This article highlights IBM Planning Analytics benefits for Barona, showing how it has revolutionized their business operations and reporting processes. To understand the impact, we spoke with Lauri Kyykoski and Mika Nevalainen, Business Controllers at Barona, who shared their experiences since the solution’s implementation four years ago.

Lauri Kyykoski reflects on the significant changes brought by Planning Analytics, noting a shift from manual Excel-based tasks to automated, solution-driven reporting. “With Planning Analytics, we have considerably increased our automation of reporting,” he explains. This automation has not only advanced their reporting capabilities but also allowed a greater focus on financial planning rather than just report generation.

Mika Nevalainen, who joined Barona shortly after the implementation, appreciates the system’s ability to streamline monthly reporting. “The main difference is that I don’t have to play around with Excel files. I can show all monthly numbers straight from the system,” he says, highlighting the solution’s efficient visualization features.

Both Kyykoski and Nevalainen emphasize the solution’s user-friendly nature, enabling them to make small adjustments independently. Nevalainen shares: “We can do small changes in the finished script and some ‘business rules’ if needed.” This independence allows them to troubleshoot and resolve issues swiftly, enhancing overall productivity.

Kyykoski adds: “I am familiar with our entire environment and its basic logic. By interpreting the script, I can quite easily determine where the problem is and fix it.” Despite their ability to handle minor issues, they rely on Intito’s Extended Planning and Analysis (xPA) team for more complex changes, ensuring seamless operation.

The solution’s extensive capabilities have not yet been fully explored by all users, as Lauri notes, “The solutions offers a lot of opportunities, but people don’t know how to ask for them.” This presents a challenge and a responsibility for main users to bridge the gap in usability.

Despite this, both find working with Planning Analytics to be pleasant and straightforward. Nevalainen concludes: “Working with Planning Analytics is not as difficult as it might seem at first. You can get surprisingly far with trying, asking, and Google.” The customized solution tailored by Intito has significantly simplified their processes, making daily operations smoother.

The implementation of IBM Planning Analytics at Barona has brought numerous benefits, including streamlined reporting processes, enhanced automation, and empowered users. These IBM Planning Analytics benefits for Barona demonstrate the solution’s impact on operational efficiency. While there are challenges in fully utilizing the solution’s potential, the overall experience has been positive, marking a significant improvement in their operational efficiency. For businesses looking to transform their planning and reporting, Barona’s journey with Planning Analytics offers valuable insights.

For a deeper understanding of Barona’s transformation, explore the customer story of Bravedo, formerly known as Baron Group: “From laborious budgeting into agile planning from cloud.”