Welcome to the ultimate resource for understanding the value and versatility of EPM plugins for Excel. Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) plugins extend the functionality of Excel, allowing for seamless integration with complex business planning and consolidation systems, such as SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (BPC). They are pivotal for financial reporting, data analysis, and system upgrades, enhancing Excel's capabilities for dynamic data handling and formatting. On this page, we'll explore what EPM is, the interaction between EPM and Excel through plugins, common use cases for these essential tools, and provide answers to frequently asked questions. Dive into the world of EPM plugins and discover how they can transform your business processes.
Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) refers to a category of software that is essential for analyzing, understanding, and reporting on a business's performance. It serves a crucial role for CFOs and the office of finance in carrying out operational planning, budgeting, and reporting. By providing insights into management, EPM software complements Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which focus on operating the business, thereby aiding in managing the business more effectively.
EPM tools are enterprise project management tools that aid in planning, tracking, and managing enterprise-level projects. With features like a centralized repository for project information and analytics, these tools enable collaboration among stakeholders and help monitor project progress. EPM tools have evolved to become web-based applications and are often offered as Software as a Service (SaaS), such as Oracle Fusion Cloud Enterprise Performance Management (EPM).
In addition to the software aspect, EPM also stands for Electronic Postmark (EPM), a service provided by Authentidate under license from the USPS. This EPM service is a content integrity and time and date stamp service, which includes storing information about electronic files and ensuring non-repudiation. It demonstrates the versatility of EPM as both a software tool for business management and a type of service ensuring data integrity.
The EPM Add-in client is an Excel plugin designed to facilitate system migrations from SAP BPC 7.x to BPC 10.x and provides compatibility with various versions of Microsoft Office. It allows for separate downloading of the Excel client and offers the capability to interact with the BPC server across all major Windows versions. This plugin is testable by upgrading a single user and supports Excel versions 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 365, and 2016.
Among the leading EPM plugins for Excel are Anaplan, Jedox, Prophix, SAP Analytics Cloud, OneStream XF, and others, each offering unique features for enterprise performance management. Planful, for instance, provides a holistic planning solution suitable for both large and small businesses, featuring a highly configurable application with a rolling forecast capability. Tagetik serves as an executive strategy cockpit, delivering immediate visualizations of changes in graphs or charts, and supports various planning approaches with fewer clicks needed for report building. Oracle Fusion, Kepion, and Adaptive Planning also offer specialized solutions tailored for different industries and organization sizes, emphasizing cloud-based capabilities and sector-specific functionalities.
During migrations or system upgrades, especially from BPC 7.x, the EPM Add-in client is a critical tool. It necessitates that the Excel client version matches the installed version on the server. The plugin is compatible with different BPC server versions and operates on Windows XP through Windows 10. However, specific service pack requirements must be met for compatibility with newer versions of Microsoft Office and Windows, such as SP20 for Office 2013 and SP25 for Office 2016 and Windows 10.
Performance and stability issues with the EPM Add-in have increased with Office 2013 and Office 365. This can be due to Microsoft patches and security updates, which may cause slow program response, Excel crashing or becoming unresponsive, view distortion, and unexpected user interface behavior.
To use Office 2016 with the EPM Add-in for BPC 10.0, the BPC server must be on SP21 or higher. For BPC 10.1, Office 2016 requires the BPC server to be on SP05 or higher. Additionally, support for Office 2016 in the EPM Add-in started with the SP25 version.
Yes, the EPM Add-in client supports Windows operating systems XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10. Windows 10 support started with SP25 of the EPM Add-in client.
Troubleshooting a compatibility issue may involve checking if the EPM Add-in is enabled and disabling any conflicting add-ins. Keeping Microsoft Office updated ensures compatibility with the EPM Add-in. Additionally, it's recommended to install regular updates and improvements for the EPM Add-in.
To improve efficiency with the EPM Add-in, customize it to fit your organization's needs and workflows, receive training to maximize its features, and provide user feedback for necessary changes. Using keyboard shortcuts to enable or disable the EPM Add-in quickly can also help.
In summary, the EPM plugins for Excel revolutionize data management and reporting by allowing seamless integration with ERP, EPM, and BI systems directly within Microsoft Office applications. They preserve Excel's core functionalities while offering additional tools for data analysis, report creation, and distribution, ensuring that decision-making is both informed and efficient. With regular updates, user feedback, and compatibility with Office 2010 or later, these plugins are essential for any organization looking to enhance performance monitoring and project management. While the EPM Add-in is a powerful tool, for an even more streamlined experience, consider using Sourcetable to import data directly into your spreadsheets. Sign up for Sourcetable today to get started and unlock the full potential of your data management.