is that the dashboards, combined with the ability to pull in big data, will lead to more expansion of the OneStream market. Based on my past experience, a company will often start with a limited release and then move to other departments as necessary.
In the current year we’re looking to keep expanding our practice. Thinking of moving off on prem Hyperion or spreadsheets? Choosing between new on prem, cloud or another tool? Please contact us and we would love to work with you.