(If I were sitting across from you having a coffee, this is exactly what I’d say) 

Good to see you again my friend, we’ve known each other long enough that I’m not going to sugar-coat it. The last two decades in EPM gave us better consolidation, a bit more streamlined planning, nicer dashboards, and cloud. Nice, but incremental.  

What’s happening right now with AI is different. It’s the single biggest leap in our professional lives. 

And it’s moving fast. Very fast.  

Your peers are already on the move. Some because BPC mainstream maintenance ends in 2026 or 2027 for some widely adopted versions, some because their CFO just got the “find me AI value in finance this year” memo from the board. Most because they finally see that agentic AI + full-coverage EPM isn’t science fiction - it’s shipping today. 

So here’s the straight talk I’d give any friend in your chair. Don’t make a 10-year bet on half-baked AI promises without a real plan. The hype about AI is moving ahead of developing critical best practices enablement procedures, so navigating the AI equation carefully is the key to achieve lasting ROI. 

If you rush from a working (but aging) BPC environment into the arms of the first shiny new tool that whispers “AI,” the most likely outcome is a very expensive lateral move. You’ll spend two years rewriting reports, training people on a new UI, and getting back to… exactly where you are today. Only with resources depleted and more exhausted. 

People, process, and technology have to move together, or the AI value never materializes. 

Four paths forward (rated honestly): 


And on the services side—because this is where most of the pain (and wasted money) actually lives: 

1. The “Big Bang” migration 
   I’ve watched good friends spend significant amounts on the order of $4M–$8M and two years recreating every report pixel-perfect in the new tool just to declare “we’re live!”—and have zero budget or energy left for actual process improvement or AI activation. Some have quietly come back to us asking if they can keep parts of BPC because the migration delivered almost no new value, or worse, they uncovered key parts of the new platform that couldn’t scale, cost more, or were just flat out impossible to handle what BPC did. 
   
   
2. Buy time + think (stick with BPC via Lifeline or upgrade) – THEN move with right plan! 
   Gives you 3–5 more years of rock-solid support while AI actually matures, lets you pilot innovative emerging products like Darwin AOP orchestration on the side, and—most importantly—gives you political air cover to redesign processes the right way instead of just lifting and shifting to new product without innovation. Then, and only then, embrace proven AI with a winning plan focused on value.  
   
   
3. Change on your timeline 
   The hybrid approach (my personal recommendation for 80 % of companies right now) 
   Keep BPC doing what it does brilliantly for you (whether it is consolidation, planning- whichever models), move selected existing or new greenfield functional domain models to one or more modern AI-ready tool(s), and in the case of multiple solutions in your EPM landscape across Strategy, Operations and Finance (and more) - let Darwin AOP be the glue. You de-risk the change, build new muscle, and only go all-in when you (and the technology) are truly ready. 
   
   

Look, I’m not trying to keep you on BPC forever—far from it. 

I just don’t want you to look back in 2030 and say “We spent millions and we’re still doing planning (or consolidation) the same way.” 

Column5 is probably the only firm on earth that can genuinely help you with any of the paths above: 

• Want to stay on BPC longer? → Lifeline + our upgrades.  For details: See our page on Lifeline  
• Ready to explore something new? → We’ll run an honest selection, take you to the EPM Summit, and implement whatever you pick with an AI-centric process:  contact us! 
• Want the hybrid future today? → Lifeline + Darwin AOP + Darwin Marketplace pre-built content  

We’re not married to any one product. We’re married to you getting this right. 

So reach out when you’re ready, there will be a large number of companies looking at options for BPC. If you’re going to solve this you need to reserve a space before the rush. Let’s grab another coffee to explore how we can help. 

Let’s make sure the next move you make actually moves the needle—not just the furniture. 

Your friend (who’s seen too many expensive lateral moves), 
 
David Den Boer, 
Column5 Consulting  

P.S. The EPM Summit in February is the single best place to see every realistic path side-by-side, talk to people who’ve actually done it, and leave with a plan that doesn’t waste the next five years of your career. I’ll be there. Hope you will be too. 

In the ever-shifting world of Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), staying ahead means adapting without losing your core. As the founder of Column5, I've spent over 20 years innovating in this space - launching the EPM Summit in 2009 to empower BPC users, developing Darwin EPM's first-gen tools, and decoding SAP's roadmaps to help you exploit enhancements or navigate EOMM announcements. From your first BPC implementation to defining future roadmaps, our steadfast mission has been to maximize your outcomes. This earned us the title of most trusted voice in BPC, and it's a badge we wear proudly. But today, AI and agentic tech are redefining EPM, demanding flexibility across hybrid landscapes. In September 2025, I'm thrilled to announce Column5's bold next chapter: We're expanding support while doubling down on the values that earned your trust - building on our BPC foundation to address a rapidly changing market. Here's the what, why, and how it benefits you.  

SAP BPC customers face important decisions as the platform nears end of life—especially for those on the Microsoft version, which sunsets in June 2026. Whether you're running BPC NetWeaver or Microsoft, your organization may be considering what's next for your planning, consolidation, and analytics processes. 
At Column5 Consulting, we're working closely with Darwin Analytics and its partner ecosystem through the Darwin Marketplace to help BPC customers navigate the future with confidence. From evaluating SAP-recommended pathways to exploring non-SAP BPC alternatives, our experts provide the insights and hands-on support needed to make informed decisions. 

At Column5, our mission has always been to empower organizations to achieve extraordinary outcomes by optimizing their Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) processes. Over the years, we've partnered with leading providers and innovators in the EPM ecosystem to deliver advanced, high-impact solutions to our clients. Today, we’re proud to highlight our strategic partnership with Darwin Analytics, a game-changing orchestration platform that is reshaping how EPM is executed and advancing the field to new heights. 

EPM as a solution category has arguably been around for more than two decades. Before the turn of the century, a long line of solutions starting with Hyperion was developed to alleviate specific pain points caused by Excel-based financial planning and analysis (FP&A) processes. 

In the first significant redefinition of EPM technology requisites, Gartner has just coined xP&A for Extended Planning & Analysis. While Gartner did not necessarily define an advanced performance management process to go along with these new platform technology requirements…xP&A does make possible some highly valuable advancements that are, in our humble opinion, worth serious consideration. 

Two key themes underpin xP&A:

• Alignment of Operational and Financial planning and analysis
• Incorporation of AI features such as Predictive Analytics

Of course, astute users of EPM might observe that using EPM tools to cover operational planning and analysis is not new, nor is predictive analytics. What is new is aligning these capabilities as a unified platform and assigning it a label. 

Let's face it, Gartner is influential. Redefining this category has had a ripple effect almost immediately on the market. Vendors formerly identifying as EPM technology developers snapped in alignment to rebrand their product portfolio as supporting xP&A. Customers are sure to follow Gartner's classification and articulate requirements for new analytics solutions using the fresh xP&A framework. 

How do longstanding vendors support these newly defined requirements? Prospective customers seeking the benefits of xP&A are right to be skeptical. Let's discuss three key ways technology vendors offering cloud EPM solutions may be overplaying their capabilities when they claim their solutions support xP&A. 

Most organizations think about defining and improving the business case for expected ROI from EPM models only at the time of technology purchase - if these concepts are considered at all. But this is a mistake. Instead, the best practice is to measure the ROI of the system frequently in as many meaningful dimensions as can be evaluated. For example, solution and cycle performance times, analytic value, accessibility/reach are all crucial dimensions where metrics should be defined and consistently monitored for optimization opportunities. Doing so will help to bring about a significant shift in Performance Management capabilities.

The current trend is to start from scratch and re-implement performance management (EPM or xP&A) solutions to address challenges with the status quo solution effectiveness. Unfortunately, this extreme step is very costly and not likely to produce high-value results.

Attn: SAP EPM & Analytics Professionals

How to supercharge your EPM (SAP BPC, SAC, S4) training

(this works whether you're an executive, power user, or technical user)

Did you know that over the course of 30 days you forget close to 80% of what you learn?  

Here is the problem you face:  After you learn something new at an  SAP BPC or SAP Analytics Cloud course for example,  your ability to retain that information declines over time unless you review it repeatedly.

Most people try to take a single course with no repetition.

On top of that, you attempt to keep your career current by taking old fashioned lecture style or recorded video courses.  These outdated training methods lack the repetition and interactive exercises you need for strong memorization. This means you'll never achieve the career, skill level, or EPM system performance you would if you only had taken  effective training on a regular basis. This applies to you whether you're an executive, power user, or technical support staff, and whether you run SAP BPC, Analytics Cloud, and/or S/4HANA. 

Luckily for you, there's now a solution so you don't have to count on your scribbled notes from that one-time training course to improve your SAP EPM skills or further your career. Introducing the all-new EPM Summit Network, an online Community for SAP EPM & Analytics Professionals that will supercharge your career while providing year-round EPM (SAP BPC, SAC, S4) training in addition to community forums, private groups, and events.

You'll remember the latest BPC, SAC, and S4 course material on the EPM Summit Network like a scholar due to its hands-on exercises. Interactive exercises and tests drive home lesson retention so you'll feel confident implementing your new-found skills.

 

Attn: SAP EPM & Analytics Professionals

How to supercharge your career, get trained, get insider tricks from peers, and take your EPM (SAP BPC, SAC, S4) skills to leadership level all in one place.

(this works whether you're an executive, power user, or technical user)

Did you know that according to our research across 100s of implementations, 75% of EPM solutions fail to achieve the initiative’s anticipated goals? Even if your implementation was in the top 25% it has likely suffered over time from bloated data volumes, more users, old hardware, version upgrades (or lack of), and expanding complexity. 

Here is the problem you face: most people like to try to go at it alone.

You attempt to figure out SAP's roadmap, plus manage your own SAP EPM processes, plus teach yourself some new skills in your spare time - all by yourself. Which means you'll never achieve the career success, skill level, or EPM system/process performance you could have if you only had gotten some help along the way. This applies to you whether you are an executive, power user, or technical support staff, and whether you run SAP BPC, Analytics Cloud, and/or S/4HANA. 

Luckily for you, there's now a solution so you don't have to go at it alone anymore. 

Everybody works faster and gets further with a "better half", a buddy, or a support system.  Batman has Robin, Miss Piggy has Kermit, and Mickey has Minnie. Now you've got a support system too.  Let me introduce you to the all-new EPM Summit Network, an online Leadership Community for SAP EPM & Analytics Professionals that will supercharge your career and your EPM (SAP BPC, SAC, S4) skills all in one place

 

Is there an EPM Summit this year? What is this Network?!

If you’ve ever been to the legendary Column5 EPM Summit event, I know what you’re probably thinking. ‘The event was so awesome, I networked with great people, took in great content, engaged in deep discussions, found solutions to our problems, learned so much with hands on practice…it was even fun.  

Why would you ever change the EPM Summit Leadership Event to the EPM Summit Network? As the kids would text: IKR? (If you’re like me and recently find yourself in the 50+ demographic, that means: ‘I know, right?’) 

We all played the old game “rock, paper, scissors” (aka Rochambeau) to settle a dispute or just for fun. Everyone knows the simple hierarchy that forms a path to victory - rocks crush scissors, paper covers a rock, but scissors cut paper. This is a lesson we learn as children, but such simple hierarchies of superiority can govern outcomes in professional life too.