Oracle Cloud offering in EPM space is expanding, and EPBCS(Enterprise Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service) offering was updated with a module for Strategic Modeling. Strategic Modeling is based on Hyperion Strategic Finance offering and has similar features in cloud. Few key features of Strategic Modeling are -
Financial modeling and forecasting for Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Manage Sophisticated Debt and capital structures. It has funding routine and Debt Scheduler utility.
Create Targets
Perform Financial Impact Analysis, create what if Scenarios on run time.
Present Focused financial Information
Make Informed Decisions
Business organization has different needs for operational planning and strategic plan & modeling. EPBCS Strategic modeling module provides seamless integration between operational Planning with Strategic Modeling.
There are pre-defined Templates which can be used for data modeling, or new models can be created. Existing models cannot be modified but a copy of templates can be saved and modified for business needs.
For each Template set of accounts groups and Scenarios are defined. Account group varies depending upon nature of business.
Working with Models
You can enter data for historical values, assumption for forecast and value estimations.
Forecasting
Another feature of Strategic module is detailed forecasting. Values can be forecasted for Project accounts for periods by selecting from various methods like inputting values ,adjusting by value/percentage , take output value from a specific account for a specific period , freeform formulas or available forecast methods can be leveraged.
- Predefined Forecast Methods
- As Actual Value
- Growth Rate
- Growth Rate (Year Over year )
- % Of Another Model
- Days
- Turns - For an account how frequently the balance turns, used in inventory forecasting.
- Absolute Multiple of another account
- Default Multiple of another account
Goal Seek
Fix a target value and then do calculations for associated drivers to reach the target value ,
What If Analysis
Performing what if analysis to understand how dynamic changes impact the bottom line. Using what if analysis organizations can simulate and strategize for all plausible business scenarios to minimize the risk and reduce uncertainty.
Audit Trail
To determine how values are calculated there is a feature Audit Trail, which works like a drill down to trace back steps for calculation.
Consolidate & Report
Consolidations can be created to aggregate values from child entities to Parent entity, this helps making informed decisions at top level. There are pre built reports available for analysis or customized reports can be created.