Infor EPM vs Phocas

Infor Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) is a strategic solution for Infor ERP users to enhance FP&A capabilities. Infor EPM integrates with the Infor ERP ecosystem. The cloud-based platform provides data consolidation via in-memory OLAP technology but implementation is costly and complex. This process often requires consultants and technical expertise which affects user self-sufficiency. 

While core FP&A functions are strong, advanced analytics and financial reporting flexibility lag behind leading business intelligence tools. Performance and support reviews are mixed. Costs can be high, with hidden expenses in training and ongoing consultancy fees. Despite available training, usability remains an issue. Infor EPM suits organizations needing deep Infor integration but requires careful review of total cost of ownership and ease of use. 

Phocas offers an all-in-one solution, especially valuable for businesses on Infor ERPs, by extending its business intelligence capabilities to streamline strategic planning. A core strength is the user-friendly interface, enabling finance and operational teams to easily interact with financial data that is crucial for collaborative budgeting, forecasting and reporting. Phocas consolidates financial data from Infor and other systems to support effective planning.

Phocas handles complex budgeting across entities while remaining simple and intuitive for all users. With Phocas, Infor users can drill down into data, monitor business performance, do scenario planning and automate custom financial statements.  The long-standing Phocas-Infor partnership ensures seamless integration and efficient data management.  

Infor EPM is offered with the ERP so customers assume is a safe choice for organizations already invested in Infor technologies. However, these advantages come with significant challenges and ongoing fees.

Implementation is often complex and time-consuming, frequently requiring costly external consultants. The setup process typically demands substantial technical expertise, and both upfront and ongoing costs can be high.  

Once it is in place, EPM can be configurable, capable of accommodating complex enterprise requirements and scalable to support large, global operations. 

Phocas FP&A stands out for its fast, straightforward implementation process, making it an appealing choice for organizations seeking quick time-to-value.

With pre-built connectors for Infor ERP systems it simplifies data integration. This ease of deployment, combined with typically lower total cost of ownership, contributes to faster adoption and reduced implementation risk.

The Phocas implementation team works with you to map complex or non-standard financial structures to suit your business and reporting requirements.

Infor EPM offers functionality across consolidation and financial planning and reporting, but its ease of use is often cited as a mixed experience.

The platform is effective in managing complex financial processes for finance professionals and power users with technical expertise. For business users without a technical background, the software has a steep learning curve.

The cloud-based user interface is difficult and creating ad hoc reports involves advanced skills. This reliance on technical knowledge can limit self-service capabilities and reduce efficiency for non-technical teams. 

Phocas is widely recognized for strong ease of use, making it accessible to a broad range of users. A key strength is the intuitive, user-friendly interface designed to simplify complex tasks such as budgeting, forecasting and data analysis without requiring technical expertise.

Drag-and-drop functionality, guided workflows and interactive dashboards empower business users to explore data, build reports and make decisions independently, driving higher user adoption and collaboration.

The platform’s consistency across BI and FP&A modules also enhances the user experience by reducing training needs and allowing seamless navigation. 

Infor EPM typically involves a high total cost of ownership. Licensing fees can be substantial, especially when used across multiple modules such as planning, consolidation and analytics.

There are also significant hidden costs including implementation services, external consultancy, system customization and ongoing technical support.

The complexity of the platform usually requires dedicated IT involvement and training. For larger enterprises that need an integrated, highly configurable solution, the investment may be justified, but the financial and resource burden is considerable.