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Planning & Forecasting

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: The Hidden Structure of 1/7: A Mathematical Perspective

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Today is July 1.  It’s the first day of the second half of the year and it’s also international chicken wing day. But for the purposes of today’s blog, none of that matters. What matters is that the reciprocal of 7/1 is 1/7, which leads to some fun with numbers!

The result of 1 divided by 7 is .142857. If you multiply that result by the integers 1 through 6 then you get the same resulting digits in the same sequence but in a different order …

142857 x 1 = 142857 

142857 x 2 = 285714 

142857 x 3 = 428571 

142857 x 4 = 571428 

142857 x 5 = 714285 

142857 x 6 = 857142 

What makes this even more special is that 142857 is also a Kaprekar number. This means that if you square the number and then separate that into 2 new numbers, you can add the 2 new numbers to come back to the initial number …

142857 x 142857 = 20408122449

Then take 20408 + 122449 and you will get the result of 142857!

So what’s the purpose of today’s blog?  It’s simply a reminder that MATH IS AWESOME!

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Introducing the FP&A Done Right – The Podcast

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We’ve launched a podcast! FP&A Done Right – The Podcast.

In the first episode of FP&A Done Right – The Podcast, we set the stage for a transformative journey into the evolving world of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A). This episode serves as a primer, introducing you to the podcast’s mission: to demystify FP&A and provide actionable insights for FP&A leaders.

The Importance of Modern FP&A

FP&A leaders play a critical role in strategic decision-making. In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and economic uncertainties, traditional financial planning methods are no longer sufficient. Modern FP&A requires agility, real-time data analysis, and a forward-thinking mindset.

Key Themes and Takeaways

  1. 1. Embracing Technology: The episode underscores the necessity of integrating advanced tools and technologies into FP&A processes. By leveraging platforms like Workday Adaptive Planning, finance teams can enhance forecasting accuracy and operational efficiency.
  2. 2. Strategic Collaboration: Effective FP&A isn’t confined to the finance department. We discuss the importance of cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that insights and strategies align across all business units.
  3. 3. Continuous Learning: The Office of Finance is evolving rapidly. FP&A leaders should focus on ongoing education and adaptability. Staying updated with industry trends and best practices is crucial for sustained success.

Episode one lays a solid foundation for future discussions, promising deep dives into topics such as scenario planning, budgeting for SaaS businesses and successful financial performance management implementations. Listeners can anticipate a blend of trends, success stories and practical tips. FP&A Done Right – The Podcast is a valuable resource for finance professionals seeking to navigate the complexities of modern financial planning. By combining strategic insights with real-world applications, the podcast aims to empower its audience to drive meaningful change within their organizations.

More from our FP&A Done Right Series:

From Static to Dynamic: How Businesses Can Embrace Agile Planning, Part 2

From Static to Dynamic: How Businesses Can Embrace Agile Planning, Part 1

The Hidden Value of Strategic Planning: Gaining Operational Efficiencies

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IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: PAW Settings – File Upload Action Button

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Have you ever written a TurboIntegrator (TI) script that used a manually uploaded file as a source? If so, this requires a two-step process: upload the file and then run the script. As long as you remember to follow both steps, the process will work great. But what if you forget to upload a new file?  (insert your own “misremember” joke here!).

IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) action buttons can resolve this situation for you by using the Allow File Upload setting within the Properties, Configure area.  

When this setting is enabled, a File Upload window will appear before the process is run.


By having the button prompt you for a file, it will be easier to ensure that the script is using the data that you need for the process.

Revelwood is an IBM Gold Business Partner with 25+ years of experience designing, developing, implementing and maintaining IBM Planning Analytics environments. Revelwood has helped clients in all sizes across all industries optimize and grow their use of Planning Analytics. Revelwood’s Planning Analytics team consists of experienced PA experts, including a multi-year IBM Champion.

Stay up to date with PA – sign up for our weekly Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and join our IBM Planning Analytics All-Stars group on LinkedIn.

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Workspace Settings: DIM Editor Page Size

IBM Planning Analytics Workspace Settings – Dim Editor Index

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Application Websheet Folders

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Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks: Greatest & Least Formulas

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Many of you have probably used the MIN and MAX formulas in Excel when working with financial models, reporting, and data analysis, comparing and selecting minimum or maximum values in a range is a common requirement. In Workday Adaptive Planning, we achieve these results by using the “least” and “greatest” functions. While these functions serve similar purposes, there are key differences in their syntax, use cases, and behavior. Let’s explore these differences to help you transition smoothly between Excel and Workday Adaptive Planning.

Excel’s MIN and MAX Functions

Syntax and Usage

Excel provides the following functions for determining the smallest and largest values within a range or set of numbers:

  • =MIN(number1, number2, …, range) – Returns the smallest number from the given arguments.
  • =MAX(number1, number2, …, range) – Returns the largest number from the given arguments.

Examples

  • =MIN(5,10,15) – Returns the number 5.
  • =MAX(A1:A10) – Returns the highest value within this range of cells.

Syntax and Usage

  • Accepts both individual numbers and ranges.
  • Ignores blank cells and text values within a range.
  • Can handle a large dataset efficiently.

Workday Adaptive Planning’s “Least” and “Greatest” Functions

Syntax and Usage

In Workday Adaptive Planning, similar functionality is achieved using:

  • least(value1, value2, …) – Returns the smallest value from the provided list.
  • greatest(value1, value2, …) – Returns the largest value from the provided list.

Examples

  • least(5, 10, 15)  – Returns 5
  • greatest([Account1], [Account2], [Account3]) – Returns the highest value among the specified accounts
  • greatest(Account1 – Account2, 0) – Returns 0 if the formula results in a negative number

Key Features

  • Works with both hardcoded values, account references and formulas.
  • Requires specifying individual values explicitly; does not accept a single range like Excel.
  • Useful for comparing multiple account balances or forecast values within a model.

Understanding these differences ensures a smoother transition between Excel-based financial modeling and Workday Adaptive Planning. While the fundamental concept remains the same, adjusting for syntax and range-handling nuances will help you leverage these functions effectively in both tools.

Revelwood is an award-winning, Platinum Solution Provider for Workday Adaptive Planning. We build solutions for the Office of Finance that minimize your risk by seamlessly incorporating business analytics into your everyday thinking. By combining the software with our best practices and out-of-the-box applications, we help businesses achieve their full potential with Workday Adaptive Planning.

Read more Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks:

Cube Sheet Restrictions in Workday Adaptive Planning

Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks: The User Access Calculator

Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks: Machine Learning Predictive Forecaster: Lever Sheets

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Selecting the Right Implementation Partner for Success with Workday Adaptive Planning

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Implementing a Workday Adaptive Planning environment can be the start of a transformative journey for the Office of Finance. Choosing the right implementation partner is as critical as selecting the software itself. 

Meet Your Team: Why Face-to-Face Interaction Matters

One of the most effective ways to evaluate a potential implementation partner is to meet their consultants face-to-face (or via Zoom!), ideally during the selection process. These consultants will be responsible for guiding your organization through a significant transformation, so it’s crucial to understand their experience, approach, and how they align with your company’s culture.

Request meetings with the actual delivery team members rather than just sales representatives. This will give you a clearer view of who will be working with you day-to-day throughout the design and implementation phases. You should try to get an understanding of the experience levels of the people you will be working with. Ask about the individual strengths of the team members. This can provide invaluable insights into the partner’s ability to understand your goals and translate them into a successful Workday Adaptive Planning implementation.

Ask the Tough Questions: Beyond the Basics

Choosing the right partner goes beyond just checking credentials and past projects. Ask questions that will give you a deeper understanding of their capabilities. Assessing their Workday Adaptive Planning knowledge is a must, but it’s equally important to explore their problem-solving skills and project management approach. How do they handle unexpected challenges? How proactive are they in mitigating risks and adapting to changes? Do they offer ongoing support after the initial implementation?

The answers to these questions will give you a sense of their readiness to handle the complexities and uniqueness of your project. A good partner should be able to anticipate and address issues that might arise, and they should have a structured yet flexible approach to achieving your objectives.

Trust Your Instincts with the Right Partner

Another critical factor is how well the partner’s team communicates with you during the selection phase. Are they responsive, transparent and professional? These qualities are often indicators of how they’ll operate once the project begins. Choose a team that communicates clearly, listens actively and demonstrates a genuine commitment to your project’s success. How invested are they in your success?

If there’s a natural rapport and an ease of communication, it’s a good sign that you’ll be able to work together effectively. On the other hand, if interactions feel strained or overly formal, it might signal challenges down the road.

Maximizing Your Opportunities for Success

Implementing a Financial Planning and Reporting system requires a substantial commitment of time and resources. By actively leading the selection process for your implementation partner, you establish a solid foundation for a productive collaboration and a smoother, more efficient project rollout. When you invest the time to carefully select the right partner, you’ll be well-prepared to manage the complexities of design and implementation and succeed with confidence.

Revelwood is an award-winning, Platinum Solution Partner for Workday Adaptive Planning. We’ve worked with Workday customers of all sizes, in every industry. Learn more about our Workday Adaptive Planning practice.

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Cube Sheet Restrictions in Workday Adaptive Planning

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Cube sheets in Workday Adaptive Planning often include a wide range of filters such as dimensions, accounts, attributes, and others. However, not all options under each filter are relevant for every model. By taking advantage of the cube sheet restrictions feature in Workday Adaptive Planning, you can hide or limit unnecessary filters, simplifying the sheet and improving usability.

The restrictions function offers powerful customization options. Users can configure a sheet to display different accounts for the actuals version versus the forecast version, specify accounts tied to specific dimension values, filter accounts to appear at different levels, and more. This flexibility helps tailor cube sheets to your needs while keeping them efficient.

It’s important to note that cube sheets have a 15,000-row limit. Using restrictions to limit intersections on the sheet prevents unnecessary rows, ensuring optimal performance and maintaining clarity in your data.

How To Add Cube Sheet Restrictions

1. Go to Modeling -> Level assigned or user assigned sheets -> Select the cube sheet you want to add restrictions to.

2. Click Restrictions

3. Click Add New

There are two elements of a cube sheet restriction. The first is selecting what dimension determines what you want to restrict and the second is what dimension will be restricted.

In this example, if you create a Level/Site-Dimension restriction, you can specify which sites to be able to select for any given set of levels.

Here, I am checking off just Sites 1, 2, and 3 to be shown for the Operations level.

For the Marketing level, I want sites 4, 5, and 6 to show, but not 1-3 or 7-9. Click the save icon in the top left corner.

Now, when I filter this cube sheet by the Operations level, only sites 1-3 are available to select from the dropdown.  When I go to the Marketing level, only sites 4-6 are available.

Revelwood is an award-winning, Platinum Solution Provider for Workday Adaptive Planning. We build solutions for the Office of Finance that minimize your risk by seamlessly incorporating business analytics into your everyday thinking. By combining the software with our best practices and out-of-the-box applications, we help businesses achieve their full potential with Workday Adaptive Planning.

Read more Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks:

Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks: The User Access Calculator

Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks: Machine Learning Predictive Forecaster: Lever Sheets

Workday Adaptive Planning User Interface Changes 2025 R1 

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IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Application Websheet Folders

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As you migrate from IBM Planning Analytics’ TM1Web to Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW), you may be asking yourself if you can still create folders to organize your websheets. The answer is yes!

Name change

Planning Analytics no longer refers to the folders as “Applications” since PAW applications have a different meaning. PAW now refers to the folders as “Websheets.”

Where to create and configure the folders

The folder creation and configuration is done with the Planning Analytics for Excel (PAfE) environment by using the same concepts as websheet creation:

  1. Go to the “Open” icon (next to the Publish icon)
  1. Create the new folder
  1. Once created, right-click on the folder to toggle between private and public (note: it will initially be set to private)

This approach will allow you to continue to group your websheets into an easy-to-use arrangement for your end users.

Revelwood is an IBM Gold Business Partner with 25+ years of experience designing, developing, implementing and maintaining IBM Planning Analytics environments. Revelwood has helped clients in all sizes across all industries optimize and grow their use of Planning Analytics. Revelwood’s Planning Analytics team consists of experienced PA experts, including a multi-year IBM Champion.

Stay up to date with PA – sign up for our weekly Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and join our IBM Planning Analytics All-Stars group on LinkedIn.

Read more IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks:

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Excel’s AGGREGATE Function

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Update on Planning Analytics’ Deprecation

IBM Planning Analytics Tips & Tricks: Unpivot

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Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks: Machine Learning Predictive Forecaster: Lever Sheets

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The machine learning predictive forecaster in Workday Adaptive Planning allows users to leverage machine learning to make predictions for financial planning and analysis. After setting up the initial requirements for a predictive forecaster, including name, sheet, forecast version, start period, end period, accounts, reference data and algorithm users may choose to add a lever modeled sheet to enhance the prediction.

Step 1: Understanding Lever Sheets

First determine the forecast sheet to use. Next review the levels, accounts, and dimensions of the forecast sheet that will be incorporated into the lever sheet. Identify the smallest timer period represented by the forecast sheet. 

Lever sheets are designed to hold regressor data that influences the machine learning forecasts. These sheets can be used only with specific algorithms and the values that are inputted into a lever sheet directly impact the algorithm;s calculation, which is reflected in the forecast sheet. 

Step 2: Create Lever Sheet

Navigate to Modeling > Level Assigned Sheets > New Sheet > Modeled Sheet (blank modeled sheet) 

Under Columns and Levels add in a field called Account as a text field. You can also add in dimensions if those dimensions exist on the forecast sheet. Next, drag the timespan into the last row. Lastly, choose settings under sheet properties and select the time stratum with the smallest time period. 

Step 3: Entering Data

Lever sheets contain data that influence the machine learning forecasts for a specific sheet. The values entered in the lever sheet modify the algorithm’s calculations by levels, account, time period, and dimensions (if applicable). Choose the sheet used for levers and make sure the same version as the forecasted data is selected. Next choose add row and enter account, level, and dimension. Repeat to add all necessary rows. Enter data in the timer periods between start and end. Save the sheet. 

When creating the predictive forecaster make sure to select the lever sheet that aligns with your forecast. Only the algorithms AutoFit, Orbit DLT, and Prophet allow lever sheets to be added. This additional sheet can help users create an even more fine tuned prediction for data on standard or cube sheets.

Revelwood is an award-winning, Platinum Solution Provider for Workday Adaptive Planning. We build solutions for the Office of Finance that minimize your risk by seamlessly incorporating business analytics into your everyday thinking. By combining the software with our best practices and out-of-the-box applications, we help businesses achieve their full potential with Workday Adaptive Planning.

Read more Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks:

Workday Adaptive Planning User Interface Changes 2025 R1 

Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks: Write-back for OfficeConnect

Workday Adaptive Planning Tips & Tricks: New Feature – Long-Running Processes in Workday’s 2024R2 Release

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The Hidden Value of Strategic Planning: Gaining Operational Efficiencies

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Effective financial planning and analysis (FP&A) is a cornerstone for any business looking to navigate uncertainties and capitalise on new opportunities. However, inefficiencies stemming from outdated processes and disconnected systems often prevent organisations from fully realising the potential of their planning efforts.

The Challenge of Operational Inefficiencies

Many organisations rely heavily on manual processes and outdated spreadsheet models, leading to several issues:

  • Time-Intensive Data Management: Manual effort to import and cleanse data from diverse source systems diverts focus from higher value activities and usually limits the timeliness and granularity of information available for planning.
  • Rigid and Error-Prone Models: Spreadsheet planning models require large amounts of ongoing manual updates with a high risk of broken links and formulas, hindering adaptability to business changes.
  • Collaboration Bottlenecks: Stakeholders from different parts of the organization struggle with aligning inputs and assumptions, causing delays and errors.
  • Ineffective Reporting: The burden on finance teams to generate and distribute reports on behalf of the wider business, limits the agility of performance analysis.

These inefficiencies not only drain resources but also reduce the strategic value of planning processes.

Embracing Modern Solutions

Cloud-based planning systems, like Workday Adaptive Planning, address these pain points by automating and streamlining processes. Here’s how:

  • Automated Data Integration: Integration tools pull data automatically from various systems, ensuring consistent and timely inputs without manual intervention. This improves data accuracy, granularity, and the ability to refresh models more frequently.
  • Flexible and Scalable Models: Modern systems allow automatic updates when new dimensions (e.g., new customers, new products, new business units) are added. This reduces the risk of errors and enables scenario planning in real-time.
  • Real-Time Collaboration: Stakeholders can work concurrently on shared models with controlled access, with key assumptions shared across the business. Automated workflows and audit trails simplify tracking and approval, fostering alignment across departments.
  • Dynamic Reporting and Analysis: Self-service tools empower users to create and explore reports without relying on finance teams. Features like drill-downs and dynamic dashboards enhance insight and transparency.

Benefits of Modernising FP&A

By addressing inefficiencies, businesses can unlock significant value:

  • Increased Planning Agility: More frequent and dynamic planning cycles enable better responses to market changes.
  • Improved Decision-Making: Enhanced collaboration and timely insights ensure decisions are based on the latest, most accurate data.
  • Greater Strategic Focus: Automating low-value tasks allows FP&A teams to focus on insights and driving actions.

A New Paradigm for Planning

As Dwight D. Eisenhower wisely said, “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” Rather than simply generating a new budget or forecast, the planning process fosters collaboration, encourages forward-thinking, and aligns stakeholders with strategic goals. Modernising this process through advanced planning solutions empowers organisations to thrive in a fast-changing business environment.

Learn more about gaining operational efficiency by embracing strategic planning. Download the white paper, Removing Operational Inefficiencies to Unlock the Value of Planning.

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