IBM Planning Analytics With Watson
by IBM
by IBM
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
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by IBM
by IBM
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
The implementation process for IBM Planning Analytics with Watson typically involves several key steps, each contributing to the overall setup and deployment of the software. The duration of the implementation can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the business requirements and the specific configurations needed.
1. Assessment and Planning
The initial phase involves assessing the business needs and defining the scope of the project. This includes identifying the financial and operational goals that the IBM Planning Analytics solution needs to address. Businesses need to determine the data sources, the types of planning and forecasting models they require, and the level of integration with existing systems.
2. Software and Hardware Selection
Based on the requirements gathered in the assessment phase, the appropriate software and hardware configurations are selected. This could involve choosing between cloud-based or on-premises installations. IBM Planning Analytics with Watson offers flexibility in deployment options, including on-cloud, on-premises, on IBM Cloud Pak® for Data, or as a hybrid option.
3. System Configuration and Customization
During this phase, the system is configured to meet the specific business processes of the organization. This includes setting up the planning environments, dimensions, hierarchies, and cubes. Customization might involve tailoring the user interfaces, integrating with other IBM software like Cognos Analytics, and setting up data import/export routines.
4. Data Integration and Migration
Data integration is crucial for the success of any planning tool. IBM Planning Analytics facilitates the integration of data from various sources such as ERP systems, spreadsheets, and other databases. This phase involves mapping and migrating data into the IBM Planning Analytics environment, ensuring data accuracy and consistency.
5. User Training and Documentation
To ensure that all users are proficient in using the new system, comprehensive training sessions are conducted. This includes training on how to use the Planning Analytics Workspace and Planning Analytics for Excel. Documentation and support materials are provided to help users navigate the new system effectively.
6. Testing and Validation
Before going live, the system undergoes rigorous testing to validate the configurations, data integrity, and overall performance. This testing phase helps identify any issues that need to be addressed, ensuring that the system functions as expected under different scenarios.
7. Deployment and Go-Live
Once testing is completed and the system is validated, the IBM Planning Analytics environment is deployed for production use. This phase marks the official start of using the system for business operations. Ongoing support is typically provided to address any post-deployment issues.
8. Maintenance and Upgrades
Regular maintenance is performed to ensure the system operates efficiently. This includes applying updates and patches, monitoring system performance, and making incremental improvements as business needs evolve.
Duration of Implementation
The duration of the implementation process can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the scale and complexity of the project. Smaller implementations might take less time, while enterprise-level deployments with extensive customizations and integrations could take longer.
1. Customizable User Interface: The software features a customizable user interface that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different departments within an organization, such as finance, operations, and human resources.
2. Personalization of Workflows and Reports: IBM Planning Analytics allows for the personalization of workflows and the creation of custom reports. This customization extends to modeling unique business scenarios, which enhances the user experience and meets specific organizational requirements.
3. Integration Capabilities: The tool can seamlessly integrate into extended planning and analysis processes, supporting a unified strategy execution by aligning financial plans with operational tactics.
4. Planning Analytics for Excel (PAX): This feature integrates the flexibility of Excel with robust data storage in a multidimensional database, enhancing productivity and allowing for complex model building within a familiar interface.
5. Custom Rollups in PAW Set Editor: Users can define custom rollups in the Planning Analytics Workspace cube viewer, which allows for the creation of consolidations based on the members of a public or private subset. This feature supports unnamed sets and MDX expressions, enhancing flexibility in data handling and presentation.
6. Customization of the Planning Analytics Workspace Interface: The interface of the Planning Analytics Workspace can be customized, including the ability to upload fonts and color themes of choice, which can be applied in visualizations.
7. Development of Custom Integrations: IBM Planning Analytics offers APIs and SDKs that enable the development of custom integrations with other applications, allowing organizations to tailor the tool to their specific technological ecosystems.
8. Flexible Deployment Options: The software can be deployed on-cloud, on-premises, or as a hybrid option, providing flexibility depending on the organization's infrastructure and security requirements.
These customization features demonstrate IBM Planning Analytics with Watson's ability to adapt to a wide range of business needs, making it a versatile tool for organizations seeking to enhance their planning and analytical capabilities.
1. Setup Fees: The specific setup fees are not explicitly detailed in the search results. However, the complexity of the deployment (cloud, on-premises, or hybrid) and the need for custom configurations or integrations suggest that setup costs could vary.
2. Maintenance: Maintenance costs are also not explicitly mentioned, but given the nature of enterprise software solutions like IBM Planning Analytics, ongoing maintenance fees are typically expected. These could cover updates, system optimizations, and technical support to ensure the software runs smoothly.
3. Support Charges: While direct references to support charges are not provided, the search results mention access to IBM Cloud Support Center for troubleshooting and support. This implies that support services are available, potentially at an additional cost, depending on the level of service required.
IBM Planning Analytics with Watson offers a comprehensive range of training and support options to assist new users in effectively utilizing the software.
1. Training Videos and Webinars: IBM provides various training videos and webinars that guide new users through different aspects of the software. For instance, there are videos on how to get started with the IBM Planning Analytics Welcome Kit, which includes setting up user accounts and system addresses. Additionally, webinars like the "Ask Me Anything" sessions offer users the opportunity to learn about new features and ask questions directly to experts.
2. Hands-On Training Sessions: IBM collaborates with consulting firms to offer hands-on training sessions. For example, Capitalize Consulting provides training where users can learn directly from expert consultants. Similarly, Octane Solutions offers online training sessions for IBM Planning Analytics, making it accessible from home or office.
3. User Community and Discussion Forums: IBM has established a vibrant community where over 10,000 users across the IBM Business Analytics community can connect, learn, and share experiences. This platform also allows users to ask questions and receive answers from peers or experts.
4. Documentation and Learning Resources: IBM provides extensive documentation and learning resources, including detailed guides on building applications within the Planning Analytics Workspace. These resources cover topics such as creating dimensions, hierarchies, cubes, loading data, and applying business rules.
5. Support Services: IBM offers support through its IBM Cloud Support Center, where users can get help with troubleshooting and other technical issues.
These training and support resources are designed to ensure that new users of IBM Planning Analytics with Watson can quickly become proficient in using the software and leverage its full capabilities to meet their business needs.
IBM Planning Analytics with Watson employs a robust set of security measures to protect data, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of user information.
1. Encryption: Data in transit and at rest is secured using AES 256-bit encryption. This high level of encryption ensures that data is protected from unauthorized access.
2. Access Control: IBM uses advanced access control methodologies to restrict access to authorized users only. This includes the use of encryption and access control mechanisms to code or move data, thereby safeguarding sensitive information.
3. Network and Storage Encryption: All services on the IBM Cloud, including IBM Planning Analytics with Watson, include network and storage encryption. This is part of the mandatory security policy for Watson services on IBM Cloud.
4. Firewalls and Intrusion Detection: The system is protected by circuit and application-level firewalls, and security information and event management systems. Intrusion detection systems are also in place to monitor and respond to potential security threats.
5. Regular Security Assessments: IBM conducts regular vulnerability scanning, third-party penetration testing, and application source code scanning. These assessments help identify and mitigate potential security vulnerabilities.
6. Secure Development Practices: IBM adheres to secure software development best practices, including independent reviews of processes. This approach ensures that the software is built securely from the ground up.
7. Data Privacy and Compliance: IBM's data privacy and security strategy is built upon industry Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) principles. The platform is compliant with ISO standards and other regulatory requirements, ensuring that data handling practices meet stringent security and privacy standards.
8. End-to-End Security: The IBM platform ensures end-to-end security for data in transit using TLS Version 1.2, with optional mutual authentication certificates and/or username and password for added security.
These comprehensive security measures demonstrate IBM's commitment to protecting client data and providing a secure platform for business analytics and planning.
IBM Planning Analytics with Watson releases updates on a regular cadence. According to the information provided, the software is upgraded regularly to ensure that users are always working with the latest releases and the most up-to-date features. Specifically, the development cycles of IBM Planning Analytics include new functionality delivered on a rolling basis, with updates occurring approximately every 10 weeks. This frequent update schedule allows IBM to continuously improve the software and respond to user feedback and technological advancements.
The management of these updates is handled by IBM, with the Planning Analytics product management team hosting sessions to inform users about the latest updates and features. Additionally, the IBM community platform provides a space for users to connect, learn, and share information about the updates, including what's new or updated in Planning Analytics components such as TM1® Server, TM1 Web, TM1 Performance Modeler, and more. Users can also participate in webinars and view release notes to stay informed about the latest product enhancements.
IBM Planning Analytics with Watson adheres to a clear policy regarding data ownership and portability, emphasizing that the data and insights generated by the client remain the property of the client. This policy is part of IBM's broader commitment to data privacy and security, which is built upon industry Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) principles.
1. Data Ownership: IBM explicitly states that the data inputted by clients into the Planning Analytics with Watson remains the property of the client. This is a fundamental aspect of IBM's data privacy framework, ensuring that clients retain control over their data.
2. Data Portability: IBM supports data portability, allowing clients to export their data if they choose to discontinue using the service or wish to transfer data to another system. This capability is crucial for clients who need flexibility in managing their data across different platforms or services.
3. Client Control Over Data: Clients have the option to decide whether IBM can use their data to train Watson's base models. For Watson Premium clients, the default setting is that no client training data is used for the development or enhancement of the general models or other clients' models. This gives clients significant control over how their data is used and ensures that their data is not used without their explicit consent.
These policies are designed to protect client interests and maintain trust, particularly in environments where data security and privacy are paramount. IBM's approach to data ownership and portability is aligned with its overall strategy to ensure that clients' data is handled responsibly and ethically.
The terms for scaling up or down as organizational needs change with IBM Planning Analytics with Watson are designed to accommodate flexibility and responsiveness to varying business requirements
1. Flexible and Responsive Data Modeling: IBM Planning Analytics allows for flexible and responsive data modeling over large volumes of data, which supports scaling up or down based on the organization's needs.
2. Independence of Resources: For each customer, the Planning Analytics data tier uses fixed storage and is sized based on requirements. A range of techniques such as Linux container technology, dedicated instances, and workload isolation are employed to avoid effects by other users of the service. This architecture ensures that scaling does not compromise performance or security.
3. Customizable Deployment Options: The software can be deployed in public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid environments, providing organizations with the flexibility to scale their operations in a manner that best suits their business model and security requirements.
These terms indicate that IBM Planning Analytics with Watson is built to scale efficiently and effectively, ensuring that organizations can adjust their usage of the software as their business grows or changes over time.
The terms and conditions for contract renewal and cancellation for IBM Planning Analytics with Watson are outlined in several sources, providing a comprehensive view of the processes involved:
1. Renewal Process: IBM Software Subscription and Support (S&S) must be renewed at the end of each coverage term to maintain active upgrade and support benefits. Renewals occur on the same date each year for Passport Advantage Sites, or based on transaction dates for Passport Advantage Express. Automatic renewal is available, which ensures continuous coverage unless the client provides written notice of termination before the expiration of the term.
2. Notification and Timeline: The renewal process includes a notification system where the Passport Advantage Primary Contact receives a contact verification request 120 days before each renewal is due. Renewal quotes are relayed around 105 days before the renewal date, with email reminders sent at 60, 45, 30, and 15 days prior to the renewal date.
3. Cancellation and Non-Renewal: If a client chooses not to renew their Software Subscription and Support, they must notify IBM of their intent not to renew before the renewal date. This can be done either online or in writing. If a client later wishes to reinstate their Software Subscription and Support, they may do so, but the cost of reinstatement is significantly higher than the annual renewal rate.
4. End-of-Contract Options: At the end of a contract, clients have multiple options including auto-renew, auto-termination, and 12-month renewals. These options are agreed upon based on the client's needs, providing flexibility in how they choose to proceed with the service.
5. Termination Fees: If a client desires to terminate a contract without upgrading to a new contract, they must pay a termination fee. This fee is part of the contractual agreement to ensure that all parties adhere to the agreed terms.
These terms ensure that clients have clear options and procedures for managing their subscriptions and support for IBM Planning Analytics with Watson, with provisions for both continuity and termination based on their evolving business needs.
IBM Planning Analytics with Watson software meets several compliance standards, ensuring it adheres to rigorous data protection and security protocols.
1. ISO Compliance: IBM Planning Analytics with Watson is compliant with ISO standards, which are internationally recognized standards that ensure services meet the needs of clients through an effective quality management system.
2. EU-US Data Privacy Framework: IBM complies with the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which sets forth the principles of data protection that must be followed by companies transferring data from the European Union to the United States. This compliance ensures that personal information is handled in a way that meets EU data protection requirements.
3. UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Swiss-US Data Privacy Framework: IBM also adheres to the UK extension of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and the Swiss-US Data Privacy Framework, ensuring that data transferred from these regions is protected according to the specified standards.
These compliance measures demonstrate IBM's commitment to maintaining high standards of data protection and security, which are crucial for clients relying on IBM Planning Analytics with Watson for their business operations.