There are a number of great new features and enhancements within IBM Planning Analytics that are available for use right now. Below is a list of the key changes to the platform that will most benefit users.

• Planning Analytics is building out multivariate forecasting, not just univariate time-series. This means the system can analyse relationships between different variables (e.g. how inventory, production, and transport costs interact) and forecast accordingly.
  
• You can now edit previously created calculations in the cube viewer.
  
• View and debug process logs in a separate tab while you are working with the process.
  
• Specify custom notification messages for processes and ability to run process in parallel (Multiple runs - This is useful for long running processes)
  
• Content navigation is now faster in the Reports and Analysis, Data and Models, and Plans and Applications areas.
  
• You can now copy and paste up to 4,000 members in the set editor. This is a significant increase from the previous limit of 120 members.

Formatting Improvements

• There’s a new Format Manager to manage cell formats, alignment, conditional rules, colours, etc.
• You can now customize cell colours based on their “state” (e.g., selected or highlighted cells).

Universal Reports Improvements

• The “Universal Report Static” layout was added, which is hierarchy-aware and doesn’t require MDX knowledge.
  
• Spacer rows/columns to improve layout or insert formulas.
  
• PAfE now supports Universal Reports connected to multiple data sources — this is useful when your planning model is distributed across different TM1 / Planning Analytics databases.
  
• Easily spot edited and held cells with new visual indicators.

In PAfE 2.0.100 / 2.1.7, there’s a “Preserve User Formula” flag so your custom Excel formulas survive when the report is refreshed.

Deprecations / End-of-Support

• Support for Planning Analytics Local version 2.0.9 ends April 30, 2025.
• TM1 Applications (Contributor) is being phased out in favor of Workspace Plans.
• Perspectives and Architect will no longer be supported from October 31, 2025.

The IBM Planning Analytics Assistant is a big piece of the future. It uses generative AI (powered by watsonx) so users can ask natural-language questions like “why did costs spike last quarter?” and get insights in plain text + visuals.

There’s a push to reduce barriers: non-technical users (e.g. finance, operations) will be able to interact with planning models more intuitively.

If you have any questions in relation to the latest updates for IBM Planning Analytics, or would like support getting onto the latest version, we can help!

Simply click here, submit your enquiry and we'll get back to you right away.