A Recap of Planful's Perform24 Conference

Planful’s Perform24 conference is over after a jam-packed few days full of keynote speeches, breakout sessions, case studies of active customers, and more. The annual conference brings together finance professionals, industry leaders, and Planful experts from around the US and the world to discuss the latest trends, share insights, and explore new strategies in the world of Planful. 

From in-depth discussions on Planful-specific trends to hands-on workshops, Perform24 offered a wealth of knowledge and learning opportunities. 

Our team at Perform24!

A Recap Of The Event

The two-and-a-half day event was full of informative breakout sessions. We may be biased, but to us, the standout breakout session (which you can rewatch here!) was hosted by CFO Solutions’ Cash Collins and Joe Martins, who shared their expertise on achieving cash flow excellence. They delved into how to better automate reporting, make strategic adjustments, and create assumption-based forecasts using a "Crawl, Walk, Run" approach. This session provided attendees with practical strategies to enhance their financial planning processes and achieve superior results. 

Our team found the other breakout sessions to be another highlight of the conference, featuring cutting-edge use cases to case studies from current customers that showcased real-world applications of Planful's solutions. The sessions on artificial intelligence highlighted the latest advancements in this field and how they're being integrated into Planful's offerings. Discussions on Planful's structured planning provided insights into the company's strategic approach to financial planning and what benefits it can bring to our clients.

We also enjoyed the keynote speech by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic - Knaflic shared her insights on how to be a better storyteller with data, a skill that's increasingly important in today's data-driven world. Her talk provided attendees with valuable strategies to communicate data effectively and make a greater impact in their organizations. 

The event wasn't just about learning; it was also about connecting. Our team hosted a happy hour event at Rumorosa that provided a fantastic opportunity for our customers to network, share experiences, and build relationships in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. 

Planful Trending Topics in 2024

Throughout Perform, a few key trends emerged that we’re sure Planful will continue to emphasize throughout the remainder of 2024. 

Power BI Connector

During the conference, a key theme was the integration of Power BI into Planful. The integration of Power BI into Planful allows users to leverage the robust reporting and data visualization capabilities of Power BI directly within the Planful platform. Utilizing Power BI enables users to create dynamic, interactive reports and dashboards that can provide deeper insights into financial data. It also allows for real-time data updates, ensuring that decision-makers always have access to the most current data. This combination of Planful and Power BI provides a powerful tool for businesses to enhance their financial planning and analysis processes.

CFO Solutions has a working Power BI connector for Planful that is available for implementation immediately. We've got a white paper on Power BI integration to Planful which you can read here, and contact us to learn more about how we can help implement our Power BI connector today.

Increased Use of AI and Machine Learning:  

Planful is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into its solutions. The company is distinguishing itself in the market with its unique AI and ML capabilities, for instance, Planful Predict's AI/ML capabilities enable faster and more accurate comparisons of budgets to actuals than traditional methods. This focus on leveraging AI for enhanced efficiency and accuracy is a clear indication of the direction Planful is taking. 

Beyond automation, Planful is using AI for predictive analytics. Planful Predict is being used to spot anomalies and anticipate customer orders, revolutionizing the way businesses plan and manage their finances. This trend towards AI-powered forecasting is set to redefine the financial planning landscape and how our customers complete their daily work. 

Looking ahead, Planful's commitment to AI is evident in its future product plans, as told by their Product Roadmap speech. The company is set to integrate AI into its upcoming applications, signaling a long-term commitment to harnessing the power of AI. 

Focus on Real-Time Reporting:  

In the ever-evolving landscape of financial planning and analysis, Planful is emphasizing dynamic, real-time reporting. This focus is evident in the company's commitment to empowering users to create adaptable and responsive reports that can adjust to new data inputs immediately. This shift towards dynamic reporting aligns with the broader industry trend of real-time collaboration in work, ensuring that Planful users stay ahead of the curve. 

Planful is also streamlining the reporting process by leveraging system-defined substitution and derived variables. This move towards automation is designed to make the generation of reports faster and more efficient.  

Planning: 

Planful's planning functionality enable users to create detailed, precise plans with efficiency, reflecting a clear focus on streamlining the planning process. The intuitive interface of Planful's platform plays a significant role in this trend. By making the platform user-friendly, Planful is ensuring that organizations can easily navigate and utilize the advanced features available to them. This ease of use is crucial in enabling businesses to leverage the full potential of planning. 

Moreover, the advanced features offered by Planful further enhance the planning process. These features are designed to empower organizations, providing them with the tools they need to make informed decisions and effectively achieve their goals. 

In essence, Planful's emphasis on planning is about more than just providing sophisticated tools. It's about empowering businesses to plan more effectively, make better decisions, and ultimately achieve their objectives more efficiently. 

Our team is staying on top of this topic, and recently released a webinar on how to achieve budgeting excellence with Planful’s structured planning which you can watch here! 

Concluding Perform24

Planful's Perform24 conference showcased the company's commitment to innovation, with a clear focus on dynamic, real-time reporting, artificial intelligence, and structured planning. These trends are shaping the future of financial planning and analysis, and Planful is taking steps to ensure its customers stay ahead of the curve. 

 To stay updated on these trends and gain more insights into the world of financial planning, subscribe to our blog or check out all of our Planful-related content here. Don't miss out on the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving field. Subscribe today for more updates and insights from Planful. 

We hope to see you next year!