In today’s competitive landscape, businesses relying on Microsoft Power BI for their data visualization and reporting often seek ways to enhance these capabilities with advanced planning, budgeting, and write-back functionalities. Power On has long been a go-to solution for extending Power BI with these features, particularly for large enterprises. However, with the evolving needs of modern businesses and emerging technologies, many organizations are exploring alternatives to Power On that offer better value, easier implementation, and future-proof technology. In this blog post, we’ll explore why Aimplan is the superior alternative to Power On.
Introduction to Power On
Power On is a solution specifically designed to enhance Microsoft Power BI by adding write-back capabilities. Owned by Insightsoftware, Power On is particularly appealing to large enterprises with a technical focus. It provides a range of custom visuals, such as the Power On ‘Table Editor’ and ‘Matrix’ visuals, which allow users to input and modify data directly within Power BI. This makes it a powerful tool for enterprises that need to extend Power BI beyond data visualization into interactive data management and real-time collaboration. Insightsoftware do not position Power On as an FP&A solution for budgeting and forecasting, but instead as a “data management solution”. Insightsoftware has other budget and forecasting tools not based on Power BI such as Calumo and Bizview driving their FP&A offerings.
Pros of Power On:
Advanced Write-Back Capabilities: Power On is designed to enable users to input and modify data directly within Power BI, essential for real-time data editing in enterprise environments.
Comprehensive Set of Power BI Custom Visuals: Power On provides a robust set of custom visuals that extend Power BI’s functionality, including matrix visuals, data tables, interactive charts, and spreadsheet-like visuals.
Integration with Power BI: As an extension of Power BI, Power On allows users to leverage the familiar interface of Power BI while adding powerful new functionalities, making it a natural choice for organizations already deeply embedded in the Power BI ecosystem.
Why Consider Alternatives to Power On?
While Power On offers powerful features, it also comes with several significant drawbacks that may prompt organizations to seek alternatives:
1. High Cost and Consulting Dependency: Power On is an expensive solution, both in terms of licensing and the significant consulting services often required for its implementation. This makes it less accessible for companies seeking cost-effective solutions. Additionally, before investing in Power On, it’s crucial to verify that adequate training and documentation are available, enabling you to develop and maintain solutions independently without relying heavily on consulting services.
2. Complex Technical Requirements: Power On was originally built for on-premises installations, relying on older server-back-end technologies that require complex infrastructure setups, including hosting a web server and other components. Even though Insightsoftware may now offer Power On as a cloud solution, it’s not fully optimized for the cloud. This not only adds to the cost but also increases the time and expertise needed to get the system up and running.
3. Risk of Obsolescence: Some of Power On’s older custom visuals use technologies that may soon be unsupported, posing a risk to the continuity of its services and potentially forcing users to seek alternatives. Additionally, much of the server-side technology is based on the old .NET framework, not the newer .NET Core framework, which could further limit its future viability.
4. Uncertain Future and Increased Pricing: Following its acquisition by the private equity portfolio company Insightsoftware in February 2023, there are concerns about the long-term viability of Power On, particularly given Insightsoftware’s history of deprioritizing or discontinuing products not defined as flagship offerings. There have also been reports of high turnover within the former Power On organization, with the original founders and many others leaving. Additionally, Power On has seen significant price increases in recent years, impacting both new and existing customers. Before committing to Power On, it’s essential to negotiate agreements that cap future price increases.
Aimplan: The Superior Alternative to Power On
For organizations seeking a modern, cloud-native solution that overcomes the challenges associated with Power On, Aimplan is the ideal alternative. Aimplan offers a balanced solution that delivers exceptional value for money while addressing the technical and financial limitations of Power On.
Why Aimplan is the Best Power On Alternative:
1. Built for the Cloud: Unlike Power On, Aimplan is built as a cloud-native SaaS solution, which simplifies implementation and maintenance. There’s no need for complex infrastructure setups, and users can get started quickly with minimal IT intervention. But Aimplan also offers customers the chance to store the planning/write-back data in the customer’s Azure tenant if required.
2. Easy to Implement: Unlike Power On, it’s easy to get going using Aimplan with your existing Power BI models. If you know Power BI, the Aimplan training webinars will make you jump-start your Aimplan implementation. Use drag-and-drop and familiar Power BI configuration concepts.
3. Deep and Comprehensive Capabilities: Aimplan includes a wide range of Power BI custom visuals for reporting, planning, forecasting, commenting, data management, approval processes, and more. It implements advanced features such as driver-based planning, full audit trails, scenario management, in-visual calculations, dynamic cell-locking, splashing/top-down allocation, smart end-user suggestions, live direct update mode, and more. These capabilities make Aimplan a versatile tool that can adapt to the specific needs of your organization.
4. Future-Proof Technology: Built on the latest Azure and Power BI technologies, Aimplan ensures long-term compatibility and support. Aimplan is not only Power BI custom visuals but it also includes a robust SaaS service with advanced business logic managed through the Aimplan admin portal. Aimplan also implements proprietary technologies to deliver fast saving operations, ensuring that your processes remain efficient and reliable as your business grows.
5. Better Value for Money: Aimplan offers transparent pricing that provides better value compared to Power On’s expensive setup. With Aimplan, you get more features, better support, and a future-proof platform without breaking the bank. This makes Aimplan not only a cost-effective alternative but also a smarter long-term investment for your business.
Conclusion
While Power On has been a strong player in the Data Management space and sometime used in FP&A use-cases, its high costs, complex setup, and uncertain future have led many organizations to seek alternatives. Aimplan stands out as the superior choice, offering a cloud-native, customizable, and cost-effective solution that combines the best features of Power On without its drawbacks.
If you’re looking to extend Power BI with advanced Data Management and FP&A capabilities, book a demo of Aimplan today and discover how it can transform your business operations while providing better value for your investment.
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