The Infor Blog

The last 24 months have proven to be turbulent and unpredictable for manufacturers, and while the economy improves, nonstop demand variability will remain the new normal. To stay afloat and manage the rapidly changing environment, manufacturers are turning to a new generation of Sales and Operations Planning (SOP) solutions that ... Continue reading How Manufacturers are Turning a Challenge of the Past into a Competitive Weapon »

Earlier this year, Aberdeen surveyed almost 200 companies to document their processes and capabilities related to Sales and Operations Planning (SOP). According to the report, 59% of respondents said that improving top line revenue in 2010 (versus 45% of respondents in the July 2009 Sales and Operations Planning report) was ... Continue reading Increasing Complexity Doesn't Daunt Sales and Operations Planning Professionals »

Earlier this year, I wrote on the importance of planning, budgeting and forecasting to cope with unforeseen events, such as a rapid deterioration in economic conditions. Aberdeen Group has issued a report on this topic, Financial Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting: Managing in Uncertain Times, which is available as a free ... Continue reading Report Highlights Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting »

Spring is not too far away, and with the change of seasons comes a change in the financial reporting requirements. XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) mandates go into effect April 13, when the SEC will require the 500 largest public companies to file XBRL-tagged versions of their financial results. By ... Continue reading Three Things You Need to Know About XBRL »

There’s a bug on the loose and it’s spreading through conference rooms around the world. It’s called “Should’ve, Could’ve, Would’ve Syndrome.” Its symptoms go like this—glazed eyes from staring at spreadsheets and all your formulas are out of whack from a quick change in the business weather. You sit in ... Continue reading Performance Management: A Cure for the “Should’ve, Could’ve, Would’ve” Syndrome »