In the context of Vietnamese enterprises increasingly needing transparent financial management and accurate forecasting, EPM (Enterprise Performance Management) become an indispensable tool. This article helps you understand clearly EPM components, system structure, the core module, how they work, as well as solutions EPM Sactona – optimized for CFO and FP&A Vietnam.
What Are the Components of EPM? Core Structure and Modules of the EPM System
EPM is not just a software but corporate governance ecosystem, helping CFOs and FP&A connect data, plan, forecast, and report transparently. Understand EPM components and Modules in EPM is the first step to effective implementation.
EPM systems typically include multiple core module, each module has its own function but all aim at optimizing financial performance. Before going into the details of each module, let's take a look at the main components:
- Planning & Budgeting: Plan overall and detailed budgets by department, project, and product.
- Forecasting: Forecast revenue, costs, and profits based on flexible scenarios.
- Financial Consolidation: Consolidate multi-company, multi-branch data according to Vietnamese accounting standards or IFRS.
- Performance Reporting: Create real-time KPI reports and dashboards to help leaders make timely decisions.
- Analytics & Dashboard: Allows drill-down, analysis of performance variances and causes.
- Data Management & Integration Layer: Connect ERP, standardize accounting data, link with BI systems to create a “single source of truth”.
EPM Architecture Comparison:
- Cloud EPM: Fast deployment, easy upgrades, flexible costs.
- On-premise EPM: Full data control, high security but time consuming to deploy.
In general, each EPM components Plays the role of connecting data, helping businesses plan accurately, forecast flexibly and report promptly.
EPM Module Functions – How Each Component Works in the EPM Ecosystem
Before going into the details of each module, it should be emphasized that What does EPM include? not just the module name, but how data moves and is processed throughout the systemEach module plays a role in optimizing the FP&A process and helping CFOs make accurate decisions.
Detailed functions of the modules:
Planning Module
The Planning Module allows businesses to build detailed budgets:
- Budget by department, project, product.
- Customize according to “what‑if” scenarios.
- Support analysis of costs, revenue, and profits by each data dimension.
Benefit: Business users can create their own models, reducing IT dependency.
Forecasting Module
Forecasting helps to flexibly forecast market fluctuations:
- Create different forecasting scenarios.
- Automatically calculate when assumptions change (e.g. exchange rates, revenue growth).
- Respond quickly to real-time business situations.
Benefit: Help CFO and FP&A update forecasts continuously, reducing risks due to market changes.
Consolidation Module
Consolidation Module consolidates data from multiple branches or subsidiaries:
- Standardize data according to VAS/IFRS.
- Consolidation of multidimensional financial statements.
- Reduce manual data aggregation time.
Benefit: Generate accurate, transparent consolidated reports for management.
Reporting Module
Reporting Module generates real-time KPI reports and dashboards:
- Intuitive, customizable dashboard.
- Financial and operational KPI reporting.
- Support drill-down from overview to details.
Benefit: CFOs and management can track performance instantly.
Analytics Module
Analytics Module supports in-depth analysis:
- Drill-down data from overview to detail.
- Variance analysis.
- Identify trends, forecast and optimize strategic decisions.
Data Management & Integration Layer
Data management is the foundation of EPM:
- Connect ERP, CRM, Data Warehouse.
- Standardize accounting data, manage assumptions centrally.
- Supports version control, records all changes.
Benefit: Create a “single source of truth” for the entire enterprise, reducing the risk of data errors.
EPM and Data Management – The Foundation for Accurate Decision Making by CFOs
In any business, data is the most important asset. EPM (Enterprise Performance Management) Not only is it a planning and forecasting tool, but it is also a data management platform, helping Vietnamese businesses ensure transparent, accurate information and readiness for CFO strategic decisions.
EPM focuses on collect, standardize, and analyze financial data from many sources, especially ERP and CRM. This process creates a “single source of truth”, helping to reduce errors and avoid data inconsistencies.
- Collect data from ERP:
- Import financial reports from branches.
- Standardize data on account structure, product codes, and business units.
- Centralized assumption management:
- Key assumptions such as exchange rates and revenue growth rates are managed centrally.
- When an assumption changes, the system automatically updates the relevant report.
- Version control:
- Each version of data and model is stored and records who changed it, what changed it, and when.
- ERP – EPM – BI Linkage:
- Create a seamless data chain from origin to analytical reporting.
- CFOs can drill down from the overview report to specific transactions.
Important KPIs in EPM
To evaluate the effectiveness of EPM system and financial management, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are important metrics. KPIs not only measure performance but also reflect the level of successful implementation of modules in EPM.
List of important KPIs:
- Forecast Accuracy:
- Compare revenue, cost, and profit forecasts with actuals.
- This KPI helps FP&A improve forecasting models and respond quickly to market fluctuations.
- Budget Variance:
- Analyze variances between budget and actual by department, project, or product.
- Helps CFOs detect operational problems or unusual costs early.
- Planning Cycle Time (Planning completion time):
- Measure the effectiveness of the master planning process.
- Shortening planning time helps businesses respond quickly to changing business environments.
- ROI on EPM System (EPM Investment Efficiency):
- Evaluate the benefits versus the costs of implementation and operation.
- KPI is important for CFO to decide to expand or upgrade the system.
- Reporting Timeliness:
- Ensure KPI reports and dashboards are updated promptly.
- Support managers with real-time data for decision making.
Who Uses EPM? The Role of CFO, FP&A, and Related Departments
EPM is not just a tool for CFOs. This system is directly related to many departments in the business, from FP&A, Controller to strategic managers, helping to decentralize and operate effectively.
Role details:
- CFO:
- Monitor financial strategy and KPIs.
- Determine the ROI of an EPM system.
- Make quick decisions based on aggregated and analyzed data.
- FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis):
- Budget planning and forecasting.
- Analyze detailed data from the Analytics module.
- Optimize “what‑if” scenarios and support strategic decision making.
- Controller:
- Consolidate reports from multiple subsidiaries.
- Ensure compliance with accounting standards (VAS/IFRS).
- Monitor data changes and assumptions.
- Data User / Viewer / Admin:
- Business users enter data and view reports.
- Data management, access authorization and information security.
Real life example: In a multi-branch manufacturing enterprise in Vietnam, the CFO uses a consolidated dashboard to monitor company-wide KPIs, FP&A updates forecasts based on actual data from each factory, and the Controller consolidates reports and ensures compliance with VAS accounting standards.
Clear roles and delegation of authority help businesses operate EPM effectively, reduce the risk of data errors, and speed up decision making.
Frequently Asked Questions About EPM Components – From Modules to Practical Applications
When EPM implementation In Vietnamese enterprises, CFOs and FP&A often ask many questions related to modules, practical applications and integration capabilities with ERP.
Frequently asked questions:
- What modules does EPM include?
Planning, Forecasting, Consolidation, Reporting, Analytics, Data Management & Integration.
- Which module is the most important?
Depending on the business; Planning & Forecasting is at the heart of most FP&A projects.
- Does EPM replace ERP?
No; EPM complements and leverages ERP data, enabling more efficient planning, forecasting, and reporting.
- What is the difference between Planning and Forecasting?
Planning is a fixed budget plan, Forecasting is a flexible forecast based on actual data and new assumptions.
- Is EPM suitable for small businesses?
Yes, especially if there is a need to standardize data, increase transparency, and reduce reporting time.
- How to quickly deploy EPM for Vietnamese businesses?
Using Japanese Sactona solution with the ability to keep Excel formulas, deploying only 2 headcounts × 2 months.
- How to optimize ROI from EPM?
Centralized assumption management, version control, real-time reporting, and streamlined usage authorization.
EPM Deployment With Bizzi – The Optimal Solution For CFOs And FP&A Vietnam
For CFOs and FP&As in Vietnam, implementing a system Effective EPM is the problem just about speed, cost, and the ability to customize to business needsBizzi Vietnam is the exclusive distributor. Sactona Japan, providing a user-friendly EPM solution, quick to deploy and retaining Excel formulas - meeting modern financial management needs while still being suitable for the characteristics of Vietnamese businesses.
Value and benefit details:
- Fast deployment, optimal cost:
- The basic project can be implemented with only 2 headcounts in 2 months.
- No complex IT setup required; just a Junior engineer with Excel and accounting knowledge.
- Keep the Excel formula:
- Unlike many other EPM solutions (e.g. Jedox or Anaplan), Sactona preserves all Excel formulas, allowing business users to add columns, calculate, and adjust without losing formulas.
- Comprehensive support of EPM modules:
- Planning & Budgeting: detailed budgeting by department, project, product.
- Forecasting: flexible forecasting, quick response to market fluctuations.
- Consolidation: consolidate multi-branch data, according to Vietnamese accounting standards (VAS) or IFRS.
- Reporting & Analytics: KPI reporting, visual dashboards, drill-down and gap analysis.
- Data Management & Integration: ERP connection, data standardization, version control.
- Centralized assumption management & version control:
- Assumptions like exchange rates and revenue growth are stored centrally and updated automatically when changed.
- Save multiple model versions for comparison, performance analysis, and change history.
- Suitable for Vietnamese businesses:
- Friendly interface, suitable for both accountants and management.
- No complex programming knowledge required.
Conclude:
System deployment EPM effectively helps Vietnamese businesses manage transparent financial data, plan accurately and forecast flexibly. core module such as Planning, Forecasting, Consolidation, Reporting and Analytics combine to create a comprehensive management ecosystem, reducing risks, optimizing costs and increasing ROI. With the solution Sactona, CFO and FP&A can deploy quickly, are user-friendly and suitable for Vietnamese businesses, ready to meet modern financial challenges.
👉 Learn about Sactona EPM solution now to experience fast, efficient data management, planning and forecasting for your business.
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