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PAW on Windows

Currently, IBM Planning Analytics Workspace (PAW) can be run on Windows 2016 Server, Windows 2019 Server, and Linux. PAW is designed to run in a containerized software management engine, which provides many benefits, such as making it easier to deploy consistently across a variety of operating systems. Support for PAW in Windows Servers was made possible when Microsoft ported the open source, free, Docker containerization platform from Linux over to Windows. Microsoft has considered Docker on Windows a “feature”, and access to it has been covered by a client’s regular Microsoft server licensing agreement. Essentially Docker on Windows has been free for customers because they are already paying for the server OS in a bundle from Microsoft. Microsoft has included support for Docker too, which was a bargain of sorts for customers. This licensing and support structure is about to fundamentally change.

Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is a powerful process that integrates the sales and operations teams of a company to improve planning and collaboration, optimize supply chain management, and drive better business outcomes. In this blog post, we'll discuss the basics of S&OP and its benefits.

Data is everywhere

We are in the age of data, it is all around us and drives our daily decision making. From the morning commute to the purchase of an afternoon coffee, we rely on data to drive how we participate in the world. As the world evolves data volumes grow with it and it can be a lot to manage. For our customers, particularly in the Office of Finance, keeping up with changing data is challenging. Business users need confidence in their actuals, flexibility to adapt to data changes, and intuitive software that makes data management and analysis a breeze. Whether it is workforce planning, basic consolidation, or predictive revenue forecasting, it all starts with data.

Turn Sustainability Hype into Real Benefit

If you work in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) you regularly use financial metrics or KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to measure and manage performance. As FP&A extends into xP&A (Extended Planning & Analysis), non-financial operational metrics begin to pop up. This QueBIT blog post provided metrics for Lead Time and Customer Fulfilment (OTIF = “on-time, in-full”, and CFR = “case fill rate”) as just two of many possible examples of these.

A Little ESG Background

According to Gartner, an analyst firm, environmental sustainability will become a top-five strategic priority for at least 25% of CEOs by 2025, which is a lot higher than the less-than-five percent it has been over the past ten years.

If you work in the wholesale trade/distribution industry, life is probably very interesting right now. Even at the best of times, wholesale distributors face immense complexity, juggling large numbers of product SKUs, and managing massive volumes of transactions with both suppliers and customers. Layered onto all this are the intricacies of pricing and rebate structures, and competitive pressures driving value chain disruption and digital transformation.

There are myriad business reasons to cultivate an inclusive culture, and here are a few examples:

Having missed Adaptive Live the past couple of years due to the global pandemic, it was very exciting to be back in person at Workday Rising 2022 last week in Orlando! Between in-person and virtual, there were roughly 19,000 attendees! If you couldn’t attend, I’d suggest blocking off your calendar for next year’s event to be hosted in San Francisco the week of September 25, 2023.  

Few are more affected by supply chain disruptions than the distributors who make up the Wholesale Trade industry. As intermediaries between manufacturers and final customers, distributors add value in myriad ways including repackaging, inventory management, and logistics which means their businesses are especially impacted by factors like uncertain delivery times, struggling suppliers, and inflation.