IBM adds Planner module to Cognos Express

IBM has unveiled a new Cognos Express module which allows mid-sized organisations to carry out 'what if' scenarios to make better use of analytical information.

Cognos Express Planner is the fourth application released for Cognos Express alongside Express Reporter, Express Advisor and Express Xcelerator.

Caroline Seymour, business unit executive for mid-market strategy at IBM Cognos, explained that Planner gives mid-market firms the ability to improve analytics, reporting and budget forecasting.

"By adding a dedicated planning module to the Cognos Express platform firms can make better use of the reporting and analytical information in other modules in the platform to make changes faster by linking the information," she said.

"By offering four separate modules, firms can concentrate on the areas that are most important to them, whether that's planning or analytics, and then add the other modules as their business expands."

Seymour explained that this allows departments within an organisation to share key information and manage workflow and approval processes within the application to ensure that hierarchies are maintained.

Planner also gives employees the ability to perform more analysis with data contained in Cognos Express, according to Seymour.

"We wanted to extend the customer's ability to do personal analysis of data so they can gain a greater understanding of the data they have for insights and scenario modelling," she said.

IBM has also launched a series of Blueprint modules for data processing and governance to help companies get started in the areas of planning, strategy and finance.

Cognos Express Planner costs $10,000 (£6,240) to install, plus $500 (£310) per licence for customers already using Cognos Express. The entire suite costs $25,000 (£15,600).