The 5 best mid-market planning tools for business [updated for 2024]

1. Cube Software

Cube offers intuitive, automated FP&A solutions that embrace the spreadsheet.

Users love integrating directly with both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Financial automation lets Finance teams process everyday activities with fewer errors. It offers increased data visibility and better collaboration between your teams.

The platform’s reforecast feature is among its highest rated by users.

Ratings

Cube rates far above competitors in the space. They earn high-to-perfect marks in the three main rating categories:

Ease of Use: Cube users report above-average usability in the platform at 9/10.

Quality of Support: Support ratings for Cube are a perfect 10.

Ease of Setup: Most companies get started with Cube in as little as two weeks, and Cube offers a dedicated done-for-you implementation service. No expensive consultants and no long wait times.

Pros

Reviewers highlight the platform’s agility and smooth integrations. Cube users say the platform offers more flexibility than traditional ERPs. These features allow financial planners and analysts to “build meaningful things quickly.” Users praise the platform for its ability to track financial and operational metrics.

Cons

While Cube works for companies of all sizes, it's designed for mid-market companies. Additionally, Cube is designed for finance teams: if your company doesn't have an FP&A or spreadsheet power user, Cube might not be the best fit.

2. Vena Solutions

Like Cube, the Vena platform approaches its FP&A platform with an Excel-friendly model. This allows users to centralize data without giving up their favorite tools. The platform offers pre-built workflows for regular planning. It also has robust reporting functions. This makes it easier to forecast, conduct business planning, and close at month-end.

User Ratings

Vena earns satisfactory marks in G2 user ratings (on a scale of 1 to 10).

Ease of use: Vena comes in at 8.6, in line with the average for other platforms within its category.

Quality of Support: Users rate Vena’s CSM team at 9.6, well above the category average of 8.8.

Ease of Setup: Users need expertise for setup (provided by CSM team members). Users rate it at a 7.6, somewhat below the average of 8.4

Pros

Users enjoy Vena for its integration with Excel. Its flexibility makes it easy to manage multiple units or sites without redundant worksheets or complex design. Its functions are straightforward for users familiar with advanced spreadsheet functioning.

Cons

While most users praise Vena’s flexibility, some cite the learning curve as a drawback. Excel functions aren’t persistent and must be re-entered when going back to make changes. While the platform is generally stable, large files sometimes create long load times. It also works only in Excel and lacks a direct connection with Google Sheets.

3. Workday Adaptive Planning

The Workday Adaptive Planning platform is a module of the Workday Enterprise Cloud suite of services. The Workday suite helps people gain insight and collaborate for smarter decision-making. It allows companies at any size or stage to adapt with confidence. G2 users especially like Adaptive's budgeting features.

Ratings

Adaptive ratings are slightly lower than other entries in the top 5. It still offers users dependable features, usability, and support.

Ease of Use: Ease of use somewhat lags behind other competitors in the category. Adaptive earns an 8.3, shy of the category average of 8.7.

Quality of Support: Support ratings are on par for category members. It rates 8.9, slightly above the 8.8 average,

Ease of Setup: Users find Adaptive more challenging to implement than other platforms. They rate the setup a 7.4, notably below the category average of 8.4.

Pros

Users enjoy Adaptive's customization. The system allows for multiple versions of reports or scenarios for financial modeling. Users can also load different expectations and metrics. They can adjust analysis “on the fly” and build more complex models, even for newer users or those without in-depth experience. The system is reportedly stable, with good speed and processing power. This is true even for larger reporting projects.

Cons

Though customizable, users report that the flexibility in some features could use improvement. Some manual editing limitations exist depending on the functions in use. One user had difficulty inputting changes to mid-year and quarterly reports. This affects forecasts and actuals.

Even worse, the UI is clunky and has a steep learning curve. Coupled with how customizable it is, and onboarding new users can take so long the cost becomes a significant deterrent. 

4. Anaplan

Anaplan uses its proprietary Hyperblock™ technology to help teams contextualize real-time performance and forecast future outcomes. While many enterprise companies use Anaplan, mid-market companies find success with it too.

Ratings

Anaplan's marks are decidedly average, although not bad:

Ease of Use: Anaplan scored slightly under par here, with an ease of use rating of 8.5.

Quality of Support: Again, Anaplan is just slightly under the category average in this category, too, with a rating of 8.2 compared to the category average of 8.8.

Ease of Setup: Anaplan clocks in just below the category average at 8.0. 

Pros

Users love how flexible Anaplan is and how it can be used for almost anything. Likewise, Anaplan connects with many source systems and data sources, so once you're used to it and "locked in," the ecosystem works. 

Likewise, given that Anaplan is formula-based, it works well for teams that prefer not to write their own scripts.

Cons

Unfortunately, as Anaplan's below-average ratings should clue you in on, the software is not beloved by all users. People cite high implementation times, a steep learning curve, and astronomical costs as major cons for Anaplan.

Likewise, while the tool is powerful, it's also complex. Many companies find that they don't need Anaplan when a cheaper, more lightweight solution would actually be better. But it's difficult to get divorced from Anaplan because all of your backend logic lives there. So you need to be okay with the high cost of leaving Anaplan as well.

5. Planful

Planful focuses on a vision of Continuous Planning and accelerating the FP&A process. The platform focuses on budgeting, dynamic operational planning, financial management, reporting, and visualizations.

Overview

While Planful makes the Top 5 overall, some of the main rating indicators lag behind the pack.

Ease of Use: The platform performs on par with other platforms in the category. Planful rates an 8.1 rating, slightly below the 8.6  average for ease of use.

Quality of Support: Support performs slightly under competitors in support ratings. They received an 8.1 out of 10, somewhat lower than the 8.7 category average.

Ease of Setup: Setup is more difficult than other category entries. They earn a 7.0 rating for this metric, below the 8.2 average.

Pros

Users enjoy the quick reporting and easy report-building capabilities offered within the platform. Robust automation makes everyday tasks easier. Good data analysis tools make it easy to drill down into granular numbers.

Reporting happens via a web platform and offers ease of use, letting savvy users run the platform without IT for support.

Cons

Despite its reporting flexibility, some users report the UI interface is hard to navigate. Some functions may be too technical for users with less technical experience and need input from an internal developer. Though the platform offers high-value structured planning features, some users found the parameters to be restrictive. This may reduce its usability for some users. One reviewer observed that Planful "doesn't think like an accountant" in terms of the way these teams record journal entries or import data.

The role of mid-market planning tools

Mid-market planning tools play a pivotal role in driving financial excellence for FP&A professionals in mid-sized companies.

These tools offer a comprehensive suite of features designed to streamline budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis processes, ultimately empowering organizations to make informed decisions and achieve their growth objectives.

Streamlining Budgeting: Mid-market planning tools provide robust budgeting functionalities, allowing FP&A professionals to create detailed budgets based on historical data, industry benchmarks, and future projections. By automating repetitive tasks and providing intuitive interfaces, these tools streamline the budgeting process, saving time and reducing errors.

Enhancing Forecasting Accuracy: Utilizing sophisticated algorithms and predictive analytics, mid-market planning tools generate precise forecasts, taking into consideration factors such as market conditions, customer behavior, and internal performance metrics.

Improving Financial Analysis: Mid-market planning tools offer sophisticated financial analysis capabilities, allowing FP&A professionals to analyze key metrics, identify trends, and uncover actionable insights. With customizable dashboards and reporting functionalities, these tools provide stakeholders with timely and relevant information, facilitating data-driven decision-making at all levels of the organization

Key features to look for in mid-market planning tools

When considering mid-market planning tools for your organization, it's essential to evaluate various features to ensure they align with your specific needs and objectives. Here are some key features to look for:

Scalability

Choose a planning tool that can grow with your business. Scalability ensures that the software can accommodate increasing data volumes and complexity as your organization expands. This feature is crucial for mid-sized companies experiencing growth and looking to scale their operations.

Integration Capabilities

Look for tools that seamlessly integrate with your existing systems and data sources. Integration capabilities enable data from various sources, such as ERP systems, CRM platforms, and financial databases, to be consolidated into a single interface for comprehensive analysis.

Customizable Dashboards and Reports

Opt for planning tools that offer customizable dashboards and reports tailored to your organization's unique requirements. Customization allows you to prioritize key metrics, visualize data in meaningful ways, and generate insightful reports for stakeholders. 

Forecasting and Predictive Analytics

Look for tools equipped with advanced forecasting and predictive analytics capabilities. These features leverage historical data and statistical algorithms to generate accurate forecasts and predictive insights. Advanced forecasting models enable scenario planning, sensitivity analysis, and what-if simulations to assess the potential impact of different business decisions.

Collaboration and Workflow Management

Choose planning tools that facilitate collaboration and workflow management among team members. Collaboration features enable real-time collaboration on budgets, forecasts, and reports, ensuring alignment and transparency across departments.

Conclusion

With their ability to streamline budgeting, enhance forecasting accuracy, and improve financial analysis, mid-market planning tools empower businesses to make informed decisions and achieve their growth objectives effectively.

At Cube Software, we understand the importance of equipping businesses with powerful planning tools to thrive in today's competitive landscape.

Our comprehensive suite of mid-market planning solutions offers advanced functionalities and intuitive interfaces designed to streamline your financial processes and drive strategic decision-making.

Ready to experience the transformative power of Cube Software? Sign up for a demo today and discover how our innovative solutions can propel your organization towards financial success.