Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service(PBCS)

What is EPM Automate?

Admin

EPM Automate is a utility that comes with the new Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service (PBCS)

It uses secure HTTP connections to communicate the PBCS Service instance
This utility enables Service Administrators to remotely perform and automate various administrative tasks.
Administrators can create scripts that are capable of completing a wide array of tasks and automate their execution using Windows Scheduler

EPM Automate Tasks

Import and export metadata and data
Refresh the application
Run business rules on data
Copy data from one database to another
Upload and manage files into service instances
Run a Data Management batch rules
Export and import application and artifact snapshots

EPM Automate Architecture

Why Use EPM Automate?

In response to companies looking for more decentralized services with less IT overhead, Oracle has launched the Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service (PBCS).
PBCS is a hosted version of the Oracle Hyperion Planning and Data Management/Integration (FDMEE) tools with a particular focus on a completely online-based interface
When moving to Oracle PBCS you no longer have direct access to the Essbase server's operating system
Without access to the Essbase server we also lose access to the tool that is commonly used to automate a wide variety of administrative tasks, MaxL
To address this, Oracle has developed a new utility named EPM Automate

Tasks commonly automated Using MaxL

Import and export data
Dimension metadata updates
Refresh the application
Run business rules
Creating Backups
Updating Variables

User Process Scenario - via E-mail

The user receives an email notification of an outstanding task

The user receives an email notification of an outstanding task
From the email, the user selects the link for the page where the required process is documented
The user reviews the instructions for the task and selects the Go to Task link in the Task Actions page to launch Financial Data Management
The user extracts data through Financial Data Management and loads it to Financial Management
When the task is completed, the user returns to the Task Actions page in Financial Close Management
The user enters a comment about the task, answers any required questions before submitting and submits it for approval

User Process Scenario - via FCM

The user receives an email notification of an outstanding task

The user logs on to Financial Close Management and reviews the tasks displayed in the Dashboard in the My Worklist portlet
The user clicks the link for an assigned task
The Task Actions page is launched with instructions for the task, and a reference document (any attached document)
The user reviews the instructions and the reference document, processes the updates, enters a comment about the task, and submits it for approval
The system automatically updates the task status and sends a notification to the assigned approver

Installing EPM Automate

Running EPM Automate

Double clicking on the batch file that is installed starts the EPM Automate Utility.

A new command line widows opens when you start EPM Automate

EPM Automate Login Help

Type 'epmautomate login help' for information on the command line parameters needed to login to EPM Automate

The login command needs the username, password, url and the identity domain parameters. Here is an example of a login command:

A "Login Successful" message is displayed when you are logged into EPM Automate

Oracle PBCS Inbox/Outbox Folder

All files uploaded to Oracle PBCS using the EPM Automate utility get uploaded to the Inbox/Outbox folder
There is a new second interface delivered with PBSC called the Simplified Interface
Not to worry the standard interface is still available if you prefer
However the Inbox/Outbox folder can only be accessed only through the PBCS Simplified Interface
To go to Simplified interface, navigate to Administer- >Planning and Budgeting

From the Simplified Interface, click on the 'Console' option. You will see the Inbox/Outbox Explorer under 'Actions'

Setting Up and Important Data Job

Before you use epm automate to automate certain tasks, you need to setup an import or export operation and save that as a job and then use epm automate to refer to that job and carry out the import or export operation
To setup an import job, from Console click on 'Actions'->Import Data. (To create an export job, click on Export) On the Import Data page, click on 'Create'.

Click on 'Save as Job' to create the job
To Enter a job name and then click on save

Partner SpotLight

Board

BOARD provides a seamless software solution for the support, control and management of core processes such as Reporting and Analyses; Budgeting, Planning, Forecasting; Profitability Modeling and Optimization; Simulation and What-if Analysis; Scorecarding; Financial Consolidation; Statutory and Financial Reporting; Monitoring and Auditing.

Board Profile

Our Company

MindStream Analytics' senior staff was there at the birth of Business Intelligence. We have been part of building Business Intelligence nationally from its humble niche product status to the ubiquitous analytic tool that it is today. MindStream consultants are well versed in reporting and information management and are ready to help you leverage the power of multiple tier-1vendors. From Oracle Hyperion to IBM Cognos, we can help you select and integrate the right tools for you to better understand your information. MindStream Analytics has experience across a wide variety of industries: Business Services, Consumer Products, Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Transportation , and Telecommunication. We have the depth and breadth of experience to help you deliver actionable information to users.

Whether you need an enterprise wide Oracle BI Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) rollout, an Oracle BI Apps rollout, or an IBM Cognos ReportNet rollout, MindStream Analytics is here to help you succeed.

Our Company

MindStream Analytics is a leading consulting firm focused on helping clients improve business understanding and decision making. With years of experience in the analytics and Business Performance Management area, MindStream offers services ranging from software selection and implementation to best practices for financial planning.

Case Studies

Accumen

Thanks to the intervention of MindStream Analytics, Accumen's Finance department can now model their business with a new, more organized structure that isn't conventionally available in NetSuite.

Acme Brick

Acme Brick turned to MindStream Analytics for help implementing OneStream to replace their outdated TM1 solution.

Alterra

Alterra sought the expertise of MindStream to address the challenges they faced in their Capital Planning process.

ATCO Group

Energy conglomerate ATCO operates worldwide in utilities, power generation, and related services.

Avalon

Working with MindStream Analytics, Avalon Healthcare Solutions adopts NetSuite Planning and Budgeting to accelerate budgeting and forecasting processes.

Bayer Health Care

Bayer Healthcare implemented Hyperion Planning and Workforce Planning in 10 weeks to dramatically streamline their Income Statement budget and Workforce Planning process..

BluEarth

MindStream Analytics' partnership with BluEarth Renewables epitomizes the power of technology and collaboration.

Celgene

An Oracle Hyperion Planning Upgrade provides multi-national organization Hyperion Application optimization and stabilization.

Cleaver Brooks

OneStream XF was chosen as the platform that would transform Cleaver-Brooks' Finance processes.

CoorsTek

The collaboration between CoorsTek and MindStream resulted in significant improvements in CoorsTek's financial consolidation and reporting processes.

Elite Body Sculpture

MindStream Analytics' collaboration with Elite Body Sculpture encapsulates the transformative potential of targeted tech solutions in streamlining administrative processes.

Enlyte

Enlyte, a merger of Mitchell, Genex, and Coventry, faced challenges with disparate financial solutions and the need for combined reporting.

Flanders

MindStream Analytics collaborated with Flanders to implement OneStream Consolidation and Reporting solution.

Foley Products

Foley Products was facing a significant challenge with its Excel-based actual management reporting system.

Harte Hanks

The collaboration between MindStream Analytics and Harte Hanks culminated in a highly customized, user-friendly NetSuite implementation.

Interface

Interface used a complex, manual, excel-based FP&A process for monthly review, and the summary data was loaded in OneStream.

Kymera International

Thanks to Mindstream Analytics' assistance, Kymera was able to load all of their data into OneStream and validate it successfully.

MacLean Fogg

MacLean-Fogg partnered with MindStream, a leading implementor specializing in modernizing and optimizing enterprise systems.

MEPPI

MindStream's expertise and experience were sought to conduct a vendor selection initiative focusing on MEPPI's F2023 planning process.

OUAI

MindStream Analytics and OUAI's collaboration showcases the transformative power of strategic technological intervention.

Plaskolite

By migrating to OneStream, Plaskolite has achieved a material reduction in consolidation time and overall Financial Close cycle, eliminated the hours spent compiling and verifying data in Excel, streamlined its Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting model and delivered flexible and timely reporting that enables more strategic analysis of their financial data.

Redwire

Understanding the nuances of Redwire's challenges, MindStream Analytics devised a holistic approach to overcome them. The implementation of NetSuite was just the beginning.

Simon

Simon's existing corporate Hyperion Financial Management (HFM) production application was consolidating at a rate of seven hours, a performance issue causing great headache to corporate Accounting.

Source Code

The successful transition to OneStream revolutionized Source Code's financial reporting.

Subway

Subway collaborated with MindStream Analytics for the NetSuite Analytics Warehouse implementation.

UPenn

MindStream Consulting and AppCare team members are proud be working side by side with UPenn university in accomplishing this implementation and along with continuing our AppCare services after go-live.

USG

USG was an Oracle Hyperion customer realizing that it needed more specialized support for its various Oracle Hyperion applications.

Vantiv

Dividing a hyperion planning application, expanding the hyperion footprint to forecast on the business? Customer categories.

Versant Health

Versant Health engaged MindStream to help resolve the challenges they were experiencing with their consolidation, close, and financial reporting processes.

Virginia Spaceport Authority

The MindStream team implemented the Standard + Workforce NetSuite Planning & Budgeting.

WeWork

MindStream Analytics determined that the best solution was to implement Oracle Essbase Cloud as part of the Oracle Analytics Cloud (OAC) platform-as-a-service

WindStream

Innovative use of essbase to streamline and connect hyperion financial management for enhanced financial analysis.

XY Planning

MindStream Analytics, well-versed in addressing such challenges, presented a comprehensive Netsuite solution for XY Planning.