What is PBCS?

What is Oracle PBCS, and how does it work?

Oracle PBCS stands for Planning Budgeting Cloud Service, which was recently rebranded to Planning and Budgeting Cloud. PBCS is Hyperion’s first cloud-based EPM product. It’s a cloud-based program powered by Oracle Hyperion Planning that enables enterprise-wide planning, budgeting, and forecasting. The main functionality of PBCS is identical to that of Oracle Hyperion Planning on-premises.

Because of the web-based interface, users can examine planning data forms from within Microsoft Excel similar capabilities. Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud offers connections with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint utilising the “Smart View” plugin for planning and financial reports. Both interfaces offer ad-hoc knowledge analysis, which involves pivoting row, column, and page dimensions to create multiple representations of comparable data.

Oracle PBCS is an Oracle Cloud product formerly known as Planning Budgeting Cloud Service and now known as Planning and Budgeting Cloud.

PBCS is the first Hyperion EPM solution in the cloud, and it is an Oracle Hyperion Planning-based tool that offers enterprise-wide planning, budgeting, and forecasting in the cloud. The main functionality of PBCS is identical to that of Oracle Hyperion Planning on-premises.

The “Smart Examine” plugin for planning and financial reports integrates Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, allowing users to view planning data forms from within Microsoft Excel with the same capability as the web-based interface. Both interfaces allow for ad-hoc data analysis, with the ability to pivot row, column, and page dimensions to create alternative views of the same data.

Pricing for Oracle PBCS

Oracle owns and maintains the data centers or cloud servers where PBCS is hosted. The PBCS solution may be used by any firm of any size because there is no CAPEX infrastructure expense, almost no learning curve, and low IT personnel required. The pricing for PBCS is based on a per-user, per-month license.

Costs of Upkeep

Oracle keeps software versions up to date and maintained, allowing clients to update to the latest and best version without any downtime. Every PBCS deployment comes with a test and production environment from Oracle. Oracle initially updates test environments, then notifies users when upgrades are scheduled, what changes will be made, and which issues will be addressed in the new version.

Loading Data The Planning and Budgeting Cloud’s Financial Data Quality Management Enterprise Edition (FDMEE) is used to load data into planning BSO (block storage) and ASO (aggregate storage) cubes. BSO data can be migrated to ASO cubes, and other reporting data can be immediately imported into ASO cubes. EPM Automate, a software that allows you to automate certain common administrative processes, may also be used to import data into PBCS.

Oracle PBCS Deployment

Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud has a number of deployment options available. The planning application can be deployed in the cloud or used in conjunction with on-premise Hyperion Planning solutions. Clients who currently use Hyperion Planning on-premises can utilise PBCS to develop and test new applications in the cloud before deciding whether to deploy them on-premises.

If you’re seeking for a new EPM solution or want to upgrade an existing planning solution, we strongly suggest that enterprises of all sizes choose Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud (PBCS).

PBCS includes the following features:

Hyperion Planning is a company that specializes in planning.

1. Only “classic” managed apps are supported; EPMA Rules Management with Calculation Manager is not available.
2. FDM EE allows for data integration.
3. Hyperion Planning uses flat file loading.
4. Uploading large files through the http protocol
5. LCM for on-premises app migration
6. Using Hyperion Financial Reports for Reporting
7. Integration of Smart View with the MS Office Guided Demo Application

What are the advantages of PBCS?

Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service eliminates infrastructure hurdles, allowing companies of any size to quickly install a planning and budgeting application. PBCS does not require any local hardware or software, allowing for a quick setup – excellent for consumers looking for hosted applications with no IT support.

The Oracle Cloud is accessible via a web interface, which is ideal for a remote workforce. The response provides complete administrative access for program maintenance, external data integration, and support resources such as video tutorials and step-by-step instructions to the administrator.

What sets PBCS apart from Hyperion Planning on-premises?

With a few exceptions, Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service has the same capabilities and functionality as on-premises Planning. PBCS allows for a single core planning application per deployment, with the option to include capital asset and workforce planning. The cloud model does not yet include optional planning modules such as Capital Asset Planning, Project Financial Planning, Workforce Planning, and Public Sector Budgeting. Calculation Manager has been updated to include critical capabilities that were previously only available in EAS, removing the need for EAS during a PBCS deployment. OIC (Oracle Identity Console) — sometimes known as the IDM console — is used to manage users outside of PBCS.

Users of Active Directory should keep in mind that credentials must be put into OIC. Finally, end users can download the Smart View and Financial Reporting Studio clients directly from PBCS, which eliminates or reduces the need for IT support.

Who should think about using PBCS?

There are various scenarios in which a company would benefit from using Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service. Here are some examples of reasons a company should use PBCS over an on-premises deployment:

Looking for a quick deployment that doesn’t require any infrastructure maintenance?

Would you like to test the Oracle Hyperion Enterprise Performance Management suite before investing in a large-scale infrastructure project?

Lacking a zealous IT department or the knowledge and experience required to set up and manage an Enterprise Performance Management environment

During a hybrid approach, complementing on-premise deployment with rapid rollout of PBCS to field units or new divisions, etc.

The following are some of the key advantages of Oracle PBCS for your company:

1. Best practises that will get you up and running in no time
2. With a flexible, upgradeable planning framework, you may tailor the design solution to your individual needs.
3. It’s simple to use, and it’s simple to maintain.
4. Adaptability to both operational and financial planning procedures
5. Business wizards that are intuitive help you to control your planning process as your company grows.
6. Dashboards, analytics, what-if scenarios, and predictive capabilities provide you a better understanding of your business.
7. In the cloud, no CAPEX infrastructure investments are necessary.

The Planning Cloud Decision: PBCS vs. EPBCS

Oracle offers TWO cloud-based planning applications: PBCS and EPBCS. The contrasts between the two will be discussed in the following blog, as well as how Perficient can demonstrate the differences by attending our Houston Planning Create & Manage seminar.

First and first, I’m sure most of you are curious as to what those acronyms signify. The acronyms PBCS and EPBCS stand for Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service and Enterprise Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service, respectively.

Following that, you could wonder, “What are the differences?”

PBCS, like the on-premises version, allows for flexibility in forming modifications to business rules and, as a result, the business rules that underpin the system templates.

1. The current Planning class creates the appliance with the new streamlined interface and two new 11.1.2.4 features:
2. Work Scheduler (Automation tool for importing/exporting data or metadata, launching a business rule, and refreshing the database.)
3. In planning, create dashboards (quick field of vision of key data using an intuitive drag and drop method of forms, charts, and external links.)

EPBCS departs from on-premises Planning at this point. EPBCS includes pre-built modules that require little to no customization within plan types. The four business processes featured in EPBCS are as follows:

1. Revenue/Gross Margin, Expenses, Record, and Income Statement are all part of the financials business process.
2. Workforce Business Process (HR/Finance can plan compensation-related expenses by employee or job code)
3. Capital Management Procedures (Capital features to manage new capital investment and existing assets)
4. Project Management (Projects features including project type, revenue, and expense)
5. Whether you choose PBCS or EPBCS, the public benefits of Oracle cloud applications are the same: no upfront hardware or software expenditures, reduced IT involvement, and no yearly maintenance costs.