IBM Planning Analytics for Excel (PAfE) is a Microsoft Excel® add-in that enables you to interact and analyze data in IBM® Planning Analytics, a fast and flexible multidimensional functional database used for business planning, analysis and reporting.
Built on TM1 technology, IBM Planning Analytics uses a cell-orientated database–like spreadsheets–but with data stored and managed in multidimensional cubes instead of two-dimensional tables. With IBM Planning Analytics for Excel, you can overcome the limitations of complex models built in Excel spreadsheets, disparate data sources, and lack of governance and control.
Create reports and dashboards with ease and customize your analysis to fit your unique needs. Increase productivity with automated workflows, save time with built-in data validation and error checking, and ensure accuracy and consistency in your planning and reporting. Collaborate with team members in real-time and access and manage data securely from anywhere.
Don’t update 100+ spreadsheets. PAfE connects directly to IBM Planning Analytics database, so you get real-time access to data for analysis, reporting, and planning activities.
With PAfE you can analyze data across multiple rows and columns, including time, geography, and product lines, or any other dimension. Leverage your Excel skills and uplevel your analysis.
From Excel to the web with a click of a button. PAfE allows you to share workbooks and reports, making it easy to collaborate with team members in real-time on planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities.
Access a ribbon in Excel with specific tools and functions designed for IBM Planning Analytics. Easily complete everyday tasks such as importing data, refreshing views, and creating new reports.
Visualize data and create interactive dashboards using familiar Excel features such as charts, tables, and PivotTables. Customize reports to display the information you need in the format you prefer.
Slice and dice data in various ways with extended capabilities, similar to a giant pivot-table. This allows you to quickly answer business questions and make informed decisions.
Perform scenario analysis to see how different factors could impact your business. Test different assumptions in real-time, such as changing market conditions or adjusting prices, to see how they affect results.
Benefit from robust security and governance features, including user authentication and authorization, data access controls, and audit trails. This ensures data is secure, and users can only access authorized data while respecting database security.
Easily convert Excel sheets to interactive web pages called web sheets. Collaborate and share insights quickly with multiple users, allowing teams to work together effectively.
Feature
Microsoft Excel
IBM Planning Analytics for Excel
Version control
"Save as" multiple spreadsheets
Robust version control with complete audit trail. Can retrieve, create, or modify versions based on security permissions
Collaboration
Limited; difficult to collaborate in real-time
Easy to collaborate in real-time with multiple users, ability to share web sheets and perform simultaneous analysis
Large datasets
Limited; performance can suffer with large datasets
Efficient handling of large datasets without compromising performance
Security
Basic password protection and file encryption
Robust security features including user authentication, data access controls, and audit trails
Multidimensional analysis
Limited with PivotTable. Difficult to perform multidimensional analysis without add-ons or external tools
Easy and efficient multidimensional analysis with built-in OLAP and drill-down capabilities
Data aggregation
Formula based, error-prone; difficult to perform consolidation and aggregation of data without add-ons or external tools
Easy and efficient real-time consolidation and aggregation of data with built-in consolidation features
Validation
Limited; difficult to perform data validation without add-ons or external tools
Easy and efficient data validation with built-in validation rules and error-checking tools