Agentic AI Orchestration for CPM 

Introducing Darwin Analytics: An Orchestration Platform Transforming Enterprise Planning, Reporting, and Analytics with Agentic AI 

In an era where data-driven decision-making is key to staying competitive, organizations are increasingly seeking integrated platforms that streamline enterprise planning, consolidation, reporting, and analytics (Call it what you will: CPM, EPM or xP&A…its all about performance and analytics!) processes. Enter Darwin Analytics, an innovative orchestration platform poised to redefine how companies approach these critical functions to enable advanced capabilities like Agentic AI. 

The Evolution of Darwin Analytics 

Darwin Analytics represents the next generation of enterprise solutions, building upon its origins as a pre-built, fast time to value and low risk CPM solution. By addressing long-standing gaps in SAP BPC (Business Planning and Consolidation) and other 1st generation CPM systems, Darwin Analytics blazed a trail in the pursuit of unprecedented enterprise value. With an elevated focus on AI in all solutions, Darwin’s latest generation offering is a comprehensive platform that integrates data platforms like SAP Datasphere, Snowflake, Google BigQuery, and Analytics clients like SAC (SAP Analytics Cloud), PowerBI, Anaplan, and other enterprise grade analytics tools into a seamless solution. Adding AI-driven insights and automation, this orchestration platform delivers unparalleled flexibility and scalability for businesses worldwide. 

Understanding the Market Trends 

Darwin Analytics’ development is rooted in a deep understanding of the evolving enterprise landscape: 

1. Integrated Platforms Over Siloed Solutions: Companies are shifting from isolated tools to cohesive platforms that handle financial and operational planning, business intelligence (BI), and analytics. Darwin Analytics aligns with this trend by providing a unified framework that enables agnostic analytics solution components working together that avoid vendor lock-in. 

1. AI-Driven Automation: Automation is no longer optional. Darwin Analytics leverages Agentic AI to reduce the manual effort required for planning, forecasting, and reporting cycles, streamlining processes and improving accuracy. 

1. Cloud Migration: Cloud-based SaaS models, like those integrated with SAP Datasphere, and other leading data platforms are becoming the norm. These models reduce IT overhead, enhance accessibility, and enable real-time updates. 

1. Extended Planning and Analysis (XP&A): Moving beyond finance-centric CPM, Darwin integrates operational, strategic, and external data sources into a holistic enterprise-wide  analytics strategy. 

 

Addressing Common Enterprise Challenges 

Despite technological advances, enterprises often face the following challenges: 

• Latency and Inefficiency: Lengthy cycles for planning, forecasting, and reporting remain a significant pain point. Even well-designed solutions fall prey to data replication, redundant configurations and isolated automation at best. 

• Disparate Systems: Organizations frequently manage multiple components within their analytics landscape: data sources (like ERP & external data), CPM, and BI tools, creating inefficiencies and integration challenges. 

• Limited Collaboration: Traditional systems like SAP BPC & other CPM solutions often limit access to analysts, limiting broader organizational collaboration & alignment.  

• Lack of Real-Time Insights: Delayed data refreshes and limited predictive capabilities hinder agile decision-making. 

Darwin Analytics is designed to overcome these obstacles by seamlessly integrating tools that conform to a megavendor strategy like SAP’s: SAC, Group Reporting, SAP Datasphere, or best of breed strategy like Anaplan, OneStream, Snowflake, PowerBI and other analytics components. Individually, each product supports AI, but Darwin uniquely supports leveraging AI to provide actionable insights and improve collaboration and automation across a heterogeneous landscape. 

The DNA of Darwin Analytics 

At its core, Darwin Analytics employs a unique business process framework known as Dynamic Networked Analytics (DNA). This framework focuses on three critical areas: 

1. Coverage: Darwin Analytics expands traditional CPM boundaries by integrating financial, operational, and external data sources. It extends beyond ERP and internal transactional sources to encompass data from any internal or external data source, enabling comprehensive visibility into enterprise operations and relevant market influences. This visibility affords management maximum flexibility in developing responses to changing conditions. 

1. Collaboration: By democratizing access, Darwin ensures that decision-makers across departments—and even external partners—can contribute to and benefit from the platform. This fosters a collaborative & transparent culture essential for informed decision-making. 

1. Clock Speed: Darwin takes advantage of all available tools to minimize latency, accelerating data refresh cycles to enable real-time updates. This agility helps organizations stay competitive in fast-moving markets. 

 

Key Features of Darwin Analytics 

1. AI at the Core: Darwin Analytics integrates Agentic AI as a foundational component, ensuring:

• Predictive modeling based on historical and real-time data. 

• Automated variance analysis and scenario planning. 

• Data management with updates that reflect changing market dynamics 

• Lowest cost of ownership despite increased complexity 

 

2. Seamless Integration: As an orchestration platform, Darwin Analytics supports a wide range of tools, including but not limited to SAP BPC, SAC, Microsoft PowerBI, Google Big Query and SAP Datasphere. Its centralized configuration hub simplifies the management of diverse components, ensuring smooth interoperability.
3. Marketplace Ecosystem: Darwin Analytics connects users with highly respected trusted advisors to guide on the bespoke solution comprised of: pre-built content, expert services, all elevated by Darwin’s Orchestration Platform. Combined, these components reduce custom development and accelerate low risk deployment.
4. Enhanced Process Automation: AI-driven workflows within Darwin automate data mapping, transformation, and integration. These capabilities eliminate redundancy, reduce errors, and enable scalable deployments on their own…but they also form a foundation to efficiently apply AI functionality. Agentic AI on top of the Darwin Orchestration Platform can conduct tasks, including analysis, faster and more efficiently than traditional processes. 

Real-World Applications 

Darwin Analytics’ flexibility enables it to address various enterprise scenarios: 

1. Heterogeneous Systems Integration: Organizations using megavendor (ie: SAP’s SAP BPC, SAC, Group Reporting, DataSphere and HANA) or best of breed components (ie: Anaplan, OneStream, Snowflake, PowerBI, Qlik), or a hybrid of approaches, can synchronize data, master data, and business rules seamlessly, regardless of their system’s complexity. 

1. Unified Data Management: Enterprises with multiple data sources—including internal and external data sources —can consolidate data into a common repository, ensuring consistency and comprehensive AI-driven analytics. 

1. Improved Forecasting Accuracy: By integrating external data streams with historical and operational data, Darwin Analytics provides real-time fact checking that can validate internal forecasts even as conditions adjust with market fluctuations. 

 

The Vision Ahead 

Darwin Analytics is more than just a platform; it’s a transformative approach to enterprise planning and analytics. As an orchestration platform powered by Agentic AI, it empowers organizations to: 

• Achieve deeper insights through expanded data coverage. 

• Accelerate decision-making with real-time capabilities. 

• Enhance collaboration across organizational and external boundaries. 

• Alleviate binary choices for systems 

 

By uniting people, processes, and technology under a single, cohesive framework, Darwin Analytics sets a new standard for enterprise performance management and analytics. 

Final Thoughts 

In today’s dynamic business environment, Darwin Analytics stands out as a beacon of innovation. By combining tools like data platforms, CPM and BI clients with an advanced orchestration platform that drives efficiency and insights via Agentic AI. Whether you aim to streamline operations, improve forecasting, or foster collaboration, Darwin Analytics is your trusted partner in navigating the complexities of enterprise planning and analytics.