Product comparison: vs. Prepared by Software
Purpose This document is intended for current customers who are considering migrating to. Introduction is an integrated application that is built on an open architecture with Microsoft technology and was initially developed to offer customers greater flexibility and scalability. Unlike the proprietary OLAP database in, utilizes Analysis Services, the leading OLAP database in the world. Also, compared to, is highly scalable with the ability to support a single user to hundreds of users and more than 2000 accounts. In terms of product features, offers more flexibility and advanced functionality: business modeling, budgeting and planning, forecasting and reforecasting, consolidation, business reporting, and financial analysis. Some key features in include: Shared dimensions e.g., use the same product dimension in more than one cube to reduce maintenance and improve conformity. Easy-to-use reporting capabilities e.g., create double-down reports with multiple dimensions on a single axis. Integrated offline and workflow capabilities e.g., distribute Excel workbooks that maintain member security, and approve/reject submitted files as part of the workflow cycle. Extensions for SharePoint e.g., publish reports to a SharePoint Document Library or enable the Workflow web part to access tasks Detailed Planning Manager, s replacement for P3. With Detailed Planning s flexibility, users can produce not only personnel planning models, but also create other, non-personnel based models like capital expenditures, planning vehicle costs, or planning cash Product features Business modeling s sophisticated modeling capabilities allow companies to build complex business rules. supports a wide range of financial business models, with over one hundred dimensions, and manages time in different scenarios, including days, weeks, months, 13 periods, rolling periods and more.
Multiple model support Unlike, you can work on multiple models at the same time and even share data from multiple models for a single report. Plus, share dimensions between multiple models, allowing automatic updates to those dimensions when changed from any model containing the shared dimension. Data can also be shared between models, eliminating the need to import data from other cubes. Formula support Basic Advanced offers advanced formula support such as IF, IsEmpty, MDX, LAG, LEAD. With MDX, the standard language of OLAP databases, you can create any calculation necessary. Rebuilding models with better formulas may reduce model sizes and increase the breadth of applications possible with ; for example, supports formulas for automatic calculation of smart variance based on the debit/credit settings of accounts. Standard model types provides a wizard-driven interface to easily create standard models (Generic, Exchange Rate, Financial Consolidation, Intercompany, DP General, and DP Personnel) and custom models. Flexible planning periods While only offers monthly planning periods, PROPHIX 10 R3 supports daily, weekly, monthly, 13-period, bi-weekly, bi-monthly, and other time periods. Cross dimensional calculations Conditional logic allows for use of various formulas across different dimension members on the same account for driver-based budgeting. Multiple currency support Basic Advanced With, you can: Convert calculated accounts, instead of recalculating based on converted values Convert data using exchange rate information for a specified period and/or version other than the currently selected periods in order to facilitate what-if modeling for different currency assumptions. E.g., convert 2012 budget using 20011 actual exchange rate information Convert data using fixed or variable exchange rates Convert periodic changes then recalculate account formula Vary exchange rates by organizational entity Convert using historical (temporal) or current rate methods In, dimensions can have more than five (5) alternate hierarchies. Versions, Accounts, Time Perspective, and Currency dimensions do not support multiple hierarchies. Custom member properties can include qualitative information. E.g., color, brand, etc., and can be used to form calculations and alternate hierarchies. Alternate hierarchy support Advanced member properties
Figure 1. An example of a time period setting in Business Model Wizard. Figure 2. An example of an account calculation in Formula Editor.
Budgeting and planning makes budgeting and planning more straightforward for companies with larger business models or for organizations with many users involved in the budgeting process. Workflow notifies users when their tasks are ready or overdue. Workflow users are also assigned specific data entry templates, providing only the data relevant to them, which can involve data sets from multiple models. With, you can prepare an unlimited number of versions for your plan and incorporate more than 5 years of historical data. Store all of your historical/actual data without receiving prompts to perform a year-end rollover. Collaborative participation Basic Extended workflow functionality includes workflow tasks linked to due dates, data entry templates, and processes. Multiple reviewers, approvers, observers, and contingent task capabilities are available. Workflow tasks can also be integrated into SharePoint using Extensions, enabling users to access tasks directly from an intranet portal. Workflow management Instead of creating copies of the database for data entry, uses a single database with submission and approval processes embedded in the templates eliminating the need for frequent database structure updates. Workflow in can also include processes so that they run automatically as part of a sequence. Flexible Workflow submission hierarchy Multi-dimension Workflow security Support for multiple versions of a budget or plan Unlike in, workflow submission hierarchy in is not restricted to the primary dimension hierarchy. In, security can be based on multiple dimensions and is role based. Up to 99 versions Unlimited Calculated versions Versions in can be calculated versions created by combining multiple versions with a calculation. E.g., a variance version. Actual and historical data support Reusable data entry template layouts Up to 5 years Unlimited does not have any requirements to perform a year-end rollover. offers the ability to reuse content for Ad Hoc Analysis and reports.
Offline data entry Basic Advanced In, offline data entry involves the automated creation and distribution of Excel workbooks based on templates and member security, workbooks are later submitted back to the model by offline users via a controlled workflow process or on the fly. Offline data entry templates can also be distributed via SharePoint, where users can access the files and check in appropriately. Supporting detail summary reports Data entry templates with multiple model requirements Template support for multidimension axis Line item detail and cell comment. Data entry requirements from multiple models can be combined within a single template. supports template layout with multiple dimensions on any axis, i.e. double down. Top-down budgeting support in multiple modules Execute spreading in multiple PROPHIX 10 R3 modules, such as Delta Analysis, Ad Hoc Analysis, and Data Entry, and in any dimension on any axis. Figure 3. An example of a budgeting data entry template with two dimensions (Products and Salesperson) displayed in the rows. In data entry, time spreading options include spreading evenly, based on existing data, and based on a member property. Dimension spreading is also available.
Forecasting/re-forecasting offers flexible Process Manager functions to adjust data with greater sophistication. The InfoFlex process offers forecasting abilities, such as project forecasts based on seasonality or mid-year re-forecasting. Rolling forecasts Workaround only provides the ability to create proper dynamic periods ( rolling buckets ). Ability to apply projections and changes to specific data sets Basic Advanced Process Manager functions in are more flexible, allowing users to apply complex manipulations. Define processes that span multiple models making Process Manager a central hub for ultimate control over all data in all models Consolidation Unlike in, there is no Consolidate button in. Data consolidation occurs automatically, but can also use a process similar to consolidations in. Largescale data adjustments Journal entries Automatic data consolidations SmartSwap Process Manager capabilities support any type of data adjustments. The Financial Controller module allows users to create journal entries of various types: Regular, Allocation, Reversal, and Intercompany. Data consolidation occurs automatically, unlike in, where a consolidation process is managed. SmartSwap is an intelligent accounting tool that allows users to make minor adjustments to cube data. I.e., SmartSwap transfers data between specific source and target leaf-level member combinations of a given version.
Figure 4. An example of a regular journal entry. Business reporting and financial analysis With an Excel-like interface report designer, offers more powerful graphs and charts. In addition to reports, external documents such as Microsoft Word or Excel can be included in report binders and automatically distributed to users. also supports URLs, which permits direct access to internal portals such as Microsoft SharePoint and external data sources such as Reporting Services documents.
Ad Hoc Analysis In, Ad Hoc Analysis and reports do not share the same user interface. Reports can be tailored to meet the needs of each user, while Ad Hoc Analysis is reserved for power users who want unlimited analysis capabilities. Reports can also link to Ad Hoc Analysis. Ad hoc visualizations Basic Advanced offers more features such as choosing the type of chart to display, choosing the display configuration, as well as interactive capabilities within the chart such as drill up/down, pivot, and drill-across. Slice, dice, drag and drop data analysis offers more features such as any number of dimensions on rows and columns, expand/ collapse, and forward/ back navigation options. External document support in reports reports can include external Word, Excel, and PDF files. Integrated charting within reports Charts and graphs can be embedded directly in reports. Delta Analysis Basic Advanced Support for dynamic reports Delta Analysis in offers much more analysis capabilities: Allocate data across any time period Compare against any time periodicity Compare any member for each dimension Use a Time Slider to navigate Time Adjust data by an amount or percentage, inflate/deflate by percentage, or extrapolate data using a straight line View data as chart Utilize time spreading, with optional cell locking Edit/view line item details or cell comments In, Delta Analysis is integrated in reports, as well as in data entry. In, templates can contain dynamic members and lists (named sets), which automatically maintain reports because they adapt to account structure changes such as new or deleted accounts. This also applies to dimension member selection, such as Top 10 products for a given month. Automatic report distribution via web or email
Figure 5. A comparison between budget and actual values in Delta Analysis. Figure 6. An example of a straight-line interpolation for data adjustment.
Figure 7. An example of a sales analysis report. Performance management SmartMonitor enables users to define and display key performance indicators (KPIs), which contain attributes such as performance thresholds and display type, and allow users to set requirements for making comments on exceptions. Dashboards and scorecards reports can be highly graphical, interactive, and displayed as dashboards. KPI definition Multiple methods to create. Exception reporting Trend charting, exception management Scorecards Support for dashboards supports publishing dashboards to Microsoft SharePoint.
Figure 8. SmartMonitor: exception reporting. Personnel planning Payroll planning Benefits expenses Headcount reports Allocation of personnel costs to various accounts Standard annual increases Personnel planning has been completely redesigned within through the new application, Detailed Planning Manager (DPM). Overtime calculations Job position expense templates Personnel report designer See also: Detailed Planning Manager to P3 comparison document
Technology A major difference between and is the underlying technology. Being built on Microsoft technology, supports various deployment scenarios from simple to complex, yet offers a low maintenance, web-enabled client application. When connected to the internet, client applications receive automatic updates. OLAP engine for slicing, dicing, and multiple views of data Pilot OLAP Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services 2008 Microsoft SQL Analysis Services is an industry-standard open database that can be accessed by any third-party client application that supports OLAP standards. Simple install on a standalone PC Ability to deploy in a client/server environment Direct connection to G/L, ERP system Systems can be connected via ODBC-compliant drivers. Spreadsheet look, feel, and functionality Open connectivity to BI, reporting, and data analysis products Smart Client technology Smart Client technology encompasses the best of both worlds: web functionality with a rich user interface, and Click-Once deployment. Excel add-in With, Excel 2003 and 2007 can connect to Microsoft OLAP cubes directly without third-party drivers. Ability to seamlessly share cubes In, models are created once and dimensions can be shared amongst other models or applications. Scheduling File/server mode only Web Functionality Limited Web applications can be embedded directly into.
Other features P Audit tracking Implementation time Administrator roles 3 days As little as 5 days 1 3 The Technology Migration Program simplifies the migration of models to PROPHIX 10 R3. With this program, product installation, training, and model development can be completed in as little as 5 days. The average time for completely new implementations is 4-6 weeks includes three types of administrators: Global, Model, and Security, which segregates data and administrative access and allows for the separation of responsibilities. In, the BUDADMIN is solely responsible for role assignment and data security throughout the application. allows different administrators to manage their own department s users and data. is a leading developer of innovative performance management solutions designed to automate financial and operational processes, making companies more profitable and reducing their risks. Thousands of finance leaders in nearly one hundred countries use to empower their organizations and gain valuable insight into business performance. and its partners deliver superior value by combining high-end functionality with low cost-of-ownership and fast implementations. With powerful and adaptable solutions built entirely on the Microsoft SQL Server stack, streamlines budgeting, planning, reporting, consolidation, and more.
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