Why Spreadsheet Planning Fails… And How TM1 Solves It
How Modern FP&A Teams Escape Spreadsheet Chaos with a Unified TM1 Planning Model
The Hidden Cost of Spreadsheet-Heavy Planning
Excel is great. Until it isn’t. Spreadsheets feel flexible, but they don’t scale with a growing business. When budgeting and forecasting live across dozens of files, alignment disappears and numbers drift. Assumptions get outdated.
Finance spends more time reconciling than analysing. Most teams know this moment well: When “latest version” becomes a guess rather than a fact. That’s where IBM Planning Analytics (TM1) changes everything. Spreadsheet processes start clean… and end chaotic.
- Multiple versions circulating across teams
- Broken formulas that no one notices until it's too late
- Long consolidation cycles
- Delayed decisions because "the final numbers aren't ready yet"
- No clear audit trail for where assumptions came from
The outcome is always the same: low confidence in the plan, slow decisions and high reporting effort.
What TM1 Does Differently
TM1 replaces scattered spreadsheets with one central, living planning model.
Instead of Finance chasing numbers, every department works in the same real-time structure with shared assumptions and instant consolidation.
With a well-built TM1 model, you get:
- No version chaos
- No manual consolidation
- No broken formulas
- One source of truth for every scenario
- Real-time calculations across the entire organization
It's not just faster, it restores trust in the numbers.
How ITLink Delivers TM1 the Way Modern FP&A Teams Need
A technology platform only works when the implementation matches how your business actually operates. That’s where ITLink comes in.
Our TM1 models are built to solve the problems finance teams face every cycle:
1. Driver-Based Planning That Scales
Revenue, OPEX, workforce, CAPEX, property planning all linked into one integrated model.
2. Real-Time Scenario Modelling
Change a single assumption and the entire P&L, balance sheet, or cash flow updates instantly.
3. Clean Architecture, No Black Boxes
We build models that Finance can maintain transparent rules,optimised feeders, no unnecessary complexity.
4. Faster Cycles, Higher Confidence
Clients consistently see planning cycles shrink from weeks to days.
5. Enterprise-Ready Performance
Even with large datasets, multi-entity structures, and complex logic, your model stays fast and responsive.
Why Finance Teams Choose TM1 for Integrated Planning
TM1 gives organisations what spreadsheets cannot:
- A unified planning environment
- Real-time alignment across all business units
- Strong governance and auditability
- Flexible modelling with enterprise-grade performance
- The ability to forecast and reforecast without rebuilding files
In a world where business conditions change monthly, FP&A teams can’t rely on static spreadsheets. TM1 gives them the agility and accuracy their role demands.
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Still wrestling with TM1 performance issues?
We’ve helped multiple Singapore teams cut calculation times by 50%+
Where Are You Experiencing the Most Spreadsheet Pain?
If your team is fighting version sprawl, broken formulas, orslow consolidation, TM1 removes all of that noise and ITLink helps you build amodel that actually works in day-to-day operations.
To explore what an integrated TM1 model could look like foryour finance team, reach us at info@itlink.com.sg
Excel is flexible.
TM1 is reliable.
And ITLink brings the two together with clarity.
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Ready to Speed Up Your TM1 Performance?
If you're facing the TM1 challenges discussed, ITLink's expert project services or ongoing support plans can help create lasting improvements.
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