Cognos solutions for retail

Instead of disconnected systems and processes, retail organizations need an integrated planning process. In a coordinated planning environment, departments and divisions work toward common objectives and goals and there is a consistent business strategy. The result is more realistic revenue and profitability targets. Moreover, chains can experience higher margins and increased market share, and improve customer satisfaction.

Coordinate planning and measurement across the chain

The IBM Cognos Financial Workbench and Scorecard Performance Blueprint uses IBM Cognos 8 Planning and IBM Cognos 8 BI to provide integrated planning and analysis of results against plans. So retailers meet growth and profitability objectives, while improving customer service and loyalty:

• Integrate the planning process so that merchandising, finance, operations and marketing work towards common objectives and projects.
• Perform ‘what-if’ analysis for sales and costs to determine the impact on financial statements and metrics.
• Model business scenarios to determine the financial impact of decisions.
• Pro-rate revenue and costs to meet investment goals, and change assumptions and drivers to see the affect of these changes on financial metrics.
• Rapidly re-forecast to adjust to changes in costs or revenue.
• Drive collaboration, and streamline the approval and monitoring process.
• Set, measure and monitor key performance metrics based on standard financial statements.
• Ensure ownership and accountability for performance.

Learn more about the IBM Cognos Financial Workbench and Scorecard Performance Blueprint. Download the following:

• Financial Workbench and Scorecard issue paper (491KB)
• Financial Workbench and Scorecard Online demo