Budgeting Software Journal

Budgeting and Forecasting Software News And Reviews

AIMCO Finds Solution for Cumbersome Budgeting Process Using Clarity Systems

By Budgeting Software Journal

Clarity SystemsBrad Mauvais, Project Manager for AIMCO (Apartment Investment and Management Company), America’s largest owner and operator of apartment communities, conducted an exclusive interview with Ron Powell and the Business Intelligence Network. In this interview Mauvais explains why AIMCO needed a performance management solution and describes why they chose a Web-based solution from Clarity Systems to feed property budgets, capital planning and payroll data into a centralized repository. He also highlights the benefits received from successfully deploying Clarity 6, Clarity System’s corporate performance management solution, throughout their organization.

Since implementing the software, AIMCO has expanded their budget, adopted a forecasting system and accelerated the consolidation process with Clarity 6. “There is a level of efficiency we have realized by implementing Clarity 6 and it has allowed us to focus more on the operations rather than the process of getting the numbers where they need to be,” says Brad Mauvais, Project Manager for AIMCO. “The tool is no longer a constraint. All of the data standards are maintained because everyone is entering their information into the same Clarity 6 template. There is more consistency with our data which means we can get our budget out much faster.” [Read more…]

Cartesis Customers to Gather at North American User Conference

By Budgeting Software Journal

CartesisConnect 2007 to Showcase Product Innovation, Recognize Customer Successes and Shape Future of Performance Management Norwalk, CT, April 9, 2007 – Cartesis will convene its 8th annual North American User Conference, Connect, with nationally recognized industry thought leaders, customers and partners. Connect 2007 North America will be held from May 6-9, 2007 at The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida.

This year’s event will highlight a new release of the Cartesis suite and focus on business topics such as enhanced business reporting, compliance, corporate responsibility and strategic innovations in financial reporting. The conference will spotlight the growing customer momentum around the Cartesis BPM suite, and best practices in implementation and deployments.

“We view our customers as key partners to help us to stay ahead of business trends and infuse our product suite with new and innovative functionality,” said Trevor Walker, vice president marketing North America. “Connect is a critical venue to showcase our product suite, but more importantly to share best practices and develop strategies to address emerging trends such as XBRL and Enhanced Business Reporting.” [Read more…]

Adaptive Planning Introduces Free, Instant Access Budgeting Software

By Budgeting Software Journal

New Web-Based Application Makes it Easier Than Ever for Companies to Move Beyond Excel-Based Budgeting

Adaptive Planning announced the availability of Adaptive Planning Express Edition On-Demand, a free entry-level addition to its suite of budgeting, forecasting, and reporting solutions. Designed to revolutionize the BPM market, Express Edition On-Demand removes the obstacles that have previously prevented small and midsized companies from adopting enterprise-class performance management solutions. With the addition of this new product to its suite, Adaptive Planning has changed the rules of the game, redefining how easy it can be for mid-market companies to move beyond Excel-based budgeting and dramatically improve their business results.

For decades, managing budgeting, forecasting and reporting has simply been too hard for too many companies. Most businesses use manual spreadsheets, which takes too much time, creates too many errors, and results in poorly informed decision making. A subset of companies has moved beyond spreadsheets and adopted BPM or business intelligence (BI) alternatives for automating these financial processes. However, these enterprise solutions create a new set of difficulties—they are costly to acquire, time consuming to implement, and complex to use. Given the problems with BPM and BI applications, over 80% of companies have elected to endure the pain of spreadsheets.

Now, Adaptive Planning Express Edition On-Demand provides a breakthrough new alternative to both Excel spreadsheets and enterprise BPM and BI tools. Adaptive Planning Express Edition On-Demand is a powerful, enterprise-class solution that is available for free and that can be instantaneously accessed around the world with only a web browser. With no software to install, no fees, no restrictions on the duration of use, and access for up to 50 users per company, Adaptive Planning has finally removed the key barriers that have historically prevented small and midsized businesses from moving beyond spreadsheets to automated BPM and BI software. [Read more…]

Adaptive Planning Achieves Record Results in 2006

By Budgeting Software Journal

Adaptive Planning announced that it achieved record growth in new customers and partners in 2006. This growth complements key corporate milestones for Adaptive Planning, which include the introduction of the first open source BPM solution, significant expansion of its product suite, completion of its executive team, and receipt of prestigious industry awards and recognition. These fiscal and corporate achievements come as Adaptive Planning closes a $7.5 million round of venture funding led by new investor Cardinal Venture Capital, creating strong momentum for the company in 2007.

In 2006, Adaptive Planning demonstrated exceptional momentum in the BPM market by signing a record number of new customers. Customer growth was strong across multiple industries, including the software, nonprofit, high technology, healthcare, and manufacturing segments. New customers ranged in size from less than $5 million to over $500 million in annual revenues, and included both privately- and publicly-held companies from across the globe. Notable new clients from select industries include Black Duck Software, StepStone, and SuccessFactors (software), DentalPlans.com, Gilsbar Inc., and Passport Health Communications (healthcare), Cortina Systems, Tennant Company, and Uponor (manufacturing), and numerous others including AAA, Jaguar Mining, and Med-Eng.

In addition to adding new customers, Adaptive Planning also deepened relationships with existing clients. As confirmation of its sterling customer satisfaction, over 90% of Adaptive Planning clients renewed their subscriptions. [Read more…]

Business Objects Honors Customers for Excellence in Enterprise Performance Management

By Budgeting Software Journal

Business ObjectsBusiness Objects (Nasdaq:BOBJ) announced that Catholic Healthcare West, North Fork Bank, and the Securities and Exchange Commission have been named the winners of the 2007 EPM Customer Excellence Awards. The EPM Customer Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of these companies in using Business Objects enterprise performance management solutions to improve their organization’s performance. The awards were formally presented at Business Objects Insight for Performance Management, the company’s user conference for finance and business professionals taking place this week in Orlando, Florida.

“This year’s winners are representative of the leading organizations that are using our enterprise performance management solutions to address their most challenging organizational issues,” said Mark Doll, senior vice president and general manager of EPM and global services at Business Objects. “I am pleased to recognize these organizations, and congratulate them on their innovative use of planning, budgeting, forecasting, and profitability solutions to improve their organization’s performance.” [Read more…]