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IBM Planning Analytics pros and cons

Vendor: IBM
4.2 out of 5
Badge Leader

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

IBM Planning Analytics is valued for its slicing and dicing capabilities, enabling quick analysis and data navigation.
It integrates seamlessly with different platforms and is known for fast in-memory calculations.
The flexibility in design features, data rules, and calculation definitions is a significant advantage, along with robust forecasting and predictive analytics capabilities.
It is easy to use and deploy, providing a unified database for streamlined planning processes.
The stable, robust nature of IBM Planning Analytics aids in creating scenarios, saving time in planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.

CONS

IBM Planning Analytics is not super user-friendly with Excel and extracting data is slow.
The frequent updates from IBM impact quality and are not always beneficial.
Adding automated features and improving scalability would benefit IBM Planning Analytics.
Improvements in local authentication management are necessary for IBM Planning Analytics.
Frequent version releases by IBM introduce bugs and complicate the learning curve.
 

IBM Planning Analytics Pros review quotes

it_user93822 - PeerSpot reviewer
BI Expert at a consultancy with 51-200 employees
Jul 27, 2016
This product is entirely designable and flexible, you can answer to very complex requirements.
it_user358176 - PeerSpot reviewer
Vice President & Business Head at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Jan 17, 2016
I would strongly recommend to go with TM1 Enterprise in terms of stability, scalability and performance.
it_user508530 - PeerSpot reviewer
Business Intelligence Consultant - IBM Cognos at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Sep 13, 2016
For most clients, they evaluate other similar software, but in general this software has more flexibility to make changes and adapt their business rules to the tool.
Learn what your peers think about IBM Planning Analytics. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.
884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user321549 - PeerSpot reviewer
Managing Consultant/Director at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Sep 29, 2016
It provides all the required functionalities for Financial Performance Management, such as planning, budgeting, forecasting, consolidation and dimensional reporting and analysis.
it_user90657 - PeerSpot reviewer
TM1-Senior Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Oct 23, 2016
I don't think there are many tools out there that are as flexible as this solution.
ITAnalyst053 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Analyst at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Apr 10, 2017
For forecast, budgeting and reporting financial data, TM1 is the best tool in the market.
reviewer1375443 - PeerSpot reviewer
FP&A Manager at a leisure / travel company with 501-1,000 employees
Jul 12, 2020
The most valuable feature is that it is able to slice and dice the data.
reviewer1236651 - PeerSpot reviewer
Accounting Services Finance Manager M&S at a hospitality company with 10,001+ employees
Oct 29, 2020
All the different platforms are well integrated.
reviewer1484589 - PeerSpot reviewer
Expert EPM (TM1 Cognos BI) at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Jan 25, 2021
Navigating through the data to make analysis is really quick.
reviewer890292 - PeerSpot reviewer
Systems Analyst at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Oct 5, 2021
A lot of the platform is in-memory, so Planning Analytics can run calculations quite fast. It also offers several user interfaces. And in the newest version of Planning Analytics, there is a new one called the Planning Analytics Workspace. Maybe it could be useful for the business side.
 

IBM Planning Analytics Cons review quotes

it_user93822 - PeerSpot reviewer
BI Expert at a consultancy with 51-200 employees
Jul 27, 2016
TM1 is a bit expensive, especially for small companies who should look more at products like Jedox or Tableau etc.. Who propose all in 1 products with good looking visualization components
it_user358176 - PeerSpot reviewer
Vice President & Business Head at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Jan 17, 2016
Pulling data from planning crashes very often.
it_user508530 - PeerSpot reviewer
Business Intelligence Consultant - IBM Cognos at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Sep 13, 2016
I think the software front-end on Cognos Contributor should be developed further to provide the final user with a better and clear design.
Learn what your peers think about IBM Planning Analytics. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.
884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user321549 - PeerSpot reviewer
Managing Consultant/Director at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Sep 29, 2016
The CAFE Excel plug-in needs to be improved to handle all the features of older TM1 Perspectives plug-in for Excel.
it_user90657 - PeerSpot reviewer
TM1-Senior Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Oct 23, 2016
The disadvantage is the old-fashioned surface of IBM Cognos TM1.
ITAnalyst053 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Analyst at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Apr 10, 2017
Data visualization and development interface are areas which need to be worked on.
reviewer1375443 - PeerSpot reviewer
FP&A Manager at a leisure / travel company with 501-1,000 employees
Jul 12, 2020
It's wonky, and not super user-friendly with Excel.
reviewer1236651 - PeerSpot reviewer
Accounting Services Finance Manager M&S at a hospitality company with 10,001+ employees
Oct 29, 2020
Extracting data is a little slow.
reviewer1484589 - PeerSpot reviewer
Expert EPM (TM1 Cognos BI) at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Jan 25, 2021
It would have been better if the solution was not just a tool kit.
reviewer890292 - PeerSpot reviewer
Systems Analyst at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Oct 5, 2021
It's highly competitive right now, and all the vendors are in a race to put out new versions with additional features. IBM comes out with new versions too often, and it has an impact on quality.