Which Controlling Tools Do the Best Companies Use in 2026?
CPM Consultant
5 min.
For today’s business world, there is only one certainty: change. In a reality where supply chains can be disrupted in a single day and raw material prices fluctuate dynamically, companies must respond immediately. This is especially true for leaders in their industries. In such a demanding environment, controlling within the organization must undergo a transformation and adapt to rapidly changing market conditions.
Table of Contents
Nowa rola controllingu - partner biznesowy uzbrojony w narzędzia i technologię
The traditional model of work is gradually becoming a thing of the past. The role of controlling is no longer about managing spreadsheets, building increasingly complex formulas, or manually collecting data from multiple areas of the business. Modern financial controlling is focused on delivering the most relevant analyses and insights that enable fast, well-informed decisions in a volatile business environment.
The goal is a fundamental shift in mindset: moving away from manual data entry and reclaiming time – often up to 80% of resources previously consumed by manual work—to become a true strategic business partner. In practice, this means adopting modern ways of working:
- Replacing annual budgets with rolling forecasts, updated monthly or quarterly, allowing organizations to continuously adjust their course based on current data and market conditions.
- Running “what-if” simulations, enabling controllers to answer management’s questions in real time – for example: “What happens to our margin if raw material prices increase by 15% while we raise product prices by 5%?”
Modern systems make it possible to calculate such scenarios instantly, even during a board meeting.
Inefficient Controlling Tools
Every organization reaches a stage in its development where it relies on classic tools designed to support the daily work of the controlling function. Over time, however, as the company grows and its operations become more complex, these tools no longer meet the requirements needed to sustain and enable further growth. What challenges do they create?
Why Does Excel Hold Back Your Growth?
Excel is not responsible for all the problems. It is a well-known and flexible tool that can be used to accomplish a wide range of tasks. However, in organizations with complex structures, both organizational and capital-related, where the volume of generated data is very high, what was once an advantage has become the greatest barrier to effective controlling.
The phenomenon known as “Excel Hell” in controlling departments is widely recognized:
- Lack of a single source of truth: File versioning leads to chaos and a lack of reliable information.
- Risk of errors: Manual data consolidation and complex macros increase the likelihood of errors that may cost the organization millions.
- Lack of scalability: With millions of records generated by IoT, CRM, or e-commerce systems, spreadsheets simply stop performing efficiently.
- Siloed work: Excel reinforces departmental silos, where sales and production maintain their own files, while finance attempts to combine this information, often without success.
ERP Is Not Enough
Many companies fall into the trap of believing that having a modern ERP system, such as SAP, automatically solves their problems. This is a misconception. ERP systems are designed primarily for recording transactions and managing historical data, while performance management and planning, which are future-oriented, require a dedicated controlling system.
Solution: FP&A Platforms as the Ideal Tools for Controlling
The answer to these challenges lies in integrated controlling systems such as EPM or FP&A platforms. These are no longer just tools for data collection, but operational brains of the organization that provide automation, data consistency, and real-time access to analyses. Currently, two key controlling solutions stand out on the market: OneStream and IBM Planning Analytics.
OneStream – The Power of Unification
OneStream is a platform that eliminates integration challenges by providing a single data model for all processes.
The system:
- Provides a single source of truth: Budgeting, forecasting, financial consolidation, and management reporting are all handled within one system. Importantly, modern controlling also includes non-financial reporting, such as ESG.
- Effectively supports ESG data collection:In light of the CSRD directive, ESG reporting is becoming a regulatory requirement rather than a voluntary initiative.
- Is ideally suited for capital groups and complex organizations: The platform enables straightforward auditability, which is critical in multi-entity and highly regulated environments.
IBM Planning Analytics (TM1) – Built for Speed and Flexibility
If an organization’s priority is the rapid analysis of large volumes of data, this tool is unmatched.
- Has an in-memory engine (TM1) that enables real-time recalculation of complex models.A change to a single parameter, such as an exchange rate, immediately updates results for the entire group.
- Integrates powerful analytical capabilities with Business Intelligence tools, transforming static tables into interactive dashboards.In addition, built-in AI and ML algorithms support predictive forecasting and enable the detection of trends that might otherwise remain unnoticed within large datasets.
Organizations that continue to rely on outdated, Excel-based processes risk more than just calculation errors. They risk slower decision-making, which in a dynamic business environment can lead to the loss of competitive advantage. It is therefore worth considering tools that not only streamline the work of the controlling function, but also enhance capabilities and broaden perspectives across the entire organization.
CONTACT
Let's talk about your project
Get in touch with us via this form, email, or phone. We’ll answer your questions, discuss the key challenges, and suggest initial solutions tailored to your needs.
