Transforming Financial Landscapes: An Interview with Philip Bichard
Sempre Analytics Principal Consultant, Philip Bichard is not like other Planning Analytics experts. His tenacity and expertise when problem-solving for clients have earned him a global reputation for excellence amongst his peers.
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Transforming Financial Landscapes
At Sempre Analytics Philip is currently working with two giants of one of the world’s largest global media, marketing and communications groups. Credera is a full-service consulting firm that operates at the intersection of strategy, innovation, data and technology. The second, CPM delivers data insight-led sales, marketing and customer experience strategies.
Both are transitioning from IBM’s Cognos platform to IBM’s Planning Analytics, but needed the transition complete within a tight four-month window. What began as a UK-centric endeavour swiftly evolved into a Pan-European effort, with Planning Analytics implementation spanning seven countries.
Navigating Challenges: Overcoming Obstacles for Success
As with any transformative journey, the path from Cognos to Planning Analytics was not without its hurdles. With years of experience from which to draw upon to solve the complex business challenges presented, it was possible to find practical solutions that deliver for the business. Philip brings a wealth of experience to the table, with over 25 years working with IBM Planning Analytics. Before joining Sempre, Philip developed planning analytics models for esteemed investment banking institutions and prestigious fashion houses.
- Business Model and Profitability: Determining the profitability at the consultancies was no easy feat, given the complex day-rate business model and overhead allocation. However, through strategic financial planning and cost management, the teams successfully identified key metrics for profitability and resource utilisation, driving financial transparency and accountability at the firms.
- Human Resource Planning: The intricacies of human resource planning, from hiring to promotion decisions, presented additional challenges for the teams. Yet, with careful consideration of staffing needs and operational impact, they devised comprehensive HR strategies that aligned with the project’s objectives and overarching business goals.
- IBM Planning Analytics Implementation and System Performance: The initial challenges with the implementation, including sluggish performance and system inefficiencies, threatened to derail the project. However, through Philip’s expertise and relentless dedication, significant re-engineering efforts were undertaken to enhance system reliability, speed, and agility, ultimately ensuring a seamless transition to IBM Planning Analytics.
A vastly improved picture
Despite initial apprehension, IBM’s Planning Analytics solution emerged as a game-changer, revolutionising financial operations and prompting a hunger for more transformative features. Its implementation marked a significant shift in business operations at the two consultancies, empowering finance leaders to make informed decisions with clarity and confidence marking a pivotal shift in the way financial operations were conducted. Change is not always welcome and along the journey, initial resistance and roadblocks were surmounted through the delivery of a model that massively improved upon the existing Cognos solution. The updated models, crafted with precision, offered a consolidated view of financial operations, allowing senior finance professionals to review both high-level insights and granular details.
Delivering Financial Excellence
In revisiting the shift from Cognos Analytics to Planning Analytics orchestrated by Sempre Analytics Principal Consultant, Philip Bichard, the outcomes have been significant.
The transformation ushered in new efficiencies, delivering for the client streamlined financial operations, global expansion capabilities, and heightened customer satisfaction. Philip’s wealth of experience and attention to detail has meant some meticulously crafted models that offer scalability and adaptability, laying the groundwork for future growth and expansion for each of these two advertising giants. From reducing time-consuming processes to running practice-level profit and loss analyses, the value derived has been transformative, enabling smart decisions and positioning them for continued success.
