Budgeting Solutions, has won an order to upgrade and install business intelligence and analytics software at the Midlands Co-operative Society. One of the largest independent retailers in the UK with a turnover of £675 million, the Midlands Co-operative Society is upgrading its use of IBM Cognos Planning to further improve business forecasting, planning and decision-making throughout its 180 stores.
Investment in the latest versions of IBM Cognos Planning and Cognos Contributor, a web user interface for collecting user input that allows a high number of users to input into projection and budget models, is expected to improve rolling forecasts and return working data that will help make the Society even more successful.
Founded in 2005, Budgeting Solutions specialises in Planning, Budgeting, Forecasting, Consolidation, Reporting and Analysis and is an accredited IBM Premier Busines Partner. The company is noted for its strong financial acumen, with five directors who are qualified accountants.
The Budgeting Solutions team is working with the Midland Co-op finance department on a staged implementation programme.
According to Mark Wheeler, Midland Co-op project and development manager, “The automation of the forecasting process will provide access to information with unprecedented levels of detail and accuracy and help increase collaboration between different parts of the business. IBM Cognos Planning is a long-term investment that will help put Midlands Co-op in a strong position to continue its growth strategy and further enhance the Society’s reputation as a modern and successful business.”
