The World's Premier EPM & xP&A Advisors 

Enterprise Performance Management [EPM] and Extended Planning & Analysis [xP&A] are critical for organizations striving to outpace competitors in today’s dynamic global marketplace. These disciplines empower businesses to align strategic, operational, and financial planning with agility, transparency, and efficiency—delivering unmatched competitive advantage through AI-driven analytics and integrated processes. However, Gartner estimates that over half of business analytics investments fail to deliver full value, and only 5% of projects successfully align operational and financial plans. This underscores the need for an experienced partner to maximize EPM and xP&A outcomes. Enter Column5 Consulting, the world’s premier EPM consulting firm, dedicated to transforming your performance management capabilities into a strategic asset.

Our Mission

At Column5 Consulting, our mission is to empower organizations to achieve elite EPM and xP&A excellence by blending decades of proven expertise with innovative, vendor-agnostic solutions. We guide clients through the evolving EPM landscape, leveraging our deep industry knowledge and strategic partnership with Darwin Analytics to deliver tailored, AI-enhanced solutions that drive rapid returns, low total cost of ownership, and long-term independence. From financial planning and budgeting to forecasting and consolidation, we ensure your EPM processes are future-ready and transformative.

Our Legacy and Vision

Founded in 2005 by David Den Boer, former Director of Consulting at OutlookSoft (the origin of SAP Business Planning and Consolidation, acquired by SAP in 2007), Column5 has been a trailblazer in Enterprise Performance Management. Our deep expertise in SAP BPC has shaped our approach to EPM process excellence, enabling us to deliver transformative solutions across industries for budgeting, forecasting, consolidation, and reporting. As some SAP BPC versions approach end of mainstream maintenance (EOMM), Column5 remains at the forefront, guiding clients through the next era of EPM with unparalleled insight and innovation.

Our strategic partnership with Darwin Analytics positions us to redefine EPM excellence. Darwin’s marketplace connects clients with prebuilt solutions from across many leading EPM vendors, ensuring the perfect fit for any organization’s needs. Its agentic orchestration platform enables seamless integration of multiple EPM solutions, creating a cohesive, AI-driven process that enhances decision-making and operational efficiency. This vendor-agnostic approach empowers Column5’s clients to build flexible, scalable EPM ecosystems tailored to their unique goals.

The Column5 Difference

Our name reflects the pinnacle of EPM maturity – business process maturity models often have 5 columns —where the “Column5” stage in the EPM Maturity Model reflects a state where strategic, operational, and financial plans converge to enable real-time insights, agile decision-making, and sustainable competitive advantage. We call this xP&A excellence, where AI-driven analytics and integrated processes transform your business into an elite performer.

Recognizing that organizational change is complex, we start with a deep understanding of your culture, management style, and goals. Our approachable, expert team delivers tailored solutions that maximize your EPM investment, ensuring:

  •  Prompt return on investment through streamlined processes and prebuilt solutions.
  •  The lowest possible total cost of ownership with scalable, vendor-agnostic platforms.
  •  Long-term independence by empowering your team with expertise and tools.

Through our EPM Summit Network, we offer access to thought leadership forums, with premium content and services available to accelerate your EPM journey.

 

With Column5, you’re not just adapting to the future of EPM—you’re shaping it.